Florence is surronded by lots of beauties, a short walk from the city and you can visit villages, castles and hills.

Here below some suggestions just a few miles from the city centre:


FIESOLE - 7 km from BEST WESTERN Hotel RIver - Bus n.7 from the City Centre

Fiesole looks over Florence from its 300 metres high and frames the city with his nice village born at Etruscans time.At the time of Romans it was the capital of the region with forum, capitol, theatre and spa. Since 1700 id one the favorite places for Florentines and foreigners who go to Fiesole to admire the magniicent panorama.

Don't loose the Cathedral, the Badia Fiesolana, Museo Bandini with ceramics by Della Robbia, the perfectly preserved roman theatre and the many villas and gardens scattered on the hills around.


LA CERTOSA DEL GALLUZZO - 7 km from BEST WESTERN Hotel River - Bus n. 37 from Santa Maria Novella Station

It is a monastic citadel dating back to 1314 when it was built as a monastry of Carthusians in an isolated and silent place as required by carthusian rule.
Restored after the earthquake in 1895, it was entrusted in 1958 to Bendittinians Cistercensi monks that opened the place to public.

You can visit Palazzo Acciaiuoli, the Pinacoteca, the Church of San Lorenzo, as well as all the monastery, the cript, the refectory and the Chiostro Grande.


BAGNO A RIPOLI - 8 km from BEST WESTERN Hotel RIver - Bus n. 31 or 32 from Stazione Santa Maria Novella - stop Chiantigiana 7

The Oratorio di Santa Caterina is a striking 14th century little chapel in the tuscan countryside. The exhibition presents twelve little know frescoes masterpieces, most of which never previously shown to the public. The absolute masterpiece is the tryptic of Agnolo Gaddi. 


FLORENCE GOLF CLUB UGOLINO - 9 km from BEST WESTERN Hotel River

Born in 1889 Florence Golf Club, the first golf club in Italy, was founded by the English community resident in the Tuscan capital. Since 1933, the Florence Golf Club is located in the beautiful contryside of Poggio Ugolino, a few miles from the center of Florence.

The Florence Golf Club Ugolino is a green with 18 holes par 72 and hosts prestigious events and competitions throughout the year.


IMPRUNETA - 16 km from BEST WESTERN Hotel River

The characteristic village of Impruneta dates back to Etruscan times and it is worldwide famous for the production of terracotta.
The spectacular square with arcades of 1the 1500s overlooks the Basilica of Santa Maria, where you can admire pieces of Michelozzo and Luca Della Robbia and the image of Maria that tradition attributes to St Luke the evangelist.

Two traditional events in Impruneta: the Fair of St Luke mid october and the Fair of Grapes on the last sunday of september


GREVE IN CHIANTI - 28 km from BEST WESTERN Hotel River

Greve is the gateway to Chiantishire on the road that connects Florence to Siena. Since the Middle Ages was an important crossroad of various roads that gave life to the most famous market square in Tuscany, where you can find shops of every delicatessen under the ancient arcades.

Nearby catles and churches to visit and go back to ancient times.


VINCI - 57 km from BEST WESTERN Hotel River

The birthplace of the genius Leonardo Da Vinci welcoms you among olive groves and vineyards in the Montalbano area.
The attention is all for him, Leonardo: Biblioteca Leonardiana, Museo Leonardiano, Museo Ideale, the house where Leonardo was born.