We’ve recently returned from Italy, where we spent time in Florence, one of our favorite cities any time of year for art, architecture, traditional crafts, food, wine and style. On this trip, we visited longtime favorite places, checked out new openings and explored the latest cultural highlights across the city.

We spent time at Villa San Michele, the recently reopened Belmond hotel, which occupies a beautiful Renaissance building in the verdant hills above Florence.

Following extensive renovations, the former monastery has beautiful interiors, revitalized gardens with Renaissance-inspired plantings and a Guerlain spa featuring perfume made exclusively for the hotel.

Villa San Michele is a great option for travelers wanting a luxury hotel in a bucolic setting steeped in history that’s still only a few minutes from the bustle of central Florence.

We enjoyed private art touring of the rich treasures filling the museums, churches and palaces of Florence, including an after-hours tour of the renowned Uffizi Galleries.

We also saw the Rothko in Florence exhibition at Palazzo Strozzi, a major retrospective (on view through August 23, 2026) that explores how the city and early Renaissance art influenced Mark Rothko’s stylistic development.

Florence has a rich tradition of artistry and craftsmanship dating back centuries.

We visited renowned workshops where artisans continue centuries-old techniques in pietra dura (mosaic stone inlay), silk weaving, leatherwork and ceramics, and browsed favorite boutiques specializing in handmade picture frames, decorative paper, jewelry, clothing and perfume.

We also enjoyed private craft lessons in gold leaf and egg tempera painting at celebrated local studios.

We visited our favorite gardens in and around Florence, including exclusive tours of private gardens not generally open to the public.

We also made time to relax in some of our favorite historic bars and cafes for coffee breaks during private touring or an aperitivo before dinner.

We enjoyed incredible meals at top restaurants, leisurely farm lunches in the Tuscan countryside, a private cooking class to learn how to make pasta by hand, and wine and cheese tastings.

Contact Artisans of Leisure to start planning a private Italy tour featuring the highlights of Florence customized to your interests.