City of Culture In central Italy, among the rolling hills of Tuscany, lies the stunning city of Florence. Small but fierce, Florence is a great city to wander about by foot, as you can cover most of it in just under an hour. But don't be fooled by its relatively small size - it is heaving with things to do, masterpieces to see and good food to devour. Famed for its revolutionising artists, rulers and thinkers, Florence was, during the Renaissance period, THE powerhouse of Europe. Everywhere you look, you can see beautifully preserved medieval alleyways and bridges (take a stroll along the River Arno past the Ponte Vecchio or bicycle down the cobbled streets in the city centre).