Do you know that Italy has celebrated its 150 year of existence this year? Yes, but this is only the history of modern Italy as we know today. Italy was ruled for long by competing powerful and rich families leading small republics organized around cities which dealt with banking, industry, and trade, or as a peculiar state, was organized around the power of the pope: Rome; whereas many popes come from the above families.

Florence was ruled by the Medici family, who were bankers and generous sponsors of art and architecture, for example of Machiavelli, Dante, Petrarch, Botticelli, Michelangelo and Donatello just to name some. This left us with a timeless and ageless beautiful backdrop, a pompous city on the banks of the Arno River, in the very center of Tuscany, frequented by honeymooners, comparable to Venice.

To explore Florence start your visit at the Duomo, the 600 years old dome still towering high above the city, offering a spectacular view from the top. The geometric white, green, pink marble combinations covering  of the Duomo changes its dominant color reflection each time of the day, from white being dominant during the day, green marbles flaring up in the early morning and evening, and the pink marbles in the sunset. Enter to look the immense aisles, marble pavement and the frescoes of the last judgment inside. Walk outside around to the campanile (separate, standing alone tower) to the Baptistry, admire the famous bronze doors made by Ghiberti. If you are lucky, (like we were) Florentians will parade the piazza and streets, dressed in medieval dresses with colorful flags, musicians, trumpeters and drummers. Walk around the Piazza del Duomo, to see the ornate building like the Loggia del Bigallo. Visit the Bargello museum to see best renaissance sculpture collection, for lovers of Donatello and Michelangelo. After museum, take a horse carriage and ride around the ancient city for an hour (bargain well, but prepare 100 Euro).

Want a time travel into the renaissance? Walk over to Piazza della Signoria, the parlimento, which means “public meetings”. Photograph your love on the stairs of Palazzo Vechio and the roman sculptures of loggia del Lanzi, in front of statue of Perseus by Cellini, and the famous David statue by Michelangelo (the original which stood here see in Galleria dell’Accademia). Take left and stroll twenty something steps to visit Italy’s greatest gallery: the Uffizi. Vasari, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Pierro della Francesca, Giotto, Raphael, and Caravaggio are the old masters here, - we would call them now as culture brands.

On your way to the nearby Santa Croce church, pass and admire the street painters working on the piazzas, bargain with them for making a portrait of you and your love (you will get excellent quality within no time, but the price might seem spicy even with a good bargain). In Santa Croce visit the thumbs of Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli – uplifting company of giants– admire frescoes of Giotto and take note of the adventurous rescue of the treasure of Santa Croce: Ciambue’s Crucifixion during the 1966 flood.

Walk and window shop up to the Arno River, pass the Galilei Museum. Explore the diamond and jeweler shops on both side of the Ponte Vecchio Bridge, the oldest bridge of the Arno River, which dubbed the bridge of the lovers. This spectacular place is frequent spot of cinematographers and TV crews working on the next episode of actual Italian soap operas.

Passing the Ponte Vecchio, visit the most expensive shops of Florence, but cover the eyes of your husband before he decides to buy not something for you, but a ten thousand euro starter price a piece designer watch for himself, before reaching the nearby Palazzo Pitti, a lavish museum of Firenze with the Palatine Gallery, the Royal Apartments and gardens, the residence of the Medici (The Pitti family who build this palace were bankers and wanted to outrival the Medici family, but ironically the Medici purchased the palazzo when the building costs bankrupted the Pitti family)

From this side of the Ponte Vecchio bridge walk up to the Piazzale Michelangelo on the hilltop, admire the stunning misty panorama of Florence. Walk to San Minimato al Monte church, one of the most beautiful Romanesque churches in Italy, and look the sunset over the Arno River and distant Tuscan Hills, have a glimpse of the Duomo and the Campanile in the early evening gloom.

Don’t forget the good restaurants. Rule of thumbs is that restaurant which looks appropriate for your taste and fondness from outside will provide what it promises. It is nearly impossible to be disappointed, so trust your gut feelings. Every time of the day, at every stage of your budgetary cycle you will find suitable restaurant at any part of the city. Shopping is relatively cheaper than other cities of Italy and all the original big brands, like Armani, Versacce, Gucci, La Perla have shops. We spent a leisurely three hours at Intimissimi. Paradise for “good quality but hard bargain” shoppers is the vicinity of San Lorenzo church (a five star attraction itself) where to get exclusive leather products and Mercato Nuovo for buying presents taking home to relatives and friends. Not necessary to hire guide or hope onto a tourist bus every day: learn to read a map and be equipped with a good guide book; ours, the delicately illustrated and excellent “Italy; Eyewitness Travel” helped us through everything (buy at Istanbul Airport  or any good bookshop at any airport or order information at www.dk.com).