Florence and its province, as well as the whole Tuscany, really gives its best during spring time, thanks to the beautiful Tuscan sun that illuminates everything and makes pleasant walking in the city center or hiking in the countryside.

In and around the beautiful Medicean city, there are beautiful green spaces and gardens where tourists and citizens can enjoy the spring, like the Boboli Gardens, the most famous in town.

Two of the most beautiful gardens of Florence are free of charge: The Rose Garden and the Iris Garden. Here you will see many species of roses and other flowers, to smell and photograph while you leisurely spend a day through the well-tended walking paths.

The most known picture of Florence is taken at Piazzale Michelangelo, where you can enjoy a stunning view of the whole city. To get a bit of freshness, you could taste an homemade ice cream in one of the open bar next to the square.

You can admire in the distance the hills surrounding Florence, and what could be better than a picnic out of town? Just prepare a packed lunch: wine, cheese, salami, olives, fresh bread and strawberries.

In spring, another good advice is to rent a bike out of Santa Maria Novella train station and ride along the Arno river to the park Le Cascine. In 280 acres of grassy fields and wooded boulevards of the biggest park of Florence, you will find the most suitable place to lay down and relax.

There are also many areas in the Tuscan countryside where you can spend a spring day cycling, enjoying the breathtaking views but also tasting local food and wine.

Spring provides the ideal weather for a day out cycling, not only thanks to the scent of the flowers, but also because it is neither too hot nor too cold. Some tour agencies organize bike tours which include visits to wineries and Tuscan villas to fully enjoy this beautiful region.

In the unlikely event of a spring rain, you can find shelter inside one of the many museums of Florence, such as the Uffizi Gallery or the Academy Gallery: there is a vast choice.

The perfect end of a spring day in Florence is a trip to the markets of San Lorenzo, the perfect place where to buy typical souvenirs. Why also not sip a drink in the Ponte Vecchio area to watch a sunset that will leave you speechless?

For more information, quotes and private tours of Florence you can head to guidedflorencetours.com

Marjorie Pierce