Florence stretches in the valley of the river Arno and is surrounded by hills on three sides. On the north is Cercina, on the east are Fiesole and Settignano and on the south are Arcetri, Poggio Imperiale and Bellosguardo.

In the past several celebrities decided to spend their days in Florence in these dream places. Among those who lived on the hills around Florence are Galileo Galilei, the father of modern science, the writer Henry James, the poet Ugo Foscolo, and the lyric singer Enrico Caruso. All of them, and list could be much longer, fell in love with the villas standing on the hills around Florence and, above all, with the views that open in front of them.

Just imagine the panorama you can admire from one of these villas with the silhouettes of Brunelleschi`s dome, Giotto`s bell tower and Palazzo Vecchio standing out in front of you!

And that is not all: in order to make the most of the villas and of the many monasteries, castles, parish churches and historical palaces scattered on the hills around Florence some years ago was created the so-called Anello del Rinascimento (Renaissance ring), a 170 kilometre route that passes through many municipalities of Florence hinterland: a real travel in the culture of Florence neighbourhood.

Last but not least: on the hills that surround Florence stand some of the most beautiful Medicean villas (for more information read the following chapter of this tourist guide).