We visited the beautiful city of Florence earlier this year and our hotel was centrally located between 3 of Florence's most famous and most visited historical piazzas which also happen to be my favourites. They are definitely the top piazzas to visit while you are in Florence. These amazing spaces are the perfect spot to just sit outside one of the many restaurants or cafes and enjoy an expresso, pizza, spritz or even grab a gelato and soak in the history and architecture and of course, people watch.

Piazza Della Signoria
Named after the ruling body of Florence, this L shaped piazza owes it's unusual shape to two feuding powers, the Guelphs and the Ghibellines in the 13th century. This was a political and violent power struggle and was represented in Florence by the Buondelmonti family and the Uberti family. This funding went on for many years until eventually the Uberti family were expelled from the city and their many towers were destroyed. These towers lay on the ground for many years and it was forbidden for anything to be built in there place and thus this historic open space was born.

This piazza became a civic area and become the place for public executions, visits from Kings and Queens and a gathering place to approve new laws. The only signs of gruesome deaths in the piazza today are the statues in the outside gallery, The Loggia dei Lanzi that include Perseus holding the head of Medusa by Cellini and The Rape of the Sabine Woman by Giambologna. A stark contrast to this is the beautiful, iconic Michelangelo's David and Neptune's fountain. An additional attraction at the moment is the exhibit of contemporary art by Urs Fischer a towering 12 metre high metal monumental sculpture. A provoking contrast between classic and modern.

Piazza Sante Croce 
This definitely one of the most important squares in Florence. Originally an island isolated outside the city wall and  close to the river Arno, it takes it's name from the magnificent Franciscan Basilica that dominates it. The church is devoted to St Francis and it features 16 chapels decorated by the greatest artist Giotto, impressive tombs of Michelangelo Buonarroti, Rossini, Macchiavelli, Boscolo and Gallileo. As far back in the 13th century the Square hosted celebrations and meetings and it's stairs and seatings make it a great place to sit and people watch. The historic form of football, Calico Florentino, dates back to the 16th century and is thought to have originated and still played in the Piazza Sante Croce, attracts thousands every year and in the summer big bands play live making the square a night time hotspot.

Piazza del Duomo
This has to be one of the most recognised piazzas in the whole of Italy and is centrally located and dominated by the iconic Cathedrale of Santa Maria dei Fiori of Florence. The third largest after Rome and Milan with its adjoining octagonal Baptistry dubbed the mini basilica and Campanile Bell Tower. The Baptistry is the oldest part and dates between 1059 and 1128. The main cathedral which was started in the 13th century, is both beautiful outside and in. The edifice, designed by Arnolfo di Cambio, is a majestic Gothic style structure with facades in pink, white and green marble, crowned by it's easily recognisable iconic tiled dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi in the 15th century. The greatest Italian artists worked on the inside of this architectural masterpiece, producing fresco's and sculptures. The biggest fresco being the Giorgio Vasari's Last Judgement, which can be viewed from an upper gallery when climbing to to the top of Brunelleschi's Cupola. Not for the faint hearted but the views of the city are well worth it. 

We are lucky that many of our artisan suppliers are based here in Tuscany such as Chiarugi, Pratesi, Boldrini, Paolo Masi, and never miss a chance to find new designers while soaking up the sheer beauty of this fabulous city. With inspiration like this it's no wonder that Italian design and style is admired the world over.