If you have not visited Florence, it should be an exciting goal for your future. Two full days can be enjoyed just touring Duomo Cathedral, Basilica of Santa Croce and Uffizi Gallery—and, of course, not far away, Michaelangelo’s 17 foot tall “David”, completed in 1504!
The works in the Uffizi are spellbinding including original statues and paintings, many half a millennium or more in age, by world renown artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Botticelli. There is a great hallway with 30 rooms or so displaying amazing, striking originals. Lining both sides of the hallway—which appears to be about two or three football fields in length—top and bottom, are statues and busts going back to the Roman emperors 2,000 years ago. The family responsible for this is the Medici family which, under Giovanni di Bicci dé Medici, started banking, subsequently becoming the largest and most respected bank in Europe in the 15th century. The family’s collection of art, ancient statues, and busts was unimaginable—worth trillions in today’s money. And when Marie Luisa dé Medici died without children in 1776, she left it all to the city of Florence.
While in Florence, you can select one of the fabulous $1,000/night or even $2,000/night hotels, but I recommend the Bernini Palace, about two blocks from the Duomo at around $500/night. One of the two great dinners and impressive service we experienced was at the main dining room at Bernini Palace. The other was at Da Giacomo Al Salviatano on the dining room terrace.
After leaving Florence, about an hour and twenty minutes away is IL Borro—the massive, magnificent family-owned estate and resort of the Ferragamo family tucked away in the Tuscan Hills.
There are many choices of where to stay at IL Borro. If you are staying within a 5 or 10 minute vicinity of the restaurants, three-hole golf course, tennis courts, SPA, etc, then you simply call the front desk and a driver in a cart arrives within five minutes and transports you to your chosen destination. I recommend that you stay at the Dinora, which is about a one minute walk from my favorite restaurant, The Tuscan Bistro, and also the Spa and the bar with the infinity pool outside.
All of the rooms are approximately $1,000 a night, but well worth it for a several day stay. We stayed in the Medieval Village. While there, you might run into Salvatore Ferragamo Jr., whose brother runs the clothing business. Salvatore himself chose to preside over the winery and vineyard operation. He travels the world showing off his IL Borro wines at upscale tastings and dinners, one of which we attended in Houston. His sister is in charge of the vegetable garden and the horses. Yes, equestrians will be happy here also, riding through the magnificent estate.
Finally, the cab drive from IL Borro to the Florence airport is among the most beautiful anywhere—skirting Chianti Classico and being surrounded by beautiful hills, massive olive orchards, innumerable vineyards and gorgeous estates the entire one hour plus drive.
For the drive from Florence to IL Borro, I recommend a private driver whose knowledge of Tuscan wines and tour sites makes for wonderful sightseeing along the way. And the extraordinary front desk personnel will arrange for the ride to the airport in Florence.
The works in the Uffizi are spellbinding including original statues and paintings, many half a millennium or more in age, by world renown artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Botticelli.