Flights to Florence with Air France

Florence - a city like no other that bears testament to the genius and creativity of the Renaissance

The city of Florence is without doubt one of the world's most iconic travel destinations - and justly so! Often compared to an open-air museum, the capital of the Italian region of Tuscany is a treasure-trove of architecture, statuary and paintings from Roman times to the present day.

Flights to this delightful holiday destination can take as little as 16 hours from Hong Kong, with features like the AF Connect travel updates service sure to make your journey an even more hassle-free one.

For the best-value airplane tickets, think of travelling during the early spring or early autumn periods. The weather is particularly pleasant in Tuscany at this time of year, with temperatures well in the 20s in May, June, September and October. Otherwise, keep your eyes out for the latest special offers.

Perhaps Florence's most outstanding sight remains its tallest building, the Duomo. The dome of this magnificent cathedral, which dates from the 14th and 15th centuries, is an outstanding feat of architectural engineering, and provides a superb vantage point over the city. Frescoes, paintings, mosaics, bronze reliefs and marble pavements testify to the skills of the artists working in the city at this time, including Pisano, Vasari, Uccello and Lorenzo Ghiberti. To avoid the queues, you can see wonderful examples of church architecture and religious art in some of Florence's less well-known places of worship such as:

• San Miniato al Monte
• Santa Croce
• Cappelle Medicee
• Convento di San Marco
• Florence Synagogue
• Santa Maria Novella
• San Lorenzo

The city is also home to some of the world's most celebrated art collections, foremost of which is the Uffizi gallery. Masterpieces by Botticelli, Michelangelo, Titian and Caravaggio await the visitor. Other important galleries are the Accademia and the Palazzo Pitti.

Florence isn't just about the arts - science and history both draw visitors too!

If there are only so many art galleries you can take, Florence also offers a number of attractions that will appeal to those of a more scientific or historical bent. The Museo Galileo pays homage to the great Tuscan scientist Galileo Galilei and will be much enjoyed by adults and children alike. The National Archaeological Museum, meanwhile, has exhibits from the area's Etruscan and Roman past, as well as a very extensive Egyptian collection.

If social history is more your cup of tea, then you should head to the Palazzo Davanzati. This is a great example of a five-storey high medieval mansion and includes an atrium and courtyard, a great hall, bathrooms, bedrooms, a kitchen and a study.

This being Italy, it's always a good idea to check out the local markets, and the Mercato Centrale is the biggest food market in town. Top-quality produce makes for excellent dining, and Florence is a great place to eat out. Local Tuscan specialities include Crostini di fegatini, (chicken livers spread on croutons) Panzanella (a tomato and bread-based salad), Bistecca alla Fiorentina (T-bone steak) and Cantuccini (almond biscuits).

Florence is a small city (population 380,000), making it easy to get out and about into the gorgeous Tuscan countryside during your stay here. Hiring a car offers maximum flexibility and convenience, although the public transport system is also quite efficient.