Florence

Florence, the capital of Tuscany, lies about 100 km (62 miles) south of Bologna and is reached in 35-40 minutes by Frecciarossa or Italo high-speed train, with departures every 15-30 minutes. Fares range from about EUR 10 to EUR 35 one way depending on how far ahead they are booked, so reserving early lowers the cost. The slow regional line through the Apennines takes about two hours and is cheaper, but it uses much of the day. Trains arrive at Firenze Santa Maria Novella, from which the historic centre is walkable. The Duomo, with Brunelleschi's dome, Giotto's bell tower and the Baptistery, sits in Piazza del Duomo about ten minutes from the station. The Uffizi Gallery holds Botticelli's Birth of Venus and works by Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael, and timed tickets should be booked in advance at uffizi.it, particularly from spring to autumn. From there, visitors can cross the Ponte Vecchio to the Oltrarno district for artisan workshops, Piazzale Michelangelo views and lunch in a trattoria away from the main crowds. A realistic one-day arc is an early train, the Duomo exterior and one booked museum in the morning, lunch of ribollita or a bistecca alla fiorentina share, then the bridge, Oltrarno and the Boboli or a viewpoint in the afternoon, with an evening train back. Trying to see more than one major museum in a day is tiring, so choosing priorities helps. March to May and September to October offer the best balance of weather and crowds, while summer is hot and queues are long. Driving is not advised because Florence has a strict ZTL and costly parking. Pickpocketing occurs around the station and the Ponte Vecchio, so valuables should be kept secure. Many state museums close on Mondays.