Great things to do and see in Florence?

Question

What are some grea historical places, or good dinning experience, or just plain fun and must see things to do in Flornece?

Thanks for your help

Answer 1

The Duomo- Gothic cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore

The fourth largest cathedral in the world, it is the spiritual heart of Florence. The building work took around 200 years, and its green, pink and white marble fasade contributes to the chromatic harmony of the square; its imposing dome is visible for miles around. The interior houses many masterpieces including frescoes by Paolo Uccello and Andrea del Castagno rub shoulders with terracottas by Luca Della Robbia and the sarcophagus of Saint Zanobi. It is possible to climb up to the top from where there is an extraordinary view over Florence.

The Piazza della Signoria

Florence’s most famous square, it was used for centuries as a backdrop by artists, then by film-makers. The former political centre of the city, it includes some of Florence’s main historic buildings and contains the most admired sculptures in the world.

Palazzo Pitti

One of the most visited sites on the southern bank of the Arno, this palace was designed by Brunelleschi for the Pitti family, rivals of the Medicis. It's a huge and imposing building, and a treasure house of the Medici family's massive art collection including works by Raphael, Filippo Lippi, Tintoretto, Veronese and Rubens, all hung in lavishly decorated rooms.The palace also houses a gallery of modern art and a costume collection.

Ponte Vecchio

Old Bridge, has been built in 1345, this beautiful bridge, is only one who survived second word war, and it is the oldest bridge in Florence, souranded with many shops and goldsmiths. There is a secret passageway which is connected with Uffizi Gallery and the Pitti Palace, today big touristic attraction.

The Basilica of Santa Croce

Geometrically coloured marble decorates the building's fasade, but the real treats lie inside, where many famous Florentines lie in peace. The walls are lined with tombs, and 276 tombstones pave the floor. The church's most famous inhabitants are Michelangelo, Macchiavelli, Galileo and Bardi. Its various chapels feature works of art by Giotto and della Robbia, and the serene cloisters were designed by Brunelleschi.

The church of San Lorenzo

The former parish church of the Medici family in Florentine Renaissance style, built from 1420 by Brunelleschi. Donatello, who designed the bronze pulpits, lies in one of the chapels. Passing through the cloister, you reach the Laurenziana Library, commissioned to house the family's huge collection of books and featuring a sublime staircase by Michelangelo. The Medici Chapels are sumptuously decorated with precious marble and semiprecious stones; the most powerful Medicis were buried here. The New Sacristy was designed by Michelangelo and contains his Night and Day, Dawn and Dusk sculptures.

Boboli gardens

Adjacent to the Palazzo Pitti, this garden is one of the most famous in the world. It was created from 1549 by Tribolo then by Vasari, Ammannati and Buontalenti. Its fountains, lakes, geometric flowerbeds and terraces lined with trees wonderfully represent the Renaissance style. At the top of the hill stands the Forte di Belvedere built in a star shape by Michelangelo with a magical view over Florence.

Museums & Galleries:

Galleria degli Uffizi

This former palace of the Medici houses one of the most impressive art collections in the world. It shows the evolution of Italian painting from the primitives to the 17th century. Worth seeing: Botticelli’s’ Birth of Venus, Titian’s Venus of Urbino, Michelangelo’s Holy Family or the Portrait of the Duke of Urbino by Piero della Francesca.

Museo Nazionale del Bargello

It houses sculptures by Michelangelo, Donatello, Verrocchio and various collections of enamelware, jewellery, weapons ...

Galleria dell’Accademia

19th century statues, Byzantine paintings, Russian icons, paintings by Florentine Renaissance painters, notably Botticelli’s Madonnas and above all sculptures by Michelangelo, including the original of the famous David.

Galleria Pitti

Gallery of modern art, museum of silverware and Galleria.

Museo della Casa Fiorentina Antica in Palazzo Davanzati

A museum of Florentine domestic life: furniture, fabrics, domestic objects from the 14th to 18th century.

In addition:

You can reach Piazza Michelangelo and the Basilica of San Miniato on Monte alle Croci on foot or by bus.

The Piazza itself overlooks one of the most famous and magnificent city views in the world: from here you can see the whole of Florence at a glance; there is also copy of David.

Afternoon trip to Fiesole, bus no.7 from Santa Maria Novella. Panoramic view over Florence (Via di San Francesco), Good ice-cream (Via Gramci 8).

More about Florence&Fiesole:

http://www.tuscanweb.com/news/?ID=51

http://www.tuscanweb.com/news/?ID=71

Answer 2

Just to reiterate:

DO NOT try to take Uffizi or Accademia in without reservations.

From Rick Steves' website (an excellent resource)

www.ricksteves.com

Florence: Make Reservations to Avoid Lines at Uffizi

Florence has a reservation system for its top five sights: Uffizi Gallery, Accademia, Bargello, Medici Chapels, and the Pitti Palace. I highly recommend getting reservations for the Accademia (Michelangelo's David) and the Uffizi Gallery (Renaissance paintings). While you can generally get an entry time for the Accademia within a few days, the Uffizi is often booked a month in advance. Your best strategy is to get reservations for both as soon as you know when you'll be in town. Hotels are accustomed to offering this service for free when clients make a room reservation. Just request it with your hotel booking. When you see the hundreds of bored, sweaty tourists waiting in lines without reservations, you'll be glad you did.

If you want to make the booking yourself, dial 055-294-883 (Mon–Fri 8:30–18:30, Sat 8:30–12:30, closed Sun), an English-speaking operator walks you through the process, and two minutes later you say grazie, with appointments (15-min entry window) and six-digit confirmation numbers for each of the top museums and galleries. The ticket phone number is often busy; be persistent. It's easier to get through if you call late. Some booking agencies offer reservations online for a fee (such as www.weekendafirenze.it or www.florenceart.it).

Besides these main attractions, the only other places you should book in advance are the Brancacci Chapel (to see the Masaccio frescoes; reservations required) and the Medici-Riccardi Palace (to see the sumptuous Chapel of the Magi). You do this direct (phone numbers are included in the guidebook's sight listings) and spots are generally available a day in advance.

Answer 3

The best restaurants are in the back alleyways.  Just tell the chef to cook his favorite dish and tell server price range.  You will have the freshest, best food!

If you plan to go to the Uffizi or L'academia (see the real Michelango's David), make sure you reserve tickets in advance so you don't waste time waiting in any lines.

Answer 4

I enjoyed taking a bus tour from Florence to Sienna and San Giminango through viator.com.

All of the restaurants around Uffizi are good.  However, you have to find a gelateria that has watermelon flavor.  It is the absolute best flavor.  

Just walking around the city is interesting.  I found lots of beautiful little churches and stores that way.

Answer 5

Things to see: <*-*>

Santa Maria Novella

From its front view, the church of Santa Maria Novella is one of the city's most gorgeous buildings, and inside it has yet more fabulous Renaissance frescoes, by Uccello, Ghirlandaio and others.

Bóboli Gardens

For a break from the streets, take a picnic into the meandering paths of the Bóboli Gardens behind the Pitti Palace, before entering the city's number two art gallery.

Brunelleschi's Dome

What Masaccio did for painting, his contemporary Brunelleschi did for architecture; he created the cathedral's amazing dome, which offers a stunning view of the city.

San Miniato al Monte

Walk across the Ponte Vecchio and turn left to reach the marble-fronted church of San Miniato - the building itself is exquisite, and you get a classic view of Florence from its front door.

Benvenuto

Benvenuto looks more like a delicatessen than a trattoria from the street, but the groups waiting for a table give the game away; the gnocchi and arista are delicious.

Santa Croce

Santa Croce is a wonderful Gothic basilica containing superb frescoes by Giotto and others, with tranquil cloisters adjoining.

The Uffizi

The greatest art gallery in Italy - it's as simple as that.

The Brancacci Chapel

Encapsulating the dawning of the Renaissance, Masaccio's set of frescos in the Brancacci Chapel of the Carmini church is worth a visit, however long you have to wait to get in.

Vivoli

Vivoli serves up the finest Florentine ice cream; search it out in tiny Via Isola delle Stinche.

Fiesole

The little hill town of Fiesole is a great place from which to survey the city of Florence; and you'll get a taste for the more bucolic pleasures that await elsewhere in Tuscany.

♦Nerbone serves great panino con bollito (boiled beef sandwich). Stall #292, 1st Floor, Mercato Centrale (Central Market), entrance on Via dell'Ariento. Perini's Deli can burst your picini8c basket, but not your wallet. They sell everything from prosciutto Toscana, cheese, wild boar meat sauce, marinated olives, sundried tomatoes, and whatever antipasti you can think of. They can vacuum-pack for you. They're also generous with their free samples.

Places to Eat:

♦Antico Noè

(Budget)

Santa Croce

Sandwich Legend

Volta di San Piero 6r 50122

Tel: [phone] (info)

It isn't pretty in this arcade but if you want to choose from almost 20 delicious, heaped and filling takeaway sandwiches from this Florentine institution, you'll have to run the gauntlet of the hobos. There's also reasonable food at the comfy cafe next door, where you can enjoy slow jazz and blues tunes with your meal.

Hours: Mon-Sat 12:30pm-3:00pm & 7:00pm-11:00pm

♦Caffè Coquinarius

(Mid Range)

Medieval Centre

Wine-Soaked

Via dell' Oche 15/r

Tel: [phone] (info)

An excellent choice outside rigid meal times, this laid-back and comfy cafe, housed in a former stables, has light and substantial dishes of crostini, salads, pastas and the usual meaty mains as well as more than a dozen wines by the glass.

Hours: 9:00am-11:30pm

Web: http://www.coquinarius.com

♦Giubbe Rosse

(Budget)

Duomo

Classic Coffee

Piazza della Repubblica 13-14/r

Tel: [phone] (info)

This venerable cafe (an early 20th-century hangout of Florentine futurists) takes its name from the 'red jackets' still worn by some of the waiters. There's outdoor seating and an atmospheric chandelier-lit interior lined with old photos and sketches. Ideal for a coffee despite the sometimes snippy staff.

Hours: 6:30am-2:00am

Web: http://www.giubberosse.it

Email: [e-mail]

♦Il Vegetariano

(Mid Range)

San Marco

Go Vego

Via delle Ruote 30/r

Tel: [phone] (info)

One of the few restaurants to seriously cater to vegetarians, this is an unassuming locale with a great selection of fresh food, salads and mains. The menu changes regularly, partly dictated by the availability of fresh produce. Try the gazpacho (a cool Spanish, tomato broth) or risotto integrale con radicchio rosso (whole rice risotto with red lettuce).

Hours: Mon-Fri 12:30pm-2:30pm & 7:30pm-10:30pm, Sat-Sun 7:30pm-10:30pm

♦Sostanza

(Mid Range)

Santa Maria Novella

Hands Off

Via del Porcellana 25r

Tel: [phone] (info)

This traditional Tuscan eatery is a good spot for bistecca alla fiorentina and The minestrone if you are not fussy about your surrounds. A no-nonsense approach dominates. Locals know the place as Il Troia - the (Male) **** - because they say its 19th-century owner had the habit of touching up his guests. Don't worry, he's long gone.

Hours: Mon-Sat 12:30pm-2:00pm amp; 7:30pm-9:30pm

♦Vini E Vecchi Sapori

(Budget)

Santa Croce

Rustic Sensation

Via dei Magazzini 3/r

Tel: [phone] (info)

This is an atmospheric cubbyhole where the charmingly miserable owner gives the impression that the background opera is the soundtrack to his life. The bar is laden with delicious antipasto, and the menu full of Tuscan specialities such as the sensational fagiolotti with pear and pecorino. Communal wine flows freely between tables.

Hours: Tue-Sat 12:30pm-2:30pm & 7:30pm-10:00pm; Sun 12:30pm-2:00pm

<*-*>

Things to do:

☻sightseeing

☻indulging their foods

☻Enjoy!