Florence

Italy

"Renaissance Domes, River Views & Tuscany's Art Capital"

Florence is compact enough to cross on foot and dense enough to fill several days. Brunelleschi's dome marks the skyline, the Uffizi and the Accademia hold the paintings and Michelangelo's David, and the Oltrarno side of the Arno is where the workshops and quieter dinners are. Climb to Piazzale Michelangelo for the postcard view, then slow down with gelato and a morning in the Boboli Gardens. Day trips into Tuscany are easy, but the city itself deserves more than an afternoon off a ship.

Duomo & Brunelleschi's dome, Uffizi Gallery, Accademia (David), Ponte Vecchio, Piazzale Michelangelo, Boboli Gardens, Palazzo Vecchio

April–June & September–October

Reserve Duomo climb, Uffizi, and Accademia tickets weeks ahead; the historic center is mostly ZTL, so don't plan to drive in

Cruise passengers usually dock in Livorno, about 90 minutes away. A shore day is rushed; an overnight is better.