ToursGaGa

Go horse riding in the Chianti hills

Take a day trip from Florence and spend it horse riding in the pretty Chianti region. Florence Town (tel: +39 55 281 103; www.florencetown.com) can take expert riders through rolling Tuscan countryside, vineyards, olive groves and Middle Age villages.

Head out into the Chianti region

Just 30km (18 miles) from Florence are the rolling vines of the Chianti region, which is of course famous for its wine. Take a tour with Tuscany Pass (www.tuscanypass.com) and you’ll get a front row stall for the production of Chianti Classico, Reserve, and Vin Santo, with plenty of opportunities to try the good drink.

Hit the markets in Piazza del Ciompi

If your chosen method of therapy is retail, then be sure you visit one of Piazza del Ciompi’s markets. There’s a daily flea market (supposedly starting 0900 but times do change), and every last Sunday of the month the market takes over the surrounding streets, with around 100 stalls to browse through. Treasure awaits the patient.

Learn all about the Medici Dynasty

Lean back and take in the Medici Dynasty Show (medicidynasty.com) in the ornately decorated library of the former Convent of Sant’Onofrio, which is today the Il Fuligno complex, Via Faenza 48, in the heart of Florence. The showroom is the perfect setting for this Renaissance multimedia theatre piece in English that lasts one hour.

Sample the best of Florence’s food

Florence is as famous for its food as its mopeds, and there’s no better way to dive into the local cuisine than the Florence Food Tour (www.walksofitaly.com/florence-tours/florence-food-tour). This three and half hour tour will take in markets, restaurants, wine and even some gelato. Don’t eat before, basically.