City break in romantic Florence

Whether you simply want to wander slowly through the city's romantic, bustling streets hand-in-hand with a loved one, or embark on a cultural jaunt filled with some of the finest art and architecture Italy has to offer, Florence is a dream location for a long weekend.

The Piazzale Michelangelo, located high on the southern hills overlooking Florence but within easy walking distance of the heart of the city, is a great place to begin any visit to the Tuscan capital.

From this scenic viewpoint, conveniently located by the city's largest car park (and drivers will be hard pushed to find any more attractive parking location than this), it is clear even before you have passed through the old city walls why Firenze - to give it its Italian name - is renowned as one of the most beautiful, most richly artistic and most romantic cities in the world.

Looking out across the city, there is a refreshing lack of the steel and glass of modern skyscrapers that dominate the skylines of so many other major European cities.

Instead, there is simply a sea of terracotta roofs, with the Santa Maria del Fiori cathedral towering above.

Better known simply by the Italian term for cathedral, the Duomo is still Florence's tallest building, despite having been completed in 1469.

The majestic red dome of the Duomo, designed by Fillipo Brunelleschi, is the ultimate symbol of Florence.

It is also one of the city's most popular of tourist attractions for the view offered from its peak. This requires a climb of 467 narrow steps inside the building which can seem a little unnerving, especially when it comes to the climax in the low-ceilinged passage inside the dome itself. But as long as you're prepared for the queue, it is certainly worth it.

A good alternative is to climb the Duomo's bell tower, or campanile. There is often little or no queue for this and the climb is rather less arduous than that of the dome, with a few large resting areas on the way up.

It is slightly shorter (just the 417 steps apparently) but the view from the top is just as good, and certainly has one obvious advantage for photographers in allowing you to view and photograph the cathedral dome itself.

Add in the gold doors of the baptistery and the cathedral's stunningly detailed façade, and it's easy to see why so many tourists flock to see it.

Of course, Florence is also famous for its peerless collections of renaissance art. In the Uffizi Gallery you will find many famous masterpieces, not least Botticelli's iconic Birth of Venus.

A short distance down the road from the Duomo is the Accademia, featuring Michelangelo's famous sculpture of David. There are numerous copies located around the city but nothing can compare to the mastery of the 17ft original.

Florence might not quite rival Milan when it comes to shopping extravaganzas, but there are still lots of fashionable places to spend your euros - not least the jewellery shops that line the street across the city's medieval bridge, the Ponte Vecchio.

Besides this, there are plenty of fine (if a little expensive) bars and restaurants in Florence. The warm spirit of the nightlife keeps the city buzzing in the evening, with street performers and musicians dotted around the streets to keep you entertained.

Oh, and if all this takes it out of you, then take a breather and remind yourself of why Italian ice cream is famous for a reason: it is utterly delectable.

Rob Hastings