Once upon a time a group of artists, intellectuals and politicians from a city in the centre of Italy, whose works and ideas would have shaped the future of human civilization. It was the XV-XVI century, and that place was Florence: Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Raffaello Sanzio among the others, under the reign of the Medici family, indelibly marked the Renaissance era and the history of the whole world.
Therefore, if you decided to visit Florence, you cannot be wrong. The “Cradle of the Renaissance” is a delight for the eyes, a harmonious concert of monuments, churches, historical buildings and alleys that will surprise you at every corner.
The first day starts at Basilica di San Lorenzo (Piazza di San Lorenzo, 9), founded in the IV century, and then continues to Piazza del Duomo, where you can admire Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence’s main Cathedral, which dates back to the XIV century. Have a look inside and then climb the “Cupola”, 463 suggestive stairs that will slowly take you to the top, where you can enjoy a spectacular view of the city.
Choose your favourite sandwich from “Pane & Toscana” (Borgo degli Albizi, 31) and then head towards Piazza Santa Croce, whose Cathedral is a prestigious symbol of Florence and is also known as the “Temple of the Italian Glories”.
Walk towards the river Arno, and then reach Ponte Vecchio, the oldest bridge of the town, which dates back to the X century and survived the bombs and devastation of the Second World War.
The next stop is the magnificent Piazza della Signoria, home of Palazzo Vecchio, the historical headquarter of the city’s political power. Keep walking and then reach Piazza della Repubblica, where you can enjoy a tea or coffee at the rooftop café of “La Rinascente” (Piazza della Repubblica, 3/5).
For dinner, try the butter chicken and the Meringue cake of “Trattoria Sostanza” (Via del Porcellana, 25/R).
The second day starts at Piazzale Michelangelo, the balcony of Florence, and then moves on to Piazza Pitti, the entrance of the Boboli Garden (Piazza Pitti, 1).
Walk around and get lost in this beautiful green area in the heart of Florence, surrounded by historical monuments and spectacular fountains. You can bring some food with you and have a picnic for lunch inside the garden, relaxing on the grass while looking over the city.
When you are ready to discover more, walk to Piazza Santo Spirito and then to Piazza della Passera, and enjoy a hot drink at the characteristic “Caffè degli Artigiani” (Via dello Sprone, 16).
For dinner, it’s time to try the well-known “Bistecca alla fiorentina” at “Il Latini” (Via dei Palchetti, 6/R).
The third day is dedicated to museums.
The Uffizi Gallery (Piazzale degli Uffizi, 6) is a must-see, and if you want to skip the long queue, it is advisable to buy your tickets following the instructions on this website.
The visit will take you at least 2-3 hours, and after a sandwich or schiacciata at “All’antico vinaio” (Via dei Neri, 74/R) you can visit the “Galleria dell’Accademia” (Via Ricasoli, 58/60), where the original statue of the David is conserved.
If you’ll have some spare time, the Bargello Museum (Via del Proconsolo, 4) has one of the most important collections of Renaissance statues.
Florence is a gem that is worth discovering alley by alley: wandering and getting lost in its historical centre is one of the best things you could do to make your memory of this town even more unforgettable!
Photos by Steve Sadowski, Dale Musselman, Wirsinda Llefreaks, Johann Edwin Heupel under Creative Commons.
My dream is to visit Florence! I like this city very much!
You forgot the gelato!!!