What are some places I should check or things I should do in Florence, Italy?

Question

I'm visiting my cousin in Florence, Italy next year while she is studying abroad there. What are some places I should DEFINITELY visit while I'm there, which will be for about a week and half in the spring. I love shopping, eating, and visiting places with lots of history.

Answer 1

If you have never been to Florence then you must visit the Accademia Museum where Michelangelo's David is housed.  Also visit the Uffizi Gallery, it houses some the most famous renaissance artwork painted by the likes of DaVinci, Botticelli, etc.  Visit the gold jewlery shops on the Ponte Vecchio.  See the bronze doors on the duomo's baptistry.  View the duomo's dome designed by Brunelleschi, crowning achievement for the time.  He studied the dome crowning the Pantheon in Rome for ideas.  See the Basilica di Santa Croce.  There are funerary monuments to Galileo, Michelangelo, Dante, Machievelli, etc.  Lots more to see, these are just a few ideas.

Answer 2

The statue of David, definitely.  Also, the dome.

Answer 3

Also visit the palazzo pitti which is across the ponte vechio, it has a very big garden from where you can get a very nice view of Florence, much like the typical view you see on pictures or TV of Il Duomo and the palazzo vechio and the whole historic city, you can also visit the sorrounding cities, Siena, Luca and Pisa. For me Il Duomo was the most impressive and I liked alot Siena and the Santa Maria di Azzunta Church in Siena.

Answer 4

THINGS TO DO

Tourist sites

Chiesa di S. Maria Novella

Address: Piazza Santa Maria Novella

Phone: [phone]

Duomo

Address: Piazza del Duomo

Phone: [phone]

Battistero

Address: Piazza del Duomo

Phone: [phone]

Chiesa di S. Lorenzo

Address: Piazza San Lorenzo

Phone: [phone]

Cappelle Medicee

Address: di Madonna degli Aldobrandini, near San Lorenzo

Phone: [phone] reservations

Ponte Vecchio

Giardino di Boboli

Address: Enter through Palazzo Pitti

Phone: [phone]

Galleria degli Uffizi

Address: Piazzale degli Uffizi 6, near Piazza della Signoria

Phone: [phone]

Galleria dell'Accademia

Address: Via Ricasoli 60, near San Marco

Phone: [phone] reservations; 055/2388609 gallery

Bargello

Address: Via del Proconsolo 4

Phone: [phone]

Santa Croce

Address: Piazza Santa Croce 16

Phone: [phone]

Shopping

Camper

Address: Via Por Santa Maria 47/R

Phone: [phone]

Mercato San Lorenzo

Prada

Address: Via Tornabuoni 51/r-53/R

Phone: [phone]

Prada Outlet

Address: Levanella Spacceo, Estrada Statale 69, Montevarchi

Phone: [phone]

Cantina Del Borgo

Address: Borgo La Noce 19/R

Phone:[phone]

Enoteca La Dolciaria

Address: Via Ginori 24

Phone: [phone]



Dining

Trattoria I Due G

Address: Via Cennini Bernardo 6/R

Phone: [phone]

Antico Noè

Address: Volta di San Piero 6

Phone: [phone]

Cibrèo

Address: Via A. del Verrocchio 8

Phone: [phone]

Enoteca Pinchiorri

Address: Via Ghibellina 87

Phone: [phone]

Conti

Address: Mercato Centrale

Phone: [phone]

Enoteca del Boccanegra

Address: Via Verdi 27

Phone: [phone]

Osteria Antica Mescita San Niccolò

Address: Via. S. Niccolo' 63

Phone: [phone]

Osteria n. 1

Address: Via del Moro 18

Phone: [phone]

Fun

Jazz Club

Address: Via Nuova de' Caccini 3, corner of Borgo Pinti

Phone: [phone]

Orchestra da Camera Fiorentina

Address: Via E. Poggi 6

Phone: [phone]

Loch Ness

Address: Via de' Benci 19/R

Teatro della Pergola

Address: Via della Pergola 12/R

Phone:[phone]

Enoteca La Dolciaria

Address: Via Ginori 24

Phone: [phone]

Religious sites

Chiesa cattolica San Lorenzo (italian language)

Address:Piazza San Lorenzo

Phone: [phone]

Duomo (english language)

Address:Piazza del Duomo

Phone: [phone]

Chiesa cattolica della Santissima Trinità (german language)

Address:Piazza Santa Trinità

Phone: [phone]

Chiesa metodista

Address:Via dè Benci, 9

Phone: [phone]

Chiesa ortodossa russa

Address: Via Leone X, 8

Phone: [phone]

Chiesa anglicana Saint Mark

Address:Via Maggio, 16

Phone: [phone]

Chiesa battista

Address:Borgo Ognissanti, 4

Phone: [phone]

Chiesa avventista

Address: Via Guelfa, 12

Phone: [phone]

Sinagoga

Address: Via Farini 4

Phone: [phone]

Moschea

Address:Via Baccio Bandinelli, 11

Phone: [phone]

hope i have been helpful...

Answer 5

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Answer 6

These are my faves.  I used to live there.

PLACES

Uffizzi - see Botticelli's paintings

Piazzale Michelangelo  - awesome view of Firenze

Giardino di Boboli - great park

Teatro Del Acqua - outdoor disco w/food, across from James Joyce Pub

Accademia is great if you absolutely love sculpture.  Otherwise, there's a replica of David in Piazza dela Signoria.

FOOD

Tratoria Anita (by the Uffizzi, only for dinner - closed Sunday - Via Vinegia 16)

Pale D'Oro  - in Mercato San Lorenzo - where Italians (not tourists) eat lunch

Il Giardino di Barbano - where many young Italians eat pizza - Piazza Independenza 3, closed Wednesday, open for dinner - 5pm - have a shot of Limoncello after dinner

Il Giardino di Giada and Le Sorgenti - if you feel like Chinese

SHOPPING

Unless you're loaded, stay away from Via Tournabuoni.  

Mercato San Lorenzo has many beautiful and less expensive items.  I used to sell leather there.  Don't insult the merchandise as Italians will not sell to you if you are rude.  Bargain.  Say you're a student and ask if they can give you a discount.  Most will.  30% is the most you'll get unless the guy's prices are insane.  

Don't hang around the train station or Santo Spirito, especially at night.

Do watch your pockets, especially in public transportation.  Walking is best though.

Florence is a fine city with very little crime.  Just keep your money in your pockets and don't wear those touristy looking things around your neck or waist.  Have fun!

Answer 7

That is such an easy thing for you because all you have to do is walk and you will stumble upon EVERYTHING! Florence is very contained and there is "history" in every step you take. And the food is delicioso no matter where you eat-even a hole in the wall pizza will have you drooling. And shops are all over the place. The places like the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, piazzas, seeing DAVID at the Accademia is a MUST! There is an outdoor market near the train station to explore. But really, just walk and walk and you will come upon all of Firenze's magic!