Firenze in 15 tips

Lorenzo Illiberi, Concierge of Hotel Bernini Palace

Your Florence in three places?

Piazza della Signoria, the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral with Brunelleschi’s awe-inspiring Dome, and Piazzale Michelangelo, for a view of the city in all its beauty.

What fascinates your guests most about the city, and what are its major attractions?

Art and food are undoubtedly the aspects our guests focus most attention on, but traditional craftsmanship is also highly appreciated, from goldsmiths’ shops to workshops producing goods in leather and hide, and Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, which dates back to 1612 when it was still an herbalist’s, and is now considered one of the oldest businesses in all of Europe. The antique shops in Oltrarno, and of course fashion from the great Florentine houses such as Gucci and Ferragamo.

Which are the most requested experiences?

Experiencing a journey through the Renaissance with a tour led by expert guides, but also Florentine cooking classes that begin with shopping for ingredients in local grocery shops. Then tours of the Chianti vineyards, or a river cruise to admire the city from the Arno on board a small wooden boat - gliding under the Ponte Vecchio is an unforgettable thrill.

What experience should not to be missed at Hotel Bernini Palace?

Breakfast in the splendid, historical Sala Parlamento, once the meeting place for Members of Parliament and Senators of the Kingdom of Italy, when Florence was its capital city.