Our absolute favorite Florence guide book is the Blue Guide to Florence, by Alta Macadam. The latest edition is the 11th, published in 2017. That may seem to be a bit ago, but 99% of the art and architecture mentioned hasn't changed in hundreds of years so not to worry (plus the book builds on all its previous scholarship)!

This book is for the serious art/history lover - it isn't a guide to dining and hotels, etc. It covers almost everything in Florence with details and critical opinion. If you really want to know about the treasures this city holds, this is the go to guide to have in hand when visiting Florence.

(following the links on this page will bring you to Amazon.com where you can buy this book, we receive affiliate commissions on links of this type)