Luxury holidays in Oltrarno

The name Oltrarno translates as ‘beyond the Arno’, but a trip to Florence’s ‘other side’ or Left Bank is a bigger psychological shift – taking you away from the crowds of the Duomo, past the Ponte Vecchio and into a Firenze where artisans and ateliers line the streets and the Boboli Gardens lay on greenery and cypress groves. A modern masterpiece…

Recommended offers

See our boutique hotel deals

When to go

Florence can become packed with tourists during summer, when it’s also very humid. Go in early spring or, better still, autumn, when restaurants’ larders are stocked with freshly foraged truffles and fine wines from Tuscany’s vineyards.

Getting there

  • Planes

    Florence airport is a 20-minute drive from the city centre and official taxis are on hand for the ride into town. You can also fly into Pisa airport, from where direct Trenta Italia trains take just shy of an hour.
  • Trains

    The main station (Firenze SMN) is one of Italy’s busiest, located behind Piazza Santa Maria Novella, with high-speed connections to cities across the country and further afield in Europe.
  • Automobiles

    Having a car in central Florence is a hindrance. It's much more hassle-free to go on foot and save driving for the surrounding Tuscan countryside.