A patron of the arts and capital of the region of Tuscany, Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance and some of its most influential craftsmen, including Michelangelo, Leonardo De Vinci and Machiavelli.

Florence's Duomo, the massive Santa Maria del Fiore, is the fourth largest in the world and dominates the city's skyline from every angle. Homesickness for Florentines is termed nostalgia del cupolone, or "longing for the dome", referring to architect Filippo Brunelleschi's 15th century masterpiece atop the cathedral. The nearby Museo del Opera del Duomo houses the originals of the adjacent Battistero di San Giovanni's intricate brass doors, completed by Lorenzo Ghiberti in 1452. Throughout the city several other museums and galleries, such as the Uffizi, preserve a wealth of Renaissance art; Michelangelo's David, one of the city's most popular residents, is housed in the Accademia Gallery. There are many bridges that span the Arno River, which runs through the belly of the city, but the persevering Ponte Vecchio, Florence's oldest, simply steals the hearts of visitors.