Under the Tuscan sun

When the world thinks of Italy, it's really Florence they're thinking of. But amidst all the art, history and beauty are now touches of modern comfort and style

- VIR SANGHVI

Even if you think that you know nothing about Florence, the truth is that you probably do. Much of what the rest of the world thinks of as being typically Italian is actually Florentine.

Opera was invented in Florence. Even the piano was invented in Florence. You have probably heard of the Renaissance. That began in Florence.

Think of some famous Italian artists: Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Sandro Botticelli, Cellini, Rubens or Raphael. They either came from Florence or worked in the city. Even the modern Italian language is based on the Florentine dialect.

Yet, history is not Florence's claim to fame. It is a great tourist attraction mostly because it is so beautiful. There are the famous structures, such as the Duomo, the cathedral that has the largest dome of its kind in the world, and the great palazzos or palaces associated with the Medicis, the family that ran Florence for centuries. But nearly every street in Florence is beautiful. You don't need to go looking for charm: It is all around you.

Each time I go to Florence, I discover something new. There are now far superior hotels than there were say, a decade-and-a-half ago, and though the restaurants are the usual mix of tourist traps and local favourites, there are now some great restaurants as well.