During 15th and 16th centuries when money was obviously of very little consequence, the Medici’s built several sumptuous villas throughout the surrounding countryside of Florence known as the Medici Villas. The Cardinal Ferdinand de’Medici commissioned the Villa della Petraia in 1576, and with its glorious gardens it is regarded as the finest of the villas, just 3,5kn north of Florence. A little further north the Villa di Castello was the summer home to Lorenzo the Magnificent, with the Villa di Poggio a Caiano about 15km from Florence serving as his day-to-day residence.

Book your accommodation in one of the fine Florence hotels and make sure you experience at least a portion of the city and visit Florence's Medici Villas. Whilst in the city enjoy authentic Italian cuisine at some of the great Florence restaurants.