"Nestling on the banks of the Arno River, against a backdrop of hills, is the elegant city of Florence, historically a centre of art, science and political idealism since the Middle Ages.
A wealth of beautiful churches, palaces and museums house collections of art without equal anywhere in the world.  Sumptuous paintings by Botticelli, Raphael and Titian, exquisite frescoes by Fra Angelico and magnificent sculptures, the work of such great artists as Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, are displayed to perfection in and around the buildings that are, themselves, gems of architectural design