Florence, Italy

For the latest in our historical holiday series, Joanne explores Florence, the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance

- Joanne Paul

What I find so evocative about the Renaissance is its desire to express what makes us human – emotion, pain, frailty and love. There is no better place to come face to face with this passion than in Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance.

Florence sits at the heart of Tuscany, about halfway between Rome and Milan. Founded as a Roman military camp in the first century BC, the city reached its height in the Renaissance, from the 14th–16th centuries. The social mobility of the Florentine Republic meant that families from obscure or even peasant backgrounds could rise to the heights of power and wealth (the most notable example being the Medici, who ruled Florence from the 15th–18th centuries). These families needed to project their status and wealth and so patronised the artists and scholars of the Renaissance, turning Florence into the magnificent treasure trove of culture it is today.

It is best to seek out these Florentine gems on foot, so find a historic little hotel near the centre and pack some comfortable shoes. You will want to dedicate a day each to the Uffizi Gallery and the Pitti Palace for some of the best art and sculpture in the world. Get timed tickets to these and the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore (commonly known as the Duomo) to avoid long queues. Standing under Brunelleschi’s dome is an awe-inspiring moment not to be missed.