Piero's Place 12

Where to start! The building itself is in the heart of the city, a mere 100 m. from Palazzo Portinari, the home of Dante Alighieri's beloved and inspirational Beatrice. Dante's house is only a few steps away, as is the recently reopened Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, with medieval and Renaissance sculptural works created to adorn the cathedral complex.

In this Renaissance jewel box of a city everything awaits: museums full of art about which guidebooks wax poetic, monumental piazzas and graceful bridges, concerts and delicious places to duck into for dinner or a world-famous gelato. The advantage, of course, is that unlike Stendahl, who suffered from stimulus overload, you can take in as much as you like, retreat to the restful apartment and easily return whenever you’re restored. Visitors only spending a few days in Florence might consider the Firenze Card, the city's museum pass valid for 72 hrs. which allows them to bypass long lines and slip into whatever museum is highest on their list.

With Florence on the doorstep to the Chianti, heading out in the car in search of its renowned wine will take you to picturesque villages such as Greve, Panzano or Radda in Chianti. Those who prefer public transportation could opt for the short bus trip directly to Siena, Florence’s ancient rival and worthy counterpart, itself a medieval gem whose artwork is of earlier centuries, but whose famous shell-shaped piazza and Palio horse race is timeless.