Peretola Airport is the International Airport of Florence, Italy. It was formerly known as Amerigo Vespucci Airport and is the second busiest terminal in Tuscany after Galileo Galilei Airport in Pisa. Located just under 8 kilometres from Florence city centre, the airport allows visitors the flexibility to access all the glorious architecture of Florence and the landscapes of Tuscan Wine Country.
Visitors to Peretola Airport will find a multitude of world class attractions right on their doorstep. The famous Duomo of Florence Cathedral is a short distance away. Admire the striking ceiling frescoes or climb to the top of the dome for incredible city vistas. Uffizi Gallery houses some of the world’s most prominent artworks from the Renaissance period. The priceless masterpieces are divided between 45 museum halls and include works by Botticelli, Michelangelo, Titian, Raphael and Caravaggio. Head to nearby Galleria dell’ Accademia to see Michelangelo’s David sculpture in all its marble glory. The statue was created between 1501 and 1504 and is the city’s best-known sculpture. Fashionistas will appreciate a trip to the Gucci Museum. Set in the heart of the city, the museum pays homage to where brand Gucci began. Walk along the banks of the Arno River and over the picturesque Ponte Vecchiolined with quaint wooden shuttered jeweller’s shops and picturesque viewing points. Dining out in the city is a unique experience. Take a seat in one of the charming trattorias and sample Bisteccaalla Fiorentina with a glass of Chianti wine from a local vineyard. To walk off the sumptuous dinner head to Piazzale Michelangelo which offers the best panorama of Florence. It’s a romantic location at sunset when the city illuminates, as there is no better place to be. The areas surrounding Florence are home to some of the most superior vineyards in the country. Venture out and sample local wines in medieval villages and castles or in vineyards next to sunflower drenched fields.
The airport connects Florence city centre by bus. Services run twice an hour to the main railway station within the city. Taxis are available to main attractions of Florence and a light rail network located in the airport terminal is planned in the future. Journey time into Florence is approximately 20 to 30 minutes by car, bus or taxi.
Peretola Airport was initially a large field with no formal aviation direction. Following a major upgrade of an asphalt runway, the airport received its first passenger flights in the 1940s. The initial routes operated to and from Rome, Venice and Milan. The airport is relatively compact and acts as a base for Vueling Airlines with flights operating throughout Italy and several European destinations.