Weekend in Florence

Description:

This is one of Florence's best-loved restaurants. After 65 years of history it still has the reputation with which it began: good Tuscan cooking with few allowances for current fashion. It has all the classic dishes as well as some gems like the controfiletto with balsamic vinegar or the fisherman's scampi. The wine cellar has all the big labels of Tuscany and aged wines from good years. In the simple and elegant room guests quickly feel at ease thanks to the friendly and professional staff.

Description:

J.K. Place Hotel is a contemporary hotel situated in central Florence, three blocks from Ponte Vecchio and 500 metres from the Uffizi Gallery. The 20 guestrooms are classically styled in soft shades with rich fabrics, and offer CD players, minibars and televisions. Guests can enjoy beauty treatments, relax over drinks in the bar, and ask the concierge for advice on local sightseeing.

Description:

Mercato Centrale built in 1874 and is one of the largest indoor markets in Italy. Located in the zone of San Lorenzo, tourist center of Florence, people seem to just pass through the San Lorenzo market instead of stepping inside the Mercato Centrale. With 2 floors of fresh meat, cheese and restaurants of the delicious kind, you must stop by and see what catches your eye. Mercato Centrale is open from 7am-2pm everyday except Sunday. A busy market inside in the morning after 2pm the San Lorenzo market outside takes over and is thriving with tourists and local vendors.

Our Local Expert Says:

This beautiful piazza is within a few minutes walk from the Santa Maria Novella train station and is a great place to get away from the crowds while resting on one of the many benches.

Description:

The organization of this piazza originated in the 1800s and gives its name to the ousting of Leopold II, Grand Duke of Tuscany, which took place in 1859. The two bronze statues on either end of the piazza are of Bettino Ricasoli by Augusto Rivalta in 1897 and of Ubaldini Peruzzi, first mayor of Florence, by Raffaele Romanelli in 1896. Unlike most piazzas in the historical center of Florence this one offers its visitors both shade and many places to sit. The palaces that rim the piazza are from the 1800s and early 1900s.

Description:

This family run restaurant has been serving traditional Tuscan Fare since 1953. When you walk through the door you immediately feel like part of the family, and even during the busy lunch hour, the service is impeccable. The Bisteca Fiorentina and the "worm pasta" are local favorites.

Description:

Of all Florence's major churches, the home of the Dominicans is the only one with an original facade that matches its era of greatest importance. The lower Romanesque half was started in the 14th century by architect Fra' Jacopo Talenti, who had just finished building the church itself (started in 1246). Leon Battista Alberti finished the facade, adding a classically inspired Renaissance top that not only went seamlessly with the lower half but also created a Cartesian plane of perfect geometry.

The church's interior underwent a massive restoration in the late 1990s, returning Giotto's restored Crucifix to pride of place, hanging in the nave's center -- and becoming the first church in Florence to charge admission. Against the second pillar on the left of the nave is the pulpit from which Galileo was denounced for his heretical theory that Earth revolved around the sun. Just past the pulpit, on the left wall, is Masaccio's Trinità (ca. 1428), the first painting ever to use perfect linear mathematical perspective. Florentine citizens and artists flooded in to see the fresco when it was unveiled, many remarking in awe that the coffered ceiling seemed to punch a hole back into space, creating...

Description:

Piazza del Duomo is one of the most famous landmarks in Florence. Truly an architectural piece of beauty, it encompasses the art and history of medieval Italy, through its sheer design. A visit to this city is not complete without visiting the piazza's cathedral 'Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore' whose dome dominates the skyline. It is no wonder that tourists are spellbound and spend hours trying to capture these images for eternity.

Our Local Expert Says:

Check out the Pieta` by Michelangelo and the original Gates of Paradise by Ghiberti!

Description:

Museo dell' Opera del Duomo was established in 1296 to supervise the construction of the Duomo and bell tower. In 1436, the Duomo was finished and the catedral was consecrated in which became a main task of the institution to preserve the monument. In 1891 the museum was renovated to hold all the works of art from over the centuries that were removed from the Duomo and the Baptistery of San Giovanni. What exists inside this museum are all the precious artwork that were taken in to be protected from the elements. The renovation of the museum took place from 1998 to 2000. Some of the most famous works that are currently being renovated and still live on inside these walls is Lorenzo Ghiberti's original bronze panels from the Baptistery's "Gates of Paradise". They are shown under the natural daylight enclosed in a courtyard. Ghiberti spent 27 years of his life in completely this masterpiece.

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This convent was founded by the Benedictines in the middle of the 13th century. The Carmelites in the 17th century dedicated the church to one of their saints which then assumed that name. The most famous artists of the period such as Perugino, Botticelli and Domenice Ghirlandaio all produced work here that has since left this collection to be preserved in museums all over the world. Inside the church, moving away from the sacristy and crossing other subterranean rooms, we arrive at the famous Crucifixion of the Pilgrim (1493-96), a fresco that decorated the former chapter hall.

Our Local Expert Says:

An expensive visit with the service to match.

Description:

Enoteca Pinchiorri is a restaurant of class and gourmet Italian cuisine. The enoteca entices the palates of many foodies who enjoy the delicatessen of Italy. The exquisite architecture gives the enoteca a prestigious atmosphere. A colorfully decorated space with frescoed ceilings, the Florentine Renaissance beckons as waiters race from table to table. The flavors have been kept close to the kitchen by one of the owners Annie Féolde who has became close friends with small producers and artisans in Tuscany in which she knows where to find the best products from wine to prosciutto for her patrons. Her top chefs, Italo Bassi and Riccardo Stumpy, collaborate together to create tasty and unforgettable dishes. From Spaghetti alla chitarra con crema di piselli to filetti di sgombro marinato, to maialino di latte allo spiedo con scalogno in agro-dolce, verza e petit-salé (carne di maiale salata), carrè d'agnello farcito di lardo di Colonnata con topinambur e crocchette di fagioli al rosmarino. Giorgio Pinchiorri's wine cellar now holds over 150,000 bottles; it is one of the largest wine celler in Italy and in the world. The pastry side is taken by Loretta Fanella. Imagine eating Marinated strawberries,... read more

Description:

J.K. Place Hotel is a contemporary hotel situated in central Florence, three blocks from Ponte Vecchio and 500 metres from the Uffizi Gallery. The 20 guestrooms are classically styled in soft shades with rich fabrics, and offer CD players, minibars and televisions. Guests can enjoy beauty treatments, relax over drinks in the bar, and ask the concierge for advice on local sightseeing.

Our Local Expert Says:

"You can see the hill town Fiesole and end of the Appennine Mountains from the Piazzale."

Description:

The vista which one can see the whole valley of Florence and of the surrounding hills is a must see. The climb up is rewarding, the view is breathtaking. There are buses available to take you to Piazzale Michelangelo. Tourists, tourist groups and tour buses all congregate at this panoramic view. Vendors set up early in the morning with cool beverages for the parched tourists and souvenirs for the eager shoppers. A sunset visit is for the romantics, bringing a wine bottle and gazing at the Florentine sky as it ends another day. There is never a bad time to visit Piazzale Michelangelo, there is always something to see from this height

Our Local Expert Says:

The gardens are expansive and hide many different areas to explore and enjoy.

Description:

Inside this garden lies the Buontalenti grotto (1583-1593). Decorated with mannerist-style scenes from Greek and Roman mythology, the grotto includes copies of Michelangelo's famous "Slave" series, the originals of which were transferred to the Galleria dell'Accademia. In the 17th century, the garden was extended as far as the Porta Romana, adding the Vasca d'Isola (pond) at the centre with a fountain and a statue of Neptune. In the late 18th century, Zanobi del Rosso built the Kaffehaus pavilion.

Description:

Santa Maria del Carmine is best known for the Brancacci Chapel by Masaccio, Masolino and finished by Filippino Lippi. Santa Maria del Carmine is located in the Oltrarno, on the other side of the river. Like Florentine facades, this one is still unfinished. From the outside it looks like a wall but as you walk, in the enchantment flows over you. The crowds will be surrounding the famous Brancacci Chapel, so explore the rest of the church. There are many other chapels with pieces of work that are rare and preserved. Once you reach the Brancacci Chapel, you will notice the different styles of painting these biblical images. Masaccio's depiction of Adam and Eve's expulsion from Paradise is a grim and depressing viewpoint of how they felt. It captures sorrow and sadness. Masolino's Temptation of Adam and Eve, brought a more hopeful look to their faces. Moreso that they felt invincible and could pass through the Paradise gates even though they tried the forbidden apple.

Description:

Trattoria Marione is an authentic old style trattoria in the heart of Florence, just off the elegant via Tornabuoni. It is always crowded and quite often there is a line out the door. Local home style cooking is the trademark of the place, with typical dishes such as Crostini Toscani. They specialize in traditional bread soups like Ribollita and Pappa al Pomodoro, but the Farro soup (an antique grain popular in the Tuscan countryside) and classic mixed boiled and roasted meats are also particularly tasty. Friendly service and great food at reasonable prices!

Our Local Expert Says:

"The jewelry is superb and really expensive on the Ponte Vecchio. Grab your camera and catch the Tuscan Hills alive and rolling beyond the city center."

Description:

You can't miss the most recognizable landmark of Florence, the Ponte Vecchio. Constructed in 1345, the Ponte Vecchio is the oldest bridge still standing in Florence, hence the name. The multicolored structure bridge was first home to butcher shops. As the noble bankers would cross the Arno river to their offices, there was a rancid smell of pigs blood and rotted meat which extremely offended them. In an effort to improve the area, the Medici stepped in and ordered the lower class shopkeepers out and moved goldsmiths and diamond-cutters in. Ponte Vecchio is the only bridge that escaped the bombing by the Germans in WWII. Today, now a pedestrian bridge, the shops shimmer and shine with necklaces, rings and charms of the most expensive kind. Tourists can enjoy an early morning walk over the bridge before the shops open or at sunset where lovers stare at the horizon as musicians sing and be merry.

Our Local Expert Says:

A whole day could be spent in here if you are an art fan, each room is filled with something to see.

Description:

The Uffizi is one of the world's great museums, and the single best introduction to Renaissance painting, with works by Giotto, Masaccio, Paolo Uccello, Sandro Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Perugino, Michelangelo, Raphael Sanzio, Titian, Caravaggio, and the list goes on. The museum is deceptively small. What looks like a small stretch of gallery space can easily gobble up half a day -- many rooms suffer the fate of containing nothing but masterpieces.

Know before you go that the Uffizi regularly shuts down rooms for crowd-control reasons -- especially in summer, when the bulk of the annual 1.5 million visitors stampedes the place. Of the more than 3,100 artworks in the museum's archives, only about 1,700 are on exhibit.

The painting gallery is housed in the structure built to serve as the offices ( uffizi is Florentine dialect for uffici, or "offices") of the Medici, commissioned by Cosimo I from Giorgio Vasari in 1560 -- perhaps his greatest architectural work. The painting gallery was started by Cosimo I as well and is now housed in the second-floor rooms that open off a long hall lined with ancient statues and frescoed with grotesques.

Tips for Seeing the Uffizi -- If you have the...

Description:

This cafe is only a stone's throw away from the church of Santa Croce. It has won Italy's "Cafe of the Year" award and is very popular due to the service, the beautiful decor and the chance to try an appetizer with a glass of wine.

Description:

J.K. Place Hotel is a contemporary hotel situated in central Florence, three blocks from Ponte Vecchio and 500 metres from the Uffizi Gallery. The 20 guestrooms are classically styled in soft shades with rich fabrics, and offer CD players, minibars and televisions. Guests can enjoy beauty treatments, relax over drinks in the bar, and ask the concierge for advice on local sightseeing.