Florence is the heart of Renaissance Italy and one of Italy's most visited cities. Florence has many interesting museums, beautiful churches and buildings, and impressive artwork. Here are some recommended travel books and guides to help you get the most out of your travels to Florence.
Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guide Florence and Tuscany
Top 10 Travel guides contain many detailed lists of top ten things to do or see with maps, photos, and tips for the traveler. This book covers both Florence and popular spots in Tuscany. Books are small enough to carry around easily.
Frommer's Portable Florence
I love the small size of these books, easy to take along. Book includes top sights, hotels, restaurants, and off the beaten path suggestions.National Geographic Traveler Florence & Tuscany
A fairly comprehensive guidebook with 240 phots and 22 maps. The book has detailed site descriptions, walking tours, visitor information, and insights into history, background, and culture. It covers Florence in depth and has about 100 pages on the rest of Tuscany.Dk Eyewitness Travel Guides Florence and Tuscany
Eyewitness Travel Guides have lots of beautiful pictures, drawings, and detailed descriptions. They are great for planning but are usually a little heavy to carry with you each day.The Food Lover's Guide to Florence
Finding great food and restaurants in Florence can be difficult. The Food Lover's Guide has gotten great recommendations from people who've used it. Emily Wise Miller takes you to restaurants, pizzerias, and wine bars where you'll eat like a local rather than a tourist.Access Florence and Venice
If you're going to both Florence and Venice this is a good book. It covers hotels, restaurants, and sites by area.Cafe Life Florence
Cafe life is something you will want to experience while in Florence. Joe Wolff visited cafes in Florence and gives you his recommendations. His book is more than just what cafes to visit; he goes into great detail about each cafe, its owner, history, and nearby sites to visit. Great black and white photos, too.Florence in Detail - A Guide for the Expert Traveler
Created in collaboration with the International Herald Tribune, this book from Rizzoli publishers includes 17 walking tours. It covers familiar sites and off the beaten path choices, top picks, and excursions outside Florence.The Civilized Shopper's Guide to Florence
If you're looking to do some serious shopping in Florence, this book is a good choice. It has eight walks leading to shops with high-quality goods and restaurant recommendations along the way.Streetwise Florence
While this is not a guide book, it does make a good travel companion for walking around Florence. The detailed map shows major buildings, making it easy to orient yourself and it's laminated for durability.