Florence: The Jewel Of The Renaissance
Florence, the capital of Tuscany and the jewel of the Italian Renaissance, is the most popular city of the region. The city can be described as an 'open air museum' and is recognized worldwide as among the top cities for art and architecture, with its many historic buildings, monuments, and rich museums. The cradle of the Renaissance and the world capital of art in the 15th century, it boasts one of the oldest historic centres and some of the most famous museums in the world, as well as one of the most iconic and distinctive landscapes as far as the eye can see. Everything in Florence is spectacular: from the shops to the streets that lead to the hills overlooking the most touristy areas, from the most authentic and popular neighbourhoods, just outside the historic centre, to the monuments that exhibit its soul.
The Westin Excelsior, Florence - Iconic luxury experience on the banks of the Arno River
A wealth of historical memories (seven centuries of Florentine history) is associated with the area on which stands the building that is now home to one of the most iconic hotels. Benefit from the hotel's convenient central location and go discover the treasures from the Medici family, walk over the well-known Ponte Vecchio, admire the stained glass in the churches and rejuvenate in the breezy parks of Florence.
A block of discounted rooms is reserved for conference participants starting at EUR 545/night for a Deluxe double room, single use, and EUR 595/night for a Deluxe double room for double occupancy and include a Full American Buffet Breakfast. Rates are subject to 10% VAT and City Tax €. 8,00 per person, per night.
You can make your reservation HERE
Reservations are available to book May 12-16th, 2026. If you are in need of additional nights or a night is not showing available please email: sandra.bagni@marriott.com
Upgrades: Deluxe Arno View rooms are an additional EUR 100/night plus VAT and Premium Deluxe rooms are an additional EUR 90/night plus VAT. For Arno View Rooms or Premium Deluxe Rooms, Guests should book the Deluxe category room through the booking link below and then email The Westin Excelsior (sandra.bagni@marriott.com), with the request for the upgraded room category. To receive these special rates, please make your reservation no later than February 14, 2026. After that, the rooms at our discount rates cannot be guaranteed.
A one-night non-refundable deposit is due at time of booking. From time of booking to 40 days prior to arrival, the reservation may be totally canceled without penalty, save the retention of the one-night deposit by the hotel. 39-0 days prior to arrival, cancellations, no-shows, and reduction of stay will be charged the whole cost of the reservation.
Rooms are reserved for course participants on a first-come, first-served basis, and may sell out before the cut-off date of February 15, 2025. Each Registered Attendee is allowed to reserve up to 2 rooms with their course registration, each additional room requires a separate non-attendee registration.
If reserving your room prior to your registration, your course registration must follow within 7 days of booking your room or your reservation will be subject to cancellation. Contact us at info@cmescience.com if you require an exception, or need assistance with your room reservation.
Other reservation information: The maximum occupancy is two persons (including children), except for selected Premium Deluxe rooms and suites which can welcome a third person with a daily supplement of 80€. Only one extra person can be accommodated per guest room. To book a Premium Deluxe room with an extra person charge, Guests should book the Deluxe category room through the booking link and then email Nerea at The Westin Excelsior (sandra.bagni@marriott.com), with the request to upgrade to Premium and add a 3rd person.
The Westin Excelsior Florence is a 30 second walk across the Piazza to the St. Regis Florence Hotel where the meeting will take place in the Salone delle Feste Ballroom.
What to see in Florence
Florence is a city that amazes, seduces and stays in your heart. The Tuscan capital is an open-air museum full of architectural masterpieces and unique works of art.
At every turn a marvel, so much so that its historic centre enclosed within the ancient medieval walls has been UNESCO World Heritage since 1982.
There is far too much to list on our website about Florence and the Tuscan region - we recommend you visit the MINISTERO DEL TURISMO website at ITALIA.IT/en
IDI Travel - Italian Dreams
A visit to Italy is like an interview with History and History has so much to say. Italy is home to 70% of the world's important art. Much of it marks the highlights of Mankind's progress and for this reason it's beauty and significance are as tangible today as ever.
With such a wealth of artistic riches, the question is what to see and how to see it? Italian Dream Incorporated is the perfect answer. We provide the only vehicle that can carry you directly to the aspects of Italian culture, history and art that attract you personally. We put you in the care of qualified people, built for your unique and privileged itineraries and request, introduce you to unusual contacts who can lead you through Italy's back door.
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How to Get Here
Florence is easily reached by plane, train or car. The city has its own international airport (Amerigo Vespucci) and Pisa International Airport is just 50 km away. Florence is a major high-speed railway hub with trains leaving regularly for the whole of Italy. Florence is located on the main Italian motorway, the A1, which connects Milan and Naples.
Flying
Florence Airport is only 5 km from the city centre. Visitors can take a taxi to the centre in just 15 minutes (for the city centre and main hotels, the flat rate is approximately € 25.
Pisa Airport is about 1 km from the Pisa Centrale railway station and is connected by the People Mover shuttle bus. Florence is about 1 hour away by train.
Here are some resources to find flights: Google Flights: google.com/flights and Skyscanner: skyscanner.com/
Taking the Train
Firenze Santa Maria Novella is the main station in Florence. It is located in the city centre and is a major transport hub on the Milan-Naples line, well connected to major Italian cities by high-speed train.
Regional trains also arrive and depart from Santa Maria Novella several times per hour, connecting Florence to other cities in Tuscany. There are also interregional and international trains. For information and to purchase tickets, visit the Trenitalia website.
Driving
Arriving in Florence by car is straightforward. The A1 Milano-Napoli motorway intersects around Florence with the A12 Firenze-Pisa Nord motorway, which connects Tuscany’s main cities, such as Prato, Pistoia, Lucca and Pisa.
The A1 exits for Florence are Firenze Nord, Firenze Scandicci, Firenze Impruneta and Firenze Sud. There is also a new exit, Villa Costanza, which leads to paid parking near the T1 line of the tram (the tram stop is also called Villa Costanza). From there, you can easily reach the city centre in around 20 minutes.
The exits for other towns in Florence’s metropolitan area are Barberino di Mugello, Calenzano-Sesto Fiorentino, Incisa-Reggello and Valdarno. For towns in the Valdelsa, you can take the Strada di Grande Comunicazione Fi-Pi-Li (exits at Montelupo F.no and Empoli).
If you come to Florence by car, remember that traffic in the city centre is limited by the ZTL (Zona Traffico Limitato). The ZTL requires that you leave your car at one of the many car parks operated by the “Firenze Parcheggi” network, whose costs and hours vary according to the car park (prices vary from € 1.60 to € 2 per hour).
Remember that the underground car park at the Santa Maria Novella railway station costs more than the other car parks; hence long stays are not recommended.
Air and Car Discounts
Discounts on airfare of 2%-7%, and on car rentals of 5%-30%. - Please click HERE to access the Air and Car Discounts Brochure.
