Welcome to Florence!
I truly believe that visiting this city should be a complete sensory experience. That is why I have gathered my favorite personal spots in this guide: authentic restaurants and hidden gems that I have been frequenting for years.
To help you explore Florence like a local, you will also find a customized map featuring my favorite itineraries, designed to show you the most charming corners well off the beaten track.
Whether you are looking for the perfect Bistecca alla Fiorentina or a secret spot in the historic center, I am here to help make your stay unforgettable.
I wish you a wonderful stay... and buon appetito!
Stefano
Officina del Profumo
di
Santa Maria Novella
Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella sets its roots back to 1221.
Founded as a Dominican friars convent, it is renowned from its beginnings for the formulation of perfumes and remedies.
Useful Contacts
For the best experiences in Florence,
Tuscany and Cinque Terre
https://www.walkabouttours.com
Historic train from Siena to Val d'Orcia
Discover all the itineraries in
Tuscany and the rest of Italy
https://www.fondazionefs.it/en/itineraries.html
The ticketing official website of the
Florentine State Museums
Firenzecard is the official museum
pass of the city of Florence
Find your parking in
central Florence
Washing, drying and folding service
€13,00 small
€18,00 medium
€25,00 large
Paolo Scheggi - Cell +39 334 3465655
Stefano Scheggi - Cell +39 366 3243363
Florence Airport - Tel +39 055 30615
Taxi - Tel +39 055 4390
Uber is available in Florence via app
Tuscany by Train:
The Best Day Trips from
Florence SMN
From Firenze Santa Maria Novella (SMN) station, you can easily reach some of Tuscany's most iconic art cities and charming villages thanks to direct or
very short train connections.
Here are the most beautiful and highly
recommended destinations:
Major Art Cities
-
Pisa: Reachable in about 1 hour with frequent regional trains (roughly every 20 minutes). From Pisa Centrale station, the Square of Miracles and the Leaning Tower are about a 20-minute walk or a few minutes by bus.
-
Lucca: Famous for its intact Renaissance walls and its "100 churches." The direct train takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes. The station is located right outside the historic walls.
-
Siena: One of Italy’s most stunning medieval cities. The direct regional train takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Note: Siena's station is connected to the historic center by a convenient system of escalators.
-
Arezzo: Known for Piero della Francesca’s frescoes and the beautiful Piazza Grande. It is reachable in about 1 hour via fast regional trains.
Charming Villages
& Hidden Gems
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Certaldo Alto: The medieval hilltop village where Boccaccio was born. It takes less than 1 hour (on the line to Siena). Once you arrive at Certaldo station, you can reach the "upper" village via a scenic funicular.
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Pistoia: Often overlooked, this is a gorgeous art city with one of the most beautiful Cathedral Squares in Italy. It’s only 30–40 minutes from Florence by train.
-
Prato: Very close (20 minutes), it offers a well-preserved medieval center, the Emperor's Castle, and a Cathedral featuring frescoes by Filippo Lippi.
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San Gimignano: While it doesn't have its own train station, it is easily accessible by taking a train to Poggibonsi-San Gimignano (about 1 hour) and then a local bus (20 minutes) that stops right at the gates of the "City of Beautiful Towers."
Practical Tips
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Tickets: You can easily buy them at the automated machines in the station or via the Trenitalia app.
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Frequency: For destinations like Pisa, Prato, and Pistoia, trains are very frequent, making them perfect for last-minute trips.
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Schedules: I recommend checking the return times, especially for smaller villages, to ensure you don't miss the last train back.
