In addition to Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, with its richly ornamented façade, the Uffizi has one of the most important collections of paintings in the world. And on every street and around every corner there are noble patrician palaces with inner courtyards, pergolas and fountains.

Of course, the city of the Medicis offers much more to do than simply take in all the art. In the Via de Tornabuoni, there is one fashionable boutique after another, and the Ponte Vecchio is not the only place where you can buy beautiful gold and silver jewelry. The traditional Florentine cuisine also has a very good reputation and you can try the different dishes in any number of very good restaurants. In the evenings, young Florentines in particular like going out for a beer. In summer, they go for music, dancing and open-air cinema.

Lorenzo Ghiberti took 27 years to finish the east portal, known as the "Gateway to Paradise", which depicts stories from the Old Testament against a background of sculpted natural and architectural landscapes. The northern portal is also by Ghiberti. The interior of the Baptistery was decorated by Venetian masters in the 13th and 14th centuries using splendid, somewhat oriental-looking mosaics.

Donatello's bronze 'David' shows a surprising new awareness of physicality and motion. His protégé, Desiderio da Settignano, created two of the most expressive busts of his day: the 'Youth' and the 'Noblewoman'. In addition to Renaissance sculpture, the museum also exhibits Islamic art, a collection of medals, and works made of ivory, glass and porcelain.

More than five centuries later, you can still enjoy views of the city from the lantern at the top of the 25,000 ton, 295-foot high dome that has become the hallmark of Florence. At 276 feet, Giotto's Campanile (bell tower) is slightly smaller. Its marble façade was decisive in determining the cathedral's own façade, which was added in the 19th century. While the exterior is richly ornamented, the interior appears far simpler, making the frescoes of the 'The Last Judgement' – painted in the dome by Vasari and Zuccari in the 16th century – all the more impressive.

The Palatine Gallery is one of the best, both for its richly decorated Baroque halls and the unique collection of art by Raphael and Titian, as well as works by Tintoretto, Georgione, Rubens and Van Dyke. The Gallery of Modern Art exhibits 19th-century paintings, while the Museo degli Argenti features fine jewelry and gemstones. The Boboli Gardens, which stretch up the hill behind the palace, are considered one of the most beautiful Renaissance parks in Italy.

Fountains and famous statues grace the Piazza. In front of the Palazzo is a copy of Michelangelo's 'David' (the original is in the Galleria dell'Accademia) and a re-cast of 'Judith and Holofernes' by Donatello. Having freed their country by committing a murder, Judith and David symbolize republican liberty. The Neptune fountain and the equestrian statue of Cosimo I were added by the Medici dukes in the 16th century.

A copy of Michelangelo's famous sculpture of David can be seen on the square bearing the great master's name. A sea of Florentine buildings stretches out in front of you. Sightseers can enjoy the view over a cup of coffee or visit one of the churches on the hill: San Salvatore and San Miniato al Monte.

The Ponte Vecchio is closed to cars, so it is a wonderful place for a romantic walk in the evening as the sun sets over the river. The city's other bridges over the Arno were destroyed in World War II, though attempts were made to restore them to their original form, partly by using original stones fished out of the river.

The beautiful covered market, spread over two stories and the largest of its kind in Europe, offers Lucullan delights from the different regions of Italy, above all Tuscany. Here, you will find everything you need for a picnic, or a tasty little present. Knowledgeable traders at stands overflowing with meat and fish, fruit and vegetables, pasta and olive oil advise their customers and sell delicious salami and Parmesan, for example, in any desired amount. In summer, there is also a street market every day in front of San Lorenzo (in winter Tue-Sat only), where you can get bargain jeans, T-shirts, bags and trendy fashions.

The church is splendidly appointed, a real treasure trove of Florentine art. Wealthy merchants commissioned the best artists of the day to build them family chapels and magnificent frescoes in the hope that this would increase their prestige and guarantee their soul's salvation. The fresco of the Holy Trinity by Masaccio in the left nave – the first painting employing a central perspective – is outstanding. Numerous Renaissance artworks can be found in the sacristy, chapels and former monastery buildings.

The exhibits are arranged in chronological order, starting with well-known Tuscan artists, such as Cimabue, Giotto, Duccio, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, moving on to important Italian masters such as Raphael, Bellini and Titian, and ending with Germans such as Dürer and Cranach and Dutch artists, such as Rubens and Rembrandt. The most famous works in the Uffizi include 'Spring' and the 'Birth of Venus' by Botticelli, and the classical 'Medici Venus', which dates back to the 1st century A.D. To avoid getting overwhelmed by the sheer volume of artwork, it is a good idea to work out exactly what you want to see before going in. The Uffizi café is a good place to recover afterwards.