HV10667
Impruneta
Florence Countryside and Chianti
Weddings 2027
A Renaissance hamlet, all yours
The Hidden Voyage guide
Florence
The cradle of the Renaissance, lived from a private apartment or palazzo.
Best months
Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct
Ideal stay
4 to 5 nights
Fly into
FLR · PSA · BLQ · FCO
Getting around
No car needed in the centre; driver for hill villas
Our villas here
41 private villas
Why go
Why choose Florence
Few cities hold so much beauty within walking distance. Florence gave the world the Renaissance, and its compact centre still reads like an open book of that age: Brunelleschi's dome rising over terracotta roofs, Michelangelo's David at the Accademia, Botticelli in the Uffizi and the goldsmiths of the Ponte Vecchio. A villa in the hills above the city pairs that intensity with quiet gardens, cypress views and space to breathe.
Florence suits travellers who want art, craft and food in equal measure, and who enjoy discovering a city on foot. Couples linger over long lunches in the Oltrarno, families escape to the Boboli Gardens, and collectors seek out workshops where leather, paper and gold are still worked by hand. Evenings belong to the terraces of San Miniato and Fiesole.
Ideal for: Art and culture, Couples, City stays combined with the countryside · Cultural, unhurried and largely on foot
Our villas of the month · October 2026
Chosen this month by our team
Getting there
Airports and arrivals
FLR
Florence Airport (Amerigo Vespucci, Peretola)
about 20 minutes by car to the historic centre
closest gateway, mainly European flights; the T2 tram links it to the city
PSA
Pisa International (Galileo Galilei)
about 1h10 by car to Florence
wider choice of international routes; the Pisa Mover shuttle connects to Pisa Centrale for trains to Florence
BLQ
Bologna Guglielmo Marconi
about 1h20 by car to Florence
strong long haul and European network; fast trains from Bologna Centrale take under 40 minutes
FCO
Rome Fiumicino (Leonardo da Vinci)
about 3h by car, or train via Roma Termini
best option for intercontinental arrivals combined with Rome
- High speed Frecciarossa and Italo trains reach Firenze Santa Maria Novella in about 1h35 from Rome and just under 2h from Milan.
- From Bologna, fast trains reach Florence in roughly 35 to 40 minutes through the Apennine base tunnel.
- Private transfers by car with driver are the simplest way to reach villas in the Fiesole, Bellosguardo or Arcetri hills.
- Helicopter transfers can be arranged to licensed landing sites near the city on request.
We arrange private transfers, drivers, boats and helicopters for every villa.
Where to stay
Choosing your base
Oltrarno
Couples, food lovers, repeat visitors
The artisan quarter south of the river, around Santo Spirito and Palazzo Pitti, with workshops, wine bars and a lived in neighbourhood feel.
Fiesole
Families, villa stays, summer evenings
An Etruscan and Roman hilltown about 20 minutes above Florence, with a Roman theatre and the most celebrated view over the dome.
Bellosguardo and Arcetri
Privacy seekers, longer stays
Quiet hills just beyond Porta Romana, lined with historic villas and olive groves yet minutes from the Boboli Gardens.
Centro Storico
First time visitors, short stays
The heart of the city between the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria and Santa Croce, ideal for those who want every sight on the doorstep.
Settignano
Families, artists, walkers
A stone carvers' village on the eastern hills, green and peaceful, with a direct bus to the centre.
Positions are approximate: the exact address is shared once your stay is confirmed.
What to see
The highlights
01
Duomo and Brunelleschi's Dome
Santa Maria del Fiore is crowned by the largest masonry dome ever built, completed in the fifteenth century. Climbing its 463 steps to the lantern requires a timed reservation, so book well ahead.
02
Uffizi Gallery
The collection traces Italian painting from Giotto to Caravaggio, with Botticelli's Birth of Venus and Primavera as its emotional centre. The museum is closed on Mondays and timed tickets are essential from spring to autumn.
03
Galleria dell'Accademia
Michelangelo's David stands at the end of a gallery lined with his unfinished Prisoners, still emerging from the marble. Early morning slots are the calmest.
04
Vasari Corridor
Built in 1565 to let the Medici cross from Palazzo Vecchio to Palazzo Pitti unseen, the elevated passage reopened in December 2024. Access is by an Uffizi ticket with a corridor supplement, walking one way towards the Boboli Gardens.
05
Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens
The former grand ducal palace holds the Palatine Gallery's Raphaels and Titians. Behind it, the Boboli Gardens climb in terraces, grottoes and statues towards fine views of the city.
06
Ponte Vecchio
Florence's oldest bridge has been home to goldsmiths and jewellers since the late sixteenth century. Cross at dawn to have it almost to yourself.
07
San Miniato al Monte
This Romanesque basilica above Piazzale Michelangelo has one of the most harmonious facades in Tuscany. The Olivetan monks sing vespers in Gregorian chant most evenings.
08
Medici Villas
The Medici villas and gardens around Florence, including Villa La Petraia and Villa di Castello, were inscribed together on the UNESCO list in 2013. They make a gentle half day beyond the crowds.
What to do
Experiences worth planning for
Artisan workshop visits in the Oltrarno
Meet bookbinders, gilders, shoemakers and marbled paper makers in their studios, many of them working with techniques passed down for generations.
Private early entry to the Accademia or Uffizi
A licensed guide and the first time slot of the day turn two of Europe's busiest museums into an intimate encounter.
Cooking class in a villa kitchen
Learn fresh pasta, ribollita and cantucci with a local cook, then eat what you have made on the terrace.
Sunset aperitivo with a view
Watch the light turn the dome rose gold from Fiesole, Piazzale Michelangelo or a rooftop terrace in the centre.
Perfume and pharmacy heritage
The Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, founded by Dominican friars, still blends fragrances and remedies in frescoed rooms.
Vintage car or Vespa tour of the hills
Drive the panoramic roads to Fiesole, Settignano and the Chianti fringe with a guide who knows every viewpoint.
Outdoors
Nature and walks
Boboli Gardens
Forty five hectares of terraces, fountains and shaded avenues right in the city.
Bardini Garden
A smaller, quieter garden famed for its wisteria pergola in late April and early May.
Fiesole to Maiano walk
An easy hillside path past old quarries and olive groves with constant views of Florence.
Rose Garden and Iris Garden
Two seasonal gardens below Piazzale Michelangelo, the Iris Garden opening only in late April and May.
Arno riverside at San Niccolò
A relaxed stretch for an evening stroll, with summer bars along the embankment.
Where to stay
Private villas in Florence
At the table
Food and wine
What to eat
Bistecca alla fiorentina
A thick T bone of Tuscan beef, grilled over embers and served rare, usually priced by weight.
Lampredotto
The city's signature street food, slow cooked tripe served in a bread roll with green sauce from historic kiosks.
Ribollita
A hearty winter soup of bread, black cabbage, beans and vegetables, better the day after it is made.
Pappa al pomodoro
A summer dish of ripe tomatoes, stale bread, garlic and basil, finished with raw olive oil.
Schiacciata
Florence's salty, olive oil rich flatbread, split and filled with cured meats at the city's sandwich bars.
Cantucci and Vin Santo
Crisp almond biscuits dipped in sweet amber wine to close a meal.
What to drink
Chianti Classico DOCG
The Sangiovese based red of the hills between Florence and Siena, from youthful Annata to the top tier Gran Selezione.
Chianti Rufina DOCG
A cooler, higher subzone east of the city producing elegant, long lived reds.
Carmignano DOCG
A small historic area west of Florence where Cabernet has been blended with Sangiovese for centuries.
Vin Santo
Tuscany's traditional dessert wine, made from grapes dried indoors and aged in small barrels.
Beyond the villa
Day trips
Chianti Classico
about 40 minutes by car to Greve in Chianti
Vineyards, castle estates and medieval villages along the scenic Chiantigiana road.
Siena
about 1h15 by car
Gothic palaces, the shell shaped Piazza del Campo and an extraordinary cathedral.
Lucca
about 1h by car
A graceful walled city best explored by bicycle along its tree lined ramparts.
San Gimignano
about 1h by car
A UNESCO listed hilltown known for its medieval towers and Vernaccia white wine.
Pisa
about 1h by car or train
The Leaning Tower, cathedral and baptistery on the Piazza dei Miracoli.
When to go
The year, season by season
April to June and September to October. July and August are hot, with afternoon highs above 32 degrees. Winter is quiet and excellent for museums.
Spring
From April the gardens bloom, the light softens and the museums are lively but manageable. Easter and the May bank holidays are busy, so book early.
Summer
July and August are hot, often above 35 degrees, and the city empties of Florentines. A hillside villa with a pool makes the heat a pleasure, with sightseeing best done early and late.
Autumn
September and October bring the grape harvest in the surrounding hills, golden light and comfortable temperatures. It is perhaps the most rewarding time to visit.
Winter
Cool, crisp and quiet, with shorter queues and seasonal dishes such as ribollita. Christmas lights and the New Year concerts give the city a festive glow.
Weather month by month
Bars: hours of sunshine a day. Above: average daytime high. Shaded: the best months.
Full weather table
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daytime high, °C | 11 | 13 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 29 | 32 | 32 | 27 | 22 | 16 | 11 |
| Night low, °C | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 15 | 11 | 6 | 3 |
| Sunshine, hours a day | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
| Rainy days | 8 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 10 |
| Dry days | 24 | 21 | 24 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 28 | 27 | 24 | 22 | 20 | 21 |
Air: averages 1991 to 2020, Florence Peretola weather station. Dry days have less than 1 mm of rain.
Events through the year
Easter Sunday
Scoppio del Carro
A towering ceremonial cart is set alight with fireworks in front of the Duomo, an omen for the year's harvest.
Spring to early summer
Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
Italy's oldest music festival brings opera and symphonic concerts to the city's opera house.
June, final on 24 June
Calcio Storico Fiorentino
A rough and ceremonial sixteenth century ball game in Piazza Santa Croce, with the final held on the feast of Saint John, the city's patron.
January and June
Pitti Uomo
The international menswear fair fills the city with designers and buyers twice a year.
September
Rificolona
On the evening of 7 September children parade through the streets with paper lanterns to celebrate the Nativity of the Virgin.
Planning Florence?
Tell us your dates and the group: we reply with availability and the full price, usually within one working day, and arrange transfers, chefs and boats.
Good to know
Practical tips
- The historic centre is a limited traffic zone (ZTL) monitored by cameras; driving in without authorisation brings fines, so park outside or use a driver.
- Book timed tickets for the Uffizi, Accademia and Duomo climb in advance; the Uffizi and Accademia are closed on Mondays.
- Churches require covered shoulders and knees, so carry a light scarf in summer.
- A municipal tourist tax applies per person per night for the first seven nights, varying by accommodation type, with children under 12 exempt.
- Tap water is safe, and the city's public water fountains offer still and sparkling water free of charge.
- Many restaurants close one day a week and some take holidays in August, so reserve ahead in high summer.
Questions
Florence: frequently asked
How many days do you need in Florence?
Four days allows the major museums, the Duomo and the Oltrarno at a civilised pace. With a fifth day you can add Fiesole, the Medici villas or a wine estate in Chianti.
Do I need to book the Uffizi in advance?
Yes, especially between April and October and around holidays. Reserving a timed entry on the official Uffizi website avoids long queues; the gallery is closed on Mondays.
Can I drive into Florence?
Only with authorisation. The historic centre is a camera controlled ZTL, so it is wise to leave the car at your villa or a car park and walk, take a taxi or use a driver.
Which airport is best for Florence?
Florence Peretola (FLR) is closest, about 20 minutes from the centre. Pisa (PSA) and Bologna (BLQ) offer more routes and are both a little over an hour away by car or quickly reached by train.
Is it worth staying in a villa outside the city?
For families and longer stays, very much so. The hills of Fiesole, Settignano and Bellosguardo are 15 to 25 minutes from the centre yet offer gardens, pools and quiet nights.
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