What are some exciting things to do in Florence, Italy?

Question

I'm planning a trip to Florence, Italy this summer with my girlfriend. I wanted to know if anybody had any suggestions for exciting places to go and see. I prefer to do things just the two of us (no group tours or anything). Money doesn't matter at this point, we're just looking for something that will leave a good impression. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Places to see:

♦Baptistery

(Budget)

Duomo

♦Basilica di Santa Croce

Santa Croce

♦Basilica di Santa Maria del Carmine

Oltrarno

♦Cappelle Medicee

San Lorenzo

♦Duomo

(Budget)

Duomo

♦Galleria degli Uffizi

Piazza della Signoria

♦Loggia della Signoria

Old Town

Public Sculpture

♦Opificio delle Pietre Dure

San Marco

♦Palazzo Pitti

(Mid Range)

Oltrarno

Halls of History

♦Palazzo Vecchio

(Budget)

Piazza della Signoria

Palatial Icon

Places to Eat:

♦Alle Murate

(Top End)

Classy Dining

♦Antico Noè

(Budget)

Santa Croce

Sandwich Legend

♦Caffè Coquinarius

(Mid Range)

Medieval Centre

Wine-Soaked

♦Enoteca Pinchiorri

(Deluxe)

Santa Croce

Tasty Tuscan

♦Giubbe Rosse

(Budget)

Duomo

Classic Coffee

♦Gustavino

(Top End)

Piazza della Signoria

Creative Delights

♦Il Vegetariano

(Mid Range)

San Marco

Go Vego

♦Ristorante Beccofino

(Deluxe)

Santo Spirito

Groovy Gastronomy

♦Sostanza

(Mid Range)

Santa Maria Novella

Hands Off

♦Vini E Vecchi Sapori

(Budget)

Santa Croce

Rustic Sensation

Places to sleep:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/d...

or try:

Hotel Nizza

http://www.nizza.hotelinfirenze.com/

Night Time Veneus:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/d...

Places to Shop:

♦Assunta Anichini

city centre

Old Souls

♦Brancolini Grimaldi

Old Town

Art, If You Can

♦Bulgari

Old Town

Cool Jewels

♦Data Records

Santa Croce

High Fidelity

♦Emilio Pucci

Old Town

Groovy Baby!

♦Gucci

Old Town

Leather Fetish

♦Il Gatto Bianco

Old Town

Puss In Jewels

♦Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella

Santa Maria Novella

Heaven Scent

♦Salvatore Ferragamo

city centre

Fancy Footwork

♦Tod's

Old Town

Shoe Biz

Things To Do

♦Walking

If you're desperate for a leg stretch and a bit of fresh air, a stroll around the Giardino di Boboli is recommended - the views from here are magnificent.

♦Cycling

You can take full- and half-day mountain bike tours of the countryside around Florence, or rent a bike and tangle with the traffic in town.

Check out this link:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/d...

Enjoy! (--,)

Answer 2

Go to Piazzale Michelangelo (bus 12 e 13) for a beautiful view of the city and take a walk to nearby San Miniato church, or to the Franciscan monastery in Fiesole (bus 7), then walk up the hill.  If money is no object you might want to go by taxi, rather than the bus.  These are romantic spots.

Answer 3

Go to the jewelry district then if money is no object.  I was there a few years ago and from what I remember you have to cross over a bridge to get to it, walking of course.  I had a blast there.   Then go to the, I think it was called the Bobali gardens...wow... that was beautiful.

Answer 4

Good suggestions from the last writer. But of course for Italiy (and for romance) good food is indispensable..

- If you go to the San Miniato (worth it) and Piazale Michelangelo (beautiful in the dark too), walk down the stairs toward the river Arno and find ristorante La Beppa Fioraia (nearby a well known place called enoteca fiori porta, a pretty good wine bar). It is a very good, romantic and well hidden restaurant, appreciated by locals.

- I like Fiesole too, it's much quieter than Florence, but it has gotten quite touristy now. See the great view and beautiful San Francesco church. Do you like hiking? One of my favorites is to walk to the 'monte ceceri' from Fiesole, it is the mountain were Leonardo da Vinci (or better his assistants) tested his flying machines. From that hill you can make a beautiful 40 mins walk (just ask- there are signs too) to a village called  Maiano. There is a small trattoria called Da Graziella run by 2 old Italian guys. Have lunch there! It's good, cheap and (at least the terrace) romantic. Take a taxi back to Florence (not far).

Enjoy!

Answer 5

If anyone glimpsed me staring down at the paving stones in the Santa Croce quarter of Florence, Italy, last summer, they might have thought me a little odd. After all, there are so many more attractive things to look out for - from Santa Croce's Gothic basilica for great art and the tombs of the famous to the celebrated Gelateria Vivoli for the indulgence of the taste buds.

But for me, these well-worn stones held a more interesting secret. They were giving me the opportunity to literally walk in the footsteps of Dante, who held the down-to-earth job of supervisor of public works here in the early 1300s.

Answer 6

Everything you'll need to know:

http://www.thetravelzine.com/it_w2007_3F...

http://www.thetravelzine.com/it_w2006_5f...

Have a great trip!