The Medici. Botticelli. Dante. What do these names, familiar to anyone who has studied history, art, or literature (or a combination of all three), have in common? All of them were natives of Florence, and their presence survives in the city today. As the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance and an epicenter for high culture, Florence has become one of the artistic treasure troves of the world. You can barely walk along the streets and piazze without running into famous works (or their replicas), and the myriad museums are rivaled in number by dozens of churches, which house priceless artwork and frescoes all their own. One might think that being a tourist in Florence would get old, once the splendor of walking through yet another museum with yet more artistic landmarks wears off. But this city is so much more than that: you can sip regional Chianti at the many cafes and bars, enjoy traditional Tuscan cuisine in trattorias and ristoranti, and view spectacular live performances of everything from music to theater. This is a city of purely Florentine sights, tastes, and customs, and if you allow yourself to embrace that culture, you’ll no doubt leave feeling like a true fiorentino.