Anyone who travels in Europe has Florence ear-marked on their "must see" list and rightly so! There are so many attractions competing for your attention, that it is difficult to know where to start.

Obviously, everybody who visits Florence must walk across the Ponte Vecchio. This is the famous old bridge one sees in all the tourist photographs. It is a beautiful, charming place and within easy reach, as it lies at the heart of the old city.

The Uffizzi is one of the world's great art galleries and is a must for anyone interested in the arts. The one word of warning I would give is that the entrance queues can be horrific. I visited Florence in August the peak of the tourist season and, to be honest, although I love art galleries, I was not prepared to queue in the summer heat for several hours (museum and gallery visits can be booked in advance, however).

Obviously, where you go and what you see depends upon the amount of time you have available. Don't feel that you have to go into every museum and gallery in order to enjoy your stay. As with many Italian cities, the real joy of the place comes from just wandering the old, beautiful streets.

The city is a shoppers' paradise. However, it is not a bargain-hunter's heaven. The shops tend towards the higher-end, with an endless supply of boutiques and department stores.

Obviously, being Italy, the best thing to do in Florence is eat. There is a wide range of restaurants and trattorias and, compared to many countries, Italy offers great food at affordable prices for those prepared to look around.

Best of all in Florence are the churches. Nobody goes to Florence without visiting the Duomo, the imposing church whose dome dominates the Florentine skyline. Santa Croce, and Santa Maria Novella are other churches one should visit whilst here.

If you have time, a wonderful way to appreciate Florence is to drive out of the city and up one of the nearby hills. There are many vantage points from which one can marvel at the beautiful skyline created by a city full of beautiful, historic buildings.

Learn more about this author, Steve Martin.
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