Florence, a City for Lovers

Florence is a city for lovers. Romance permeates the city like a fog, sifting down into quiet tables in tiny cafes, shaded courtyards in piazzas, and silent corners of marvelous cathedrals. Florence is known for its astounding works of Renaissance art, its magnificent cathedral, the Duomo, and its famous citizens such as Michelangelo, Galileo, and Macchiavelli. Visiting Florence is a delight for the romantic soul, and as couples wander the streets taking in the most wonderful sights, lifetime memories are made.

Accommodations that aid romance are readily available in Florence. Lodging runs the gamut from an inexpensive pensione to a suite in a luxury hotel and everything in-between. I once stayed in a fairly inexpensive hotel room overlooking the Duomo; we took amazing photos of the dome from the third-story windows. The room came with a huge old-fashioned bathtub, and the bathroom was ringed with shuttered windows. It was heaven lying in the bathtub with the shutters open, gazing up at the Duomo and enjoying the stars and night air. The room had a small balcony, and we met an elderly gentleman who had lived in a small penthouse on the roof for many years. He had a walled garden with huge pots of geraniums and several cats; the cats hopped up on the wall each night and went out over the roofs of Florence, coming back to their morning saucers of milk at dawn. Although we spoke only English and the gentlemen spoke only Italian, we were able to share stories each day we were there.