Florence, Italy is a city of unparalleled historical and cultural significance. It was the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance in the 15th century, which was the educational, scientific, and artistic movement that brought the world out of the Dark Ages. And it was home to some of history’s key players: Dante, Machiavelli, Galileo, and Michelangelo. Today, Florence is an important city in Tuscany that welcomes 13 million visitors annually keen to experience its art, architecture, and history. The city is planted at the foot of the beautifully rugged Apennine mountains, a chain that stretches over 550 miles (1,500 kilometers) through the entire Italian peninsula.