What should I do in Florence this weekend?

Question

Wow, how lucky am I? Being swept off my feet and off to Florence this weekend, what should I absolutely not miss, book in advance for, and where are the places only insiders know about for shopping, eating, drinking etc? We are staying in The Grand Hotel Cavour, is that any good?

Answer 1

Don't go to Florence for clothes, food ,drink and shopping otherwise you will display your ignorance for ever more. See the art and history and reap some knowledge to last a lifetime.  Google it as there is too much to see.

Answer 2

im too jealous to suggest anything now...

Answer 3

What ever you do in Florence, afterwards catch the Number 7 bus up to Fiesole one evening for the nighttime view of the city and the Arno River. Stunning.

Answer 4

What should you do in Florence this weekend? Hmm. Let me see. Try catching the next flight home, I say. Florence is really not all that it's cracked up to be. Travel somewhere else in Italy because Florence is boring boring boring. It was a disappointment and I wish I had gone somewhere else with much to do.

Answer 5

Eat spaghetti

Answer 6

you should hook up w/ someone.

have a fling hehe..

Answer 7

d

Answer 8

Get on the Firenze open air on off bus.  I believe it was 20Euro for two days.  It will stop on or near all of the major points of interest.  Plus the view from the little David is amazing.  There is also another bus that goes up into Feosole (don't quote me on the spelling) a lovely little village up the hill from the city itself.  I didn't do to much shopping, it's really touristy so we picked up a few t shirts, etc.  Most of my shopping I did in Venice.  Make sure you go to zaza for dinner.  It was a nice mix of locals and tourists, and the food was absolutely amazing!  We also ate at this jazz resturant on the ponto vecchio.  I can't remember the name of it but they have an add in almost all of the tourist papers.  I remember there was an orchid type insignia.  Make sure you have a steak!

Answer 9

i forgot what it's called but theres this AMAZINGLY YUMMY ice cream parlor right inside florence (which i believe is the first ice cream parlor ever??)and its rather famous if i recall correctly. I'm sorry that i can't tell you the name. don't know any other specifics but i hope you have fun cause italy is really an awesome place! xx

Answer 10

I'm so jealous I can't even answer!

:::::dreaming of italy::::::

Answer 11

Oh lucky you ... try to book a visit to the Uffizi Gallery .. original art in amazing quantity by all the Renaissance greats.

Answer 12

Do I look jealous!

Answer 13

definitely go swimming! it's fun and good exercise!

Answer 14

Sightseeing.

Answer 15

Go to the Grand Hotel Baglioni & have lunch in the restaurant or on the rooftop terrace. 'fantastico'

I'm not too jealous tho'. I'm going on 19th for a week.(feel really smug now but I won't on 25th will I?)

Answer 16

well i stayed at the Grand Hotel Bagglioni.. i dont know about your hotel.. there is this great open shopping market behind that hotel which is right near the train station..you do mean italy right?  you also have to go see David the satue.. florence is great also walk to the ponte vecchio and the shops around it.. hope you have fun and i hope this helps!

Answer 17

Florence is just 22 miles from my home! WOW!

Take in a movie, go to Wal-MArt, the Mall.....wait!

You are not talking about Florence South Carolina are you ?

Sorry Have a great day.....Chow!

Answer 18

You must see:

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).

BOOK IN ADVANCE: Uffizi and maybe Academia.

More about Florence:

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

Answer 19

Leave Florence alone. You shouldn't be in her.