Indulgence - Tuscany Essential : Florence and Chianti - Renaissance, vineyards, and heritage

Florence holds the cradle of the Renaissance in a compact historic centre where every square is an open-air museum. The city's skyline is dominated by Brunelleschi's dome, crowning the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore beside Giotto's Bell Tower and the Baptistery with its bronze doors. From Piazza della Signoria, guarded by Palazzo Vecchio and a copy of the David, one reaches the Uffizi Gallery, a treasure house of masterpieces by Botticelli, Leonardo and Raphael. The Ponte Vecchio, lined with goldsmiths' shops, spans the Arno and leads to the Oltrarno, a district of artisans, gardens and authentic character, where Palazzo Pitti opens onto the monumental greenery of the Boboli Gardens. The Accademia Gallery preserves Michelangelo's original David, while the churches of Santa Croce and Santa Maria Novella guard frescoes and illustrious tombs. Tuscan cuisine offers bistecca alla fiorentina, ribollita, pappa al pomodoro and Chianti wines. Climbing to Piazzale Michelangelo, the city unfolds in an unforgettable panorama, its red roofs stretching to the hills. Elegant and refined, Florence reveals itself by strolling slowly among art, history and centuries-old workshops.