Florence

Best known as the center of Renaissance culture, Florence is also firmly planted in the 21st century -- and looking forward to the future. Recent innovations include new building projects such as a high-speed train link designed by Sir Norman Foster, as well as Firenze Nova, a fascinating satellite town being built from scratch. Even the most traditional aspects of Italian life -- food and drink -- are getting a revamp here, with an explosion of destination wine bars and trendy restaurants. This illustrated guide, written by knowledgeable locals, also contains comprehensive coverage of the city's arts and culture scene as well as hundreds of independent reviews. These critics save visitors time, money, and headaches by identifying Florence's best, worst, most fashionable, and most overrated.