Florence’s greatest gift to visitors may be its small scale, with masterpieces by Brunelleschi, Botticelli and Michelangelo always within reach, making the Renaissance feel unexpectedly immediate. The city’s crown jewel is its magnificent cathedral, topped by Brunelleschi’s extraordinary dome and distinguished by its striking striped marble façade. At the heart of the city is the incomparable Uffizi Gallery, founded by a Medici bequest. And located on a famously scenic height above Florence, 5 miles from the city center, is the exquisite hill town of Fiesole. Because of its location in the Arno river valley, Florence can be hot and humid from June to August. We enjoy winter visits, when the crowds have thinned.