Florence is located in northwest Italy, along the banks of the River Arno which flows from the mountains to the west of the city into the Ligurian Sea off the east coast of Italy. This beautiful city is surrounded by the wine-growing hills of Chianti and is the capital of the region of Tuscany. It is about 210 kilometers north of Italy's capital, Rome, and 45 kilometers south of Bologna. Florence has a population of more than 475,000 people, and is visited by more than five million tourists each year.

Florence is known as ‘the jewel in the crown of Renaissance Italy,’ having been the home of such distinguished artists as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael. For several hundred years it has served as a center of artistic excellence. Within the city’s limits, sprawled on either side of the river Arno, the visitor can wander from the Cathedrals to the famous Uffizi gallery. The city is small but remarkably beautiful, and mostly pedestrianized. As a result of the city's small geographical size, it is both densely populated and polluted, traffic is also a problem, and many people navigate the city's narrow streets by cycles and scooters. Walking is the most pleasant way to visit most destinations, and the narrow Mediterranean-styled streets and piazzas are full of locations for film shoots.

Florence has a typical Mediterranean climate resulting in very hot summers and cold and damp winters. In winter, January and February days are short and cold. Average high temperatures are in the 40s and low temperatures in the 30s. In late March average high temperature is in the 60s and days begin to lengthen. By May average high temperature is in the 70s. July and August are the hottest months in Italy, high average temperature is almost 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Early fall is the best time to visit Florence. Temperatures begin to drop in late October and November, and there is more rain.

 

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