An Insider’s Guide to Florence

Words by Belmond Editors

A person sits inside a red photo booth with a black curtain, set in an old, orange wall decorated with graffiti, posters, and a white angel illustration above the booth labelled Fotoautomatica.

While Florence has one foot rooted in Renaissance splendour, the other strides out into a future filled with some of the world’s finest food, music and fashion. Make your base at Villa San Michele, then explore our guide to the city’s best kept secrets.

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Cappelli Antonio Gatto

SHOPPING

A stone’s throw from Piazza Pitti, where Florentine craftsmanship thrives, there’s Antonio Gatto’s hat atelier. When visiting Florence, don’t miss stopping by to see how each hat is entirely handmade, with materials guiding the creation, from fine felts and straw to meticulously shaped, one-of-a-kind designs. ⁣

A man stands in a cosy workshop filled with hats and sewing materials. He appears to be working or contemplating, surrounded by shelves with hats and a sewing machine. The foreground shows a hat and coat on display.

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Wine Windows

DRINKING

One of the best things to do in Florence is to stroll the ancient streets, keeping an eye out for the charming buchette del vino – tiny arched wine windows set into historic façades. These were born as a clever 17th-century hack for noble families to sell wine straight to passers-by, skipping middlemen and linking city to vineyard. Today, many of these portals are joyfully revived: spot one that’s open, knock gently and savour a delicious glass of Tuscan red passed right through the wall.

A hand holding a glass of red wine reaches through a small wooden window with painted doors depicting historical scenes, set in a stone frame on a beige wall.

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Vintage Photo Booths

EXPLORING

Tucked between streets and squares, Florence hides a few Fotoautomatica booths – silent witnesses of time. Born in the early 20th century, these analogue photo cabins still print black-and-white portraits the old-fashioned way, slow and beautifully imperfect. Find one, step inside, and take home a printed memory of your stay in the Renaissance city.

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Vivoli Gelateria

TASTING

Discover a flavourful place to visit in Florence, just a few steps from Santa Croce, where tradition is still served the same way it was in 1930. Here sits Gelateria Vivoli, where the affogato is known as La Gran Crema al Caffè – a perfect balance of sweet and bitter, hot and cold. ⁣Choose the original version, or an indulgent pistachio twist.

A person holds a white cup of coffee or cappuccino on a matching saucer with a teaspoon. The coffee has a square-patterned froth on top. The person is wearing a dark coat.

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Pasticceria Gualtieri

TREATING

In authentic district of Oltrarno, where Florence still breathes its slow, unhurried rhythm, there’s a little corner born from a sweet love story in the 1930s: Pasticceria Gualtieri. A Florence must see, this is the perfect spot for a breakfast that tastes of true Florentine tradition: leisurely and indulgent. ⁣The unmissable place for the best pastries in the city.

An overhead view of a marble table set with coffee, a cappuccino, a croissant, and two pastries dusted with icing sugar on white plates, with serviettes and a packet labelled “Gualtieri”.

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Trattoria Cammillo

FEASTING

Trattoria Cammillo, family-run since 1945, is an Oltrarno institution not to be missed. Here, charcoal-grilled bistecca alla fiorentina, handmade tortellini in brodo and seasonal white truffles are served with the family’s organic olive oil and house Chianti. In its white-tablecloth dining room, alive with the rhythm of local life, every meal reflects the soul of Florence and generations of culinary passion.

A waiter in a white shirt, apron, and bow tie stands in an art-filled restaurant, with shelves of wine bottles and decorative plates on the wall behind him. Tables are set with white linen and glassware.

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Villa San Michele

SLEEPING

A work of art inside and out with a history tracing back to the 15th century, Villa San Michele is a Renaissance villa in Florence that immerses you into the romance of Italy. Re-opening in May 2026 following an extensive renovation, book your stay to enjoy an indulgent stay perched in the hills of Fiesole.

BOOK YOUR STAY

Angled shot of a guest in soft-focus as she gazes at the beautiful vista of Florence's hills and roofs from an upper window.

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An Insider’s Guide to Florence