Things to do in Florence Travel Guide

Things to do in Florence Travel Guide

Things to do in Florence Travel Guide: Florence is not just one of the most well-known cities in Italy but also a popular destination for visitors to the country. It is really difficult to overlook, particularly for those who are travelling to Italy for the first first time.

Florence is one of my favourite places to visit in Italy because of its breathtaking examples of Renaissance architecture, its meandering lanes, and its lovely white houses topped with red roofs.
If you have a passion for art, this city’s abundance of galleries will keep you occupied for weeks. In addition, there are a number of stunning churches dating back to the Renaissance that may be investigated, and you could very easily spend a number of hours on foot strolling the Boboli Gardens’ well maintained walkways.

Time Zone of Florence

Standard Central Europe

The Best Time to Visit Florence

Aside from the summer months, any time of year is an excellent time to visit Florence, not the least of which is due to the fact that you will spend the most of your time inside while seeing the city’s many museums. The Scoppio del Carro, which is part of the Easter festival in Florence, is a massive event. During this celebration, a team of cream-colored oxen pull a waggon into the Piazza del Duomo, where they then blow off fireworks inside the cart.

Late in the month of June, the Piazza Santa Croce is cordoned off so that it may be transformed into the playing field for a game of “historic football.” This sport is a combination of soccer, rugby, and wrestling that is played in 16th-century garb. In honour of previous monarch Lorenzo de’ Medici, who is credited as being the person who initiated the Renaissance, the Festa di San Lorenzo is held every year at the month of August. During these events, people may have free lasagne in Piazza San Lorenzo.

 

Important Information

Currency is Euro

Language is Italian

The area code is +39.

Rome is the capital city.

Things to do in Florence Travel Guide

Uffizi Gallery

The Uffizi Gallery has the most significant collection of Renaissance artwork in the world. Near the conclusion of the exhibition, there is a selection of portraits and paintings from the Netherlands that are also very lovely. If you want to avoid waiting in large queues, be sure to get your tickets in advance. If you wait until later in the day, you will find less people there.

Ponte Vecchio

The oldest bridge in Florence, known as the Ponte Vecchio, was constructed in 1345 to serve as the city’s initial crossing across the Arno River. Due to the events of World War II, this ancient bridge in Florence is the only one that still stands today; all of the others were destroyed. The bridge is surrounded on both sides by stores that sell jewellery made of gold and silver. Due to the fact that it is off limits to vehicle traffic, pedestrians are free to enjoy the area.

Limb Il Duomo

The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is without a doubt one of the most well-known buildings in all of Florence (the cathedral). The construction of this enormous Gothic structure began in 1296, and it is now included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site that encompasses the old core of Florence.

The architect recognised as the “Father of Renaissance Architecture,” Filippo Brunelleschi, was responsible for the design of the renowned dome, which is the biggest brick dome that has ever been built. The true draw of this attraction is the view from the top, where you can take in an expansive panorama of Florence and its famous red rooftops (time slot reservation required).

If you want to see anything else in the complex besides the cathedral itself (like the dome, bell tower, or museum), you’ll need to buy one of three passes, with prices ranging from 15 to 30 euros each. Visiting the cathedral itself is free, but if you want to see anything else in the complex, you’ll need to buy a pass. The passes may be used for a total of three days.

Giardino di Boboli

The Medicis, an Italian banking family and powerful dynasty (four popes were members of the Medici family), designed the landscape and architecture here in the Tuscan Renaissance style that later influenced aristocratic and royal gardens throughout Europe. These gardens are commonly known as the Boboli Gardens.

The gardens are truly breathtaking, with antique marble sculptures and enormous fountains scattered across the space, and the aroma of citrus trees utterly overwhelms your senses as you stroll through the grounds.

Baptismal Font

One of the oldest structures in Florence is the baptistery of John the Baptist, which was consecrated in the year 1059. The original structure that was used as the foundation for the current octagonal baptistery dates back to the fourth or fifth century after the common era. Several notable persons from the Renaissance period were christened at this church, including the poet Dante Alighieri and members of the Medici dynasty.

The three enormous sets of bronze doors and the inside of the dome, which is covered in golden mosaics, are two of the most notable elements of the structure.

Piazzale Michelangelo

If you want to have a beautiful perspective of the city, go to the Piazzale Michelangelo, which is located on the south bank of the Arno River. It is a fantastic way to see the spectacular perspective of the city without paying to climb the Duomo, although it does involve a long stroll up a hill.

In the year 1869, Florentine architect Giuseppe Poggi built the room with the express purpose of displaying the works of Michaelangelo. There is a bronze cast of David and other works by the artist here, as well as additional bronze castings of some of the artist’s other works. You have the option of taking City Buses 12 or 13 to the top of the hill if you are unable to or are unable to walk up the slope.

Admire Palazzo Pitti

The Medici family purchased the Pitti family’s Palazzo Pitti in 1549 after it had been constructed in 1457 for the Pitti family. This palace is a stunning tribute to the significant role that the Medici family played in advancing Florence’s cultural landscape via their support of the arts in many forms.

It is home to a remarkable collection of paintings dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, including pieces attributed to artists like as Botticelli and Filippo Lippi.

Piazza Santo Spirito

There is a public space known as Piazza Santo Spirito that can be found in the peaceful neighbourhood of Oltrarno. The area is filled with market booths, so the mornings see a lot of activity there. When the sun goes dark, a large number of residents immediately go to the taverns and restaurants in the area. In the middle of all, there is also a beautiful church that may be seen.

Museum of Stibbert.

In spite of the fact that it is one of Florence’s most fascinating and distinctive museums, its location on the outskirts of the city means that it does not get as much foot traffic as the city’s other museums. This was Frederick Stibbert’s personal collection, which he gave to the city together with his mansion and grounds when he gave them to the city.

The collection of 36,000 relics includes some amazing items, such as historical armour from the Middle East and a fully recreated army of mediaeval knights seated on their horses in the great hall. Among the other artefacts, there is also a re-creation of an ancient Egyptian mummy. The primary focus of the exhibit is the robe worn by Napoleon Bonaparte at his coronation.

Best Hotels in Things to do in Florence Travel Guide

Velona’s Jungle

Phone: +39 055 274 1536

Veronica Grechi is the quintessential host at this upmarket bed and breakfast located in the mansion that belonged to her ancestors. The motif, which consists of luxuriant plants and wild creatures, is drawn from the 1930s, and the apartment is decorated with period antiques that were gathered by her nonno, who was an antiques dealer, as well as loud wallpaper designed by Christian Lacroix and the occasional animal print accent. Even though there are just four rooms on the main level, it has the cosy atmosphere of a home away from home. In 2021, they added six rooms with a wildlife theme on the floor below.

 

Lofts at Riva

Phone: +39 055 713 0272

What do you get when one of Florence’s most renowned architects transforms an old factory into a studio and a hotel? This urban sanctuary, where stairs seem to hover in midair, calming creams match with mid-century furniture, and antique travel trunks have been repurposed into closets, is a place where you may escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

However, keep in mind that it is a 30-minute walk to the core of the city, or an easy five-minute tram ride to Santa Maria Novella. The garden and pool offer an intimate refuge away from the metropolis.

 

Palazzo di Camugliano

Phone: +39 055 265 4578

Do you think this looks like the mansion of an aristocrat? You would be correct in assuming that the Marchese di Camugliano owns the palace, which dates back to the 16th century and has large vaulted ceilings, complex stuccoes, and many paintings. The Marchese is kind enough to share the house with visitors.

The 11 rooms of this hotel are quite luxurious, with features like as four-poster beds, fireplaces, and thick draperies. One junior suite even has plaster putti that invite guests to enter the bathroom, although the overall design is more understated than extravagant.

 

Best Restaurants in Florence

La Leggenda degli Frati

This Michelin-starred restaurant, located in the 17th-century Villa Bardini and overlooking the city centre, takes Tuscan cuisine to new heights with dishes such as cinta senese pig and macaroni, which are included in the restaurant’s up to nine-course tasting menus.

 

La Carbonata del Porrati

Phone: +39 055 234 3370

It is possible that you may come here for the chichi pizza, which is prepared with premium ingredients purchased from the next grocery shop. You may come for Florence’s famous steak, the melt-in-your-mouth bistecca alla fiorentina, which is made with beef from the nearby Mugello region and cooked to absolute perfection. You might also attend for the service; in all of Florence, you won’t find a more welcoming family than this one.

 

Trattoria Sabatino

Phone: +39 055 225 955

You are looking for traditional dishes prepared by Italian nonnas. You have to: spend a few hours passing the time at this excellent and laid-back trattoria, which serves traditional Tuscan dishes from a retro-styled daily menu. The selection is restricted, but there is no way to make a bad pick since there are often two kinds of pasta, several kinds of meat, cheese, and alcohol-soaked fruit for dessert.

Weather in Florence

It is humid in Florence since the city is located in a basin that is surrounded by mountains and hills. In the spring, temperatures range from the mid-50s to the 60s, and they seem more hotter when the sun is out. On the other hand, summer may be oppressively hot, with an average temperature of 77 degrees Fahrenheit that feels even hotter due to the high humidity.

October is often warm and sunny, with temperatures ranging in the low to middle 60s Fahrenheit on average. The winters are not very harsh, with temperatures averaging in the middle 40s; nonetheless, the high humidity makes them seem much colder.

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