The capital of Tuscany, Florence is the ideal destination for a vacation where culture and arts, history and gastronomy, fashion and shopping meet and create an unforgettable experience. With a beautiful historical past, Florence impresses with the large number of superb buildings, in the Renaissance style, wonderful churches and opulent palaces, Florence is a city of culture where you can teleport back in time, managing to feel part of the specific atmosphere of the 16th century.
Useful information
Transport
Pisa International Airport (Galileo Galilei) is 2 km from the city of Pisa and 80 km from Florence. To get to Florence, you can opt for the train that goes along the route Florence – Pisa – Livorno. Prices start from 9 euros and you can find more details here. You can also opt for a road with the bus, they are extremely frequent, a trip lasts around 1 hour and 20 minutes and the prices start from 10 euros.
Florence Pass
If you want to visit several tourist attractions, the most appropriate would be to purchase a Florence Pass tourist card. It offers a lot of advantages and significant discounts for various tourist activities. You can save both time and money with the Florence Pass, one of the main advantages being access to one of the most famous art galleries (Uffizi Gallery). The card includes free or discounted entry to a number of museums and audio guides. The price is 89 euros and you can find more details here.
Accommodation
Being such a tourist destination, the city offers numerous accommodation alternatives at affordable prices, but also more luxurious alternatives depending on preferences. You can opt for accommodation in an old building, full of history with a unique atmosphere or in a modern location with a minimalist design. Below you will find some of our recommendations.
Located in the central area, this hotel is decorated in classic Italian style, located in an old house full of history. The rooms are furnished in a rustic style, decorated with natural materials such as wood. For one night's accommodation, the price of a double room is 81 euros.
With a modern design and all the necessary equipment, this accommodation will offer you an excellent quality-price ratio. The price of a double room is 120 euros and for only 7 euros you can have breakfast directly at the hotel to start your day with energy.
This accommodation unit offers modern rooms with a minimalist design and the services offered are adequate. Located in the city center, with all the facilities you could need including free wifi, mini bar and coffee machine, the price for a double room starts from 161 euros.
Day 1
Piazza Della Santissima Annunziata
We recommend that you start your day from Piazza Della Santissima Annunziata, located in the center of the city, this being a good place to start. Here you will be able to admire the fascinating architecture of the city and take its pulse.
Basilica Santissima Annunziata
Here is also the church with the same name, Basilica Santissima Annunziata, which dates back to 1250. A symbol of the Roman Baroque thanks to its fine decor, which has its roots in the Tuscan religious tradition, this tourist attraction is a point of interest where you can admire frescoes from the 1500s.
Galleria dell'Accademia
The famous art museum that has a large collection of paintings by Florentine artists. The gallery is famous for hosting David, Michelangelo's famous masterpiece. If you want to visit a fascinating museum in Florence, I recommend this one, you will definitely be impressed by the beauty and finesse of the details present in the exhibited paintings. The price of a ticket for adults starts from 19 euros and you can find more details here.
Dome of Santa Maria del Fiore
After visiting the Galleria dell'Academia, we recommend you to take a walk on the spectacular streets of the city until you reach the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral. Located in the heart of the city of Florence, this is the fourth largest cathedral in the world. Its construction began in 1334, according to the sketches of the architect Giotto, and was finished in 1359. Even now, after 600 years, the Florence Cathedral, as it is also known, is the tallest building in the city and one of the symbols of the city. To admire the city from the platform of the Duomo, you will have to climb 463 steps. The view is amazing and the effort is worth it. You can opt for a guided tour to learn more about the architecture and history of the monument, you can find more details here.
Campanile di Giotto
This bell tower built in the Gothic style has a height of 85 m. Built between 1334 - 1359, the tower is part of the Florence Cathedral complex. If you want to visit Campanile di Giotto, you will have to climb 414 steps to enjoy the amazing view. All the works of art in the tower are replicas of the original ones that were moved to the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, in 1960. The tower is open every day, between 09.00 - 18.50 (May - October) and 09.00 - 16.20 (November - April). If you want to visit this tower and inside, the most advantageous is a package that includes the entrance to all the objectives such as this.
Mercato Nuovo
After visiting the Cathedral, we recommend you visit the Mercato Nuovo, a market located in the center of the city that is a real sensory experience. With a rich history, this market dates back centuries. Today it is primarily a tourist market, where you can find handicrafts, such as bags, belts and leather accessories, but also wonderful silk items, all of which are unique. The famous one is also found here Porcellino Fountain. Il Porcellino is the local Florentine nickname for the bronze fountain of a boar. The figure was sculpted and cast by the baroque master Pietro Tacca shortly before 1634. Today this is a highly sought-after tourist attraction because tradition says that if you put a penny in the boar's mouth, which then falls into the fountain in front of him, you will guarantee that you will return to Florence someday.
Piazza della Signoria
You can end your day in Piazza Della Signoria, the cultural center of Florence, a real outdoor sculpture. Piazza del Signoria is surrounded by the most important buildings in the city. Piazza del Signoria has become the heart of political life since the 14th century, the statues present here recall the most important events in the city's history. Here you can stop at one of the outdoor terraces to rest and enjoy something delicious.
Day 2
The Uffizi Galleries
We recommend that you start your day at the Galleriile Degli Uffizi, this fascinating place full of famous works of art. Here is the most important collection of Renaissance art in the world, housed in a 16th century palace, it is truly special and contains works by the most famous painters of the era, including Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Botticelli. If you want to visit this gallery, make a reservation online to avoid standing in a long queue for several hours. You can find more information, prices and tours here.
Palazzo Vecchio
Palazzo Vecchio is located near the Gallery. It was commissioned in 1322 and still retains its original role as the town hall of Florence. The impressive building has a high tower with a bell that announces the most important meetings or warns the inhabitants of floods, fire or enemy attacks. Part of the interior of the palace was redecorated, both Leonardo da Vinci and Michelango were approached to collaborate in decorating the palace, but Vasari was the one who accepted the job. Currently it can be visited by those interested in the history of the city, a tour starts from 22 euros and you can find more details here.
Museo Galileo
The museum is a tribute to Galileo Galilei and the history of science, where you can admire masterpieces of scientific culture. The Galileo Museum inherits the cultural tradition of almost 5 centuries of history, with fascinating exhibits, this is a unique place that you should not miss. Ticket prices start from 13 euros, you can find details here.
Ponte Vecchio
This place is not to be missed when you arrive in Florence. One of the symbols of the city, built in the 14th century, Ponte Vecchio survived the bombings of the Second World War. On both sides of the bridge there are the most beautiful shops with gold and silver jewelry. Ponte Vecchio has 3 arches, the main arch having a height of 30 meters being an excellent panoramic point over the city.
Pitti Palace & Boboli Gardens
Located on the banks of the southern part of the Arno river and was built by Brunelleschi. Currently the largest museum complex in Florence. In the past, the palace was one of the residences of the Medici family. Today it is a building divided into different museums, galleries and royal apartments that can be visited. Here you can admire impressive pieces of art by famous artists such as Raphael, Filippo Lippi, Tintoretto, Veronese and Rubens. The price of a ticket starts from 16 euros, here find more details.
Behind the palace is Giardino di Boboli, a historical park spread over 45,000 square meters that combines nature with art, housing many fountains, caves and statues. A wonderful place where you can relax for a few minutes.
cuisine
Italian gastronomy is well known all over the world. Here you will definitely find a multitude of dishes to try, being the ideal destination for a gourmet looking for new experiences. From the famous pasta pizza and refined desserts Italian gastronomy is full of alternatives. In Florence you will discover unique dishes, full of unique aromas and interesting textures that will surely impress you, among them are:
Fish risotto (creamy rice with mussels, shrimps and fish) is another delicacy with an unmistakable texture and a special taste.
Pasta con il nero di seppia, that is, pasta combined with a rich tomato and cuttlefish sauce, strongly colored black with cuttlefish ink, with an incredible taste and an unprecedented appearance.
saltimbocca is the veal escalope, covered with layers of sage leaves and prosciutto, then sprinkled with white wine often served with artichokes alla romana, tender artichokes, seasoned with garlic and mint, seasoned in a mixture of olive oil and spices.
Crostata di ricotta it is a kind of cheesecake made with candied fruits: raisins, nuts, pine seeds or other flavors such as chocolate.
Finding a restaurant with low prices can be difficult, especially if you are only looking in the central, tourist area. Below you will find some recommendations with delicious alternatives and good prices.
A restaurant specializing in pizza and pasta, with vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free alternatives. Here you will definitely find something to your taste. The atmosphere is relaxed and the prices are affordable starting from 10 euros.
Located in an elegant location, with multiple alternatives from starters to various main dishes, this restaurant promises delicious, unique and diverse food at an incredible price-quality ratio. The prices for a main course start from 11 euros, but the experience will definitely be worth it.
Extremely popular, this small and chic restaurant has as its main attraction pasta in all possible varieties. The prices are moderate, a main course costing around 15 euros.
Florence is the ideal destination for a short getaway where you will be able to disconnect from everyday life. You will discover a dynamic city full of romance, culture and impressive architecture, a city that has something to offer for everyone, and if your vacation is longer, we also recommend a trip to Grind, details can be found in another article here.
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