Benvenuto!
Below you’ll find details about transportation, travel tips, and more.
Getting There
The closest airport to Villa La Massa are:
Florence (FLR) is your closest international airport option, only about a 30 minute by car
Bologna (BLQ) and Piso (PSA) are regional airports nearby approximately 1 hour by car
Rome (FCO) is about 2 hour and 45 minutes by train to Florence. This option will likely be cheaper, but please consider the extra travel time.
TRAIN
If you are arriving by train from another European city or would like to take the train from the Rome airport, the closest station is in the city of Florence, Firenze Santa Maria Novella.
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CITY TRANSFERS
If you already have plans to be in Florence or arriving by train, Villa La Massa offers complimentary shuttle services to/from Ponte Vecchio every day. Once you have booked your room, please reach out to coordinate this service.
UBER
Uber is readily available in Florence if you would like to use this as your mode of transport from the Florence Airport or around the city.
TRAVEL TIPS (take it from us)
Use air tags for checked luggage
Leave ample time for connections (3+ hours) & it is usually easier to connect in the US
Use this jetlag planner to minimize jetlag and maximize energy, so you’re ready to celebrate!
CAR RENTALS
We found this was a very easy, safe, and efficient way to get around Tuscany and to see the surrounding towns. If you are staying at Villa La Massa, there is limited parking for guests.
AIRPORT TRANSFERS
Airport transfers can be coordinated through Villa La Massa. Please email guestrelations@villalamassa.it if you choose not to rent a car or use a rideshare service.
Things to do in Florence…
The Vasari Corridor
The city's elevated, enclosed corridor re-opened in December 2024 after eight years of closure to much fanfare. It was commissioned in 1565 as a secret passageway that allowed Cosimo I de’Medici to move back and forth between his offices in the Uffizi gallery and his residence in the Pitti Palace without being observed. Now open to the general public, it offers unique views of the Florence cityscape through the many windows along its half-mile length. Book well ahead; it’s a popular attraction.
Bargello Museum
The Museo Nazionale del Bargello—which opened as a museum in 1865 to celebrate Florence becoming the capital of Italy - houses the city’s most important collection of Renaissance sculpture. The museum houses masterpieces by the likes of Michelangelo and Donatello along with an eclectic haul of miniature bronzes, ceramics, waxes, enamels, medals, ivories, tapestries, seals, and textiles, some from the Medici collections and others from convents or private collectors.
Mercato di Santo Spirito
One of the most beautiful squares in Florence, expansive Piazza Santo Spirito is the beating heart of the uber-cool Oltrarno neighborhood south of the river. At its head stands the eponymous church with that iconic blank façade. With its residential vibe, leafy trees, daily market, and buzzing nightlife, the piazza offers a happy combo of fresh air, tranquility and a lively, day-into-night scene.
Gucci Garden
The Gucci Garden blurs the lines between monument and merchant, an interactive complex where fashion, food, history, and art commingle. Located in the 14th-century Palazzo della Mercanzia in Florence’s Piazza Signoria, Gucci Garden is Michele’s colorful journey through the Florentine fashion house’s past, present, and future. The multi-level boutique-slash-museum includes a store selling exclusive Gucci Garden designs, a gallery space with contemporary exhibitions, and a ground-floor restaurant by rockstar chef Massimo Bottura.
Giotto's Bell Tower
The Bell Tower or Campanile, designed by Giotto in 1334, is emblematic of the city of Florence. Looming over the Duomo and the Baptistery at nearly 280 feet, the free-standing tower is arguably the most eloquent example of 14th-century Gothic architecture in the city, and is visible from just about every vantage point. The climb to the top up 414 steep and narrow steps is challenging, and it’s not for claustrophobics, but the views from the top are knock-out.
Curious Appetite Food Tour
Looking for something a little different? Curious Appetite offers fun and extremely informative small group & private walking tours in Florence. We highly recommend Coral Sisk for this amazing experience.
Our carefully curated food tours and culinary lessons are very small group (8 or less) and expert-led (sommeliers, food historians, chefs, museum guides, etc) to provide discerning travelers an insider's access to genuine, artisanal foods, unique sommelier-approved wines while learning (the delicious way) about Italian culture & history. Book your tour today!