Itinerary: 3 intense days in Florence

Meet early in the morning in the Piazza del Duomo for a coffee on the terrace, while admiring an architectural feat in a new light: Florence's Duomo. Take the time to climb under Brunelleschi's incredible Duomo, to admire the view over the entire historic centre.

For lunch, head for the Mercato Centrale: the stalls alone will whet your appetite. Try a lampredotto, a Florentine tripe sandwich, one of the city's great specialities.

Then it's off for a lovely afternoon of shopping and sightseeing: there's plenty to tempt you along the San Lorenzo market and its leather crafts, then along Via Roma or Via degli Speziali... A break on the terrace of a historic café in Piazza della Repubblica won't go amiss.

After the beautiful façade of Palazzo Strozzi, continue shopping down another famous shopping street, Via della Vigna Nuova... Stroll through the streets of the Centro Storico until you reach the famous Ponte Vecchio, one of Florence's great symbols.

The Ponte Vecchio is lined with goldsmiths' and jewellers' shops, where you can make your final purchases at the end of the day. From the venerable bridge, enjoy the fading light on the waters of the Arno as it flows through the city...

For the evening, continue along the left bank, in the Santo Spirito district: in the square of the same name, small restaurants and bars will keep you awake until late.

Once again, you'll need to get an early start to the day to get in front of the entrance to the Uffizi Gallery before the crowds of visitors. Florence's most prestigious museum will keep you on your toes for most of the morning, with masterpieces by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli and many others...

The next stop is the Piazza della Signoria, the centre of Florentine political power since the time of the Medici. An espresso on one of the piazza's terraces will give you the chance to recharge your batteries before you embark on a second fascinating visit: the Palazzo Vecchio, whose high walls house Renaissance rooms full of hallucinating splendour.

Treat yourself to a good lunch break as you make your way north from the Centro Storico to another of Florence's emblematic districts: San Marco. As you pass his house-museum (Via Santa Margherita, 1), say hello to Dante Alighieri, master of Italian literature and the city's favourite son.

Two great museums, almost next door to each other, are waiting to occupy your afternoon, again on the theme of art history: it's hard to choose between Michelangelo, whose original David is on display in the Galleria dell'Accademia, and Fra Angelico, whose sublime collections are on show in the Museo San Marco...

Now that you've had your fill of culture for the day, take a stroll through the streets of the lively and authentic San Marco district, which is teeming with good places to dine.

Let's start the morning in front of the superb Basilica of Santa Croce, one of Florence's most beautiful religious buildings. This masterpiece of Italian Gothic architecture is the source of what is known as the Stendhal Syndrome: the writer lost consciousness at the sight of the church!

Try to keep your wits about you to discover the collection of works of art housed in Santa Croce, worthy of a real museum, and pay homage to the great figures who lie here, Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Galileo and Rossini...

Take the time to stroll through the popular and friendly Santa Croce district. As you make your way up the narrow streets, stop off at one of Florence's most mouth-watering markets: the Mercato di Sant'ambrogio, the city's oldest covered market, brimming with the finest Tuscan produce...

Digest by walking back down the district to the banks of the Arno, where you cross the river to the other bank, the Oltrarno, and finish the afternoon. On the programme: the best views of Florence as you walk up Piazzale Michelangelo. Guaranteed to make an impression at the end of the day!