12 Reasons Autumn is the Perfect Time to Visit Florence

The first reason why autumn is the most beautiful time of year to be in Florence is the colors. The changing of leaves on the trees in the parks, avenues and streets of the town, the glistening reflections in the Arno river, all make it worth a trip to Florence at this time of the year. Instagrammers: No filter needed here!

Florence is a popular choice for spring and summer holidays, so between May and September, the city centre swells with hordes of tourists. This means prices are higher, queues for the most famous tourist attractions are longer and restaurants are always busy. With autumn finally here, you can breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy having places to yourself.

One of the best reasons to visit Florence, and Tuscany, at this time of the year is the wine. Autumn is the wine season, with harvesting taking place in the region. If you have the chance, go to visit a vineyard and then taste world-class Tuscan wines.

Just one month later is the wine harvest, the time of olives! Visiting Florence in autumn means also experiencing the first tastes of another Italian speciality, extra virgin olive oil. Try it on a bruschetta, toasted bread or with a glass of good Italian wine of course.

Everyone loves the sun, but in summer months it can be very hard to walk Florence, the temperatures get quite high. So autumn is a much more pleasant season for those who find Florence’s sweltering summers tough to bear.

Theatres are generally closed in Florence over summer and open in autumn. If you are an opera enthusiast, check out the calendar of La Pergola, Teatro Puccini or Teatro Verdi, which are the most famous theatres of Florence.

In the sunny days of September and October, it is still possible to enjoy beach time even in Tuscany. So get a train and go to one of the several beaches near Florence, such as Marina di Pisa, Tirrenia or Viareggio.

Every autumn in Florence the 50 Giorni di Cinema Internazionale takes place; it’s an event dedicated to international movies. This festival is organized by Teatro della Compagnia and hosts movies from India, France, South America and Balkan Peninsula.

If you decided to visit Florence to see its magnificent art gallery, you need to know that the end of autumn is one of the best times to come in town and go to Uffizi. In autumn, you can enjoy the place in virtual silence while admiring the most beautiful artworks of the world.

Autumn is a good time to catch an art exhibition in Florence. Until March, Palazzo Strozzi hosts “The Cinquecento in Florence.” A spectacular exhibition dedicated to 16th-century art in Florence, with works by Michelangelo, Bronzino, Giorgio Vasari and Pontormo, just to name few.

If you’re a sport enthusiast, October is the time to take a hike in the Foreste Casentinesi National Park, one of the best places in Italy for fall foliage colors. The Park is located in eastern Tuscany, just 90 minutes from Florence and off the main tourist trail.

Autumn in Tuscany means harvest time: In the neighborhoods of Florence during this season are plenty of regional festivals and events celebrating the local dishes. It’s the perfect time to explore nearby towns with many of them hosting a sagra (food festival) to celebrate and eat truffles, mushrooms, olive oil and wine.