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Essential Florence

Description:

Florence is a city of art. Preparing for a visit to Florence can feel a little like that Art History course from the first year of college. Fortunately, Florence is very kind to its visitors and attracts an ever increasing number of them because it is so easy and wonderful to visit. Whether you are staying for two days or two weeks Florence will keep you charmed and relaxed. With just two days at your disposal there are some points of interest that could be labeled as mandatory. In this trip I have chosen some that I feel are critical for even the shortest of stays in Florence.

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Author: Jennifer

Day 1 - Florence

This first day of my two day itinerary is designed to introduce you to Florence and prepare you for the highlight of your stay: the Uffizi Gallery. Whether you are an armchair art historian or have never visited a museum, Florence will invariably inspire you to appreciate its artistic beauty. The entire city is in many respects an art museum and as you wander the city be sure to look up at the magnificent buildings and palaces that populate the streets. Although Florence is known for the Renaissance, the historic center is predominately medieval. The Baptistery and the Cathedral, or Duomo, are the spiritual heart of the city. The Baptistery, being older than the Cathedral, is important because it links the city to its roman ancestry both historically and architecturally. Much of what you will see inside the structure was recycled from Florence’s roman buildings and this is obvious in the columns lining the walls; few are alike since they were lifted individually from various roman structures. The Cathedral is a masterpiece of Florentine gothic and its interior is beautiful in its simplicity. If you have some extra time and are not claustrophobic, I suggest you climb to the top of the dome for a great view of the city. Before stopping for lunch, run by the San Lorenzo church. For the afternoon take time to visit Santa Maria Novella. The beauty of these religious buildings is the backdrop for the artistic creation of the Florentine Renaissance that you will discover tomorrow at the Uffizi Gallery. To prepare your palate for one of the premier painting galleries in the entire world you should change direction and go shopping. Spending some time wandering through the narrow aisles of the market at the Loggia del Mercato Nuovo is the perfect way to do some shopping and build up an appetite for dinner. After dinner go for a stroll over to Hemingway’s and finish the day with some chocolate.

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Battistero

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Location:

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Piazza San Giovanni
50129 Florence, Italy

Phone:

+39 55 230 2885

Piazza del Duomo

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Location:

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piazza del Duomo
50122 Florence, Italy

Phone:

+39 055 2 3320

San Lorenzo

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Location:

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piazza di San Lorenzo
Piazza San Lorenzo
50123 Florence, Italy

Phone:

055-216-634

Osteria de' Benci

Location:

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Via de' Benci 13r
At the corner of Via de' Neri
50121 Florence, Italy

Phone:

055-234-4923

Santa Maria Novella

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Location:

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piazza Santa Maria Novella
Piazza Santa Maria Novella
50123 Florence, Italy

Phone:

055-215-918

Loggia del Mercato Nuovo

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Location:

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Via Porta Rossa
50122 Florence, Italy

Taverna del Bronzino

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Location:

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Via delle Ruote 27r
Between Piazza Indipendenza and San Marco
50129 Florence, Italy

Phone:

055-495-220

Hemingway

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Location:

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Piazza Piattellina, 9r
50124 Florence, Italy

Phone:

39 055 24 4781

Della Signoria

Location:

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Via delle Terme, 1
50123 Florence, IT

Phone:

39 55 21 4530

Day 2 - Florence

Art, art, art… you are about to experience the best painting gallery in the world, the Uffizi. This is the highlight of your trip and should be your biggest bragging point when you tell your friend’s about your stay in Florence. As you make your way through the collection the Renaissance will come into focus. You can reserve an entrance time by phone a few days before to reduce your wait in line. I would suggest going to the Uffizi early in the day and then hitting the rest of the sights in the time you have left. After your visit to the Uffizi, a great way to digest it all is to go and sit in the Loggia dei Lanzi and look out on the Piazza della Signoria. Before lunch stroll over the Ponte Vecchio. Your afternoon will put it all into perspective with magnificent views from San Miniato al Monte and Piazzale Michelangelo. Take bus 12 or 13 from anywhere and you will wind up at Piazzale Michelangelo eventually. Before you leave Florence you can walk down from Piazzale Michelangelo and visit Santa Croce. The church not only has wonderful frescoes but also houses the tombs of important Florentines, many of whom you will recognize.

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