Come to Florence and you’ll soon find yourself swooning over its classical art and culture. Here is a city filled with breathtaking architecture from its domed cathedral Il Duomo to its art museum Uffizi Gallery, filled with masterpieces by prominent artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. Florence, which was at the heart of the Italian Renaissance, is a city that encourages you to drink coffee in one of its grand squares, stumble across one of its many glorious churches and palaces or simply get lost wandering through an old part of the city.
Given its awe-inspiring attractions, it’s little wonder the historic centre of Florence was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1982. Still, while the capital of the Tuscany region has strong pulling power in its classical arts and centuries-old architecture, fast forward to today and Florence is a modern, thriving economy, supported by waves of tourists who come to see its ancient landmarks, but also indirectly benefit from its buoyant textile, pharmaceutical, glass and ceramic industries. The Italian city is expected to enjoy a steady rise in consumer expenditure from £16.7bn in 2014 and to £20.2bn in 2020, according to research firm Euromonitor.
“What makes Florence so appealing, aside from the beauty of the city itself, is its diversity,” says Andrea Panconesi, chief executive of Florence-based luxury fashion retailer Luisa Via Roma.
“A crossroads between the past and present, the city continues to celebrate its rich history while embracing innovation and supporting new enterprise.”
Of course, Florence and fashion are intertwined, with the clothing industry a key industry in this Italian city. Italian designers Gucci, Roberto Cavalli, Emilio Pucci and Salvatore Ferragamo were established in Florence. The latter even has a fashion museum, which opened in 1995, dedicated to his genius shoe designs.
Fashion magazine Vogue described Florence as the ‘world’s fifth fashion capital’ earlier this year, and the magazine holds Vogue Fashion’s Night Out, an international event featuring parties, tours and dinners. Florence will host its third edition in September.
“Florence’s rich history in fashion dates back beyond the Renaissance to the Middle Ages,” says Panconesi. “Over the last century, the city has played host to a number of prominent designers. These designers’ contribution to the industry, as well as the city’s strong appreciation and continued celebration of true made in Italy craftsmanship, is what has cemented it as one of the fashion capitals of the world.”
Of course, Florence has also heightened its presence on the global fashion stage by hosting the bi-annual Pitti Immagine Uomo trade show, the event that gathers together the majority of buyers and editors to scout out the upcoming menswear fashion trends. Emily Norval, editor-at-large of fashion magazine WeAr, says Pitti Uomo is one of the major international trade shows opening the bi-annual fashion buying seasons. “For buyers this is a crucial opportunity to gain insight in what international menswear players are producing for the season ahead as well as a key networking opportunity for both brands and buyers.”
She also views Florence’s Pitti Uomo as a place to see and be seen. “It is renowned for its extremely well-dressed visitors and has become a major hub for men’s street style, showcasing current season trends and attracting international press and bloggers. Florence is also full of fantastic shops, such as Luisa Via Roma, many of which will set up window displays specifically for the event.”
The event helps boost the number of visitors flocking to Florence, which attracts around 16 million people every year, a huge number for a city which has a population of around 350,000.
Those who come to Florence for business must surely take time off to soak up the grandeur of one of the world’s most beautiful cities. After ticking off the wonderful museums, palaces, churches and some of the most coveted artistic treasures, visitors should hike up the hill to the church of San Miniato al Monte to catch a soul-stirring view of Florence. And if time permits, you’d be foolish not to hire a car and take a day trip or two and escape Florence and explore the sumptuous Tuscan countryside.
