Billy & Britny Florence has to be one of our favorite cities in Italy. The last time we went we were just enamored with the city. The warm summer nights, food, friendly people, and gorgeous sights really drew us in. Italy has been hit hard and when it’s time to travel again this place should definitely be on your list. We suggest spring and early summer, but even if you are there during the busy season you’ll still have a magical time. You just need to get to the sights a bit earlier and pre-purchase tickets to save time waiting in lines.
Day 1
We stayed at the Plaza Hotel Lucchesi. As soon as we saw the view from the rooftop pool we were sold! Luckily it was an amazing hotel and they upgraded us to a room overlooking the River Arno and of Piazzale Michelangelo. It’s an absolutely beautiful hotel that has been newly renovated. A breakfast buffet was included and it was actually really good. I don’t usually go for buffets, but there was something for everyone there.
After a good breakfast get to the Galleria dell’Accademia at 8:00 am or first thing in the morning to avoid crowds. This is actually the most popular museum in Florence due to the statue of David. The first time I visited the Accademia it was early May and we were there when it opened. Not many people in there at all so no need to pre-purchase tickets. The next time we were here we learned the hard way that lines get ridiculous if your there in late May and show up after 9:00am. So depending on the time of year just save yourself some time and buy your tickets ahead of time. Seeing the most popular man in Florence, the statue of David in Person is absolutely worth the wait. It is more impressive than you can imagine.
Next make your way to the Duomo di Firenze, one of the most iconic cathedrals in the world and the feature of the Florence skyline. The church is free, but to climb the cupola its 15 euro. We visited the crypt museum and really liked the history. Again the lines can be a nightmare so get there early.
After those two amazing and historic sights make your way to Piazza della republica. It has marked the city center since Roman times. Walking from the Duomo you’ll pass some great shops so make sure to stop along the way. You will know you’ve made it to the Piazza when you see the carousel in the center. Try one of the historic cafes, Caffe Gilli, Caffé Paskowski or Caffé delle Giubbe Rosse.
Next stop is Piazza della Signoria. This is the main square and has been the center of political life since at least the 14th century. You will see sculptures, fountains, statues and let’s not forget Michelangelo’s David, but remeber this is just a copy. Take the time to go inside the Palazzo Vecchio Florence’s city hall and then climb the tower to admire wonderful views of the city, including the Duomo. If you don’t have time for the museum, just climb the tower.
Now time to grab gelato and get ready for Dinner. We tried most gelato places that caught our eye, but the one that stands out and that we went back to multiple times was Gelateria dei Neri. After Gelato we went back to our hotel to catch a sunset dinner at the rooftop restaurant Empireo
Day 2
This would be a good day to head to the Uffizi gallery. This is a place where you could easily spend an entire day. It’s full of beautiful renaissance art and the building dates back to 1560. Some of the highlights are The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli, Venus of Urbino by Titian, and Doni Tondo by Michelangelo. Don’t miss the Leonardo Divinci room either. If you are there at a busier time by your tickets ahead of time so you are not wasting time waiting in line.
After the Uffizi find lunch somewhere close like at Mangia Pizza Firenze. The pizza here is to die for! This is actually one of the few times we had pizza, we mostly enjoyed pasta and lasagna and really we never had a bad meal the entire time we were in Italy. After fueling up walk to the Ponte Vecchio, the medieval bridge spanning the Arno river. You have most likely seen photos of this bridge, it is one of the most famous bridges in the world. During world war II it was the only bridge to survive destruction. Now it’s full of high end jewelry shops and watch stores.
After exploring the neighborhood around Ponte Vecchio head back to your hotel stopping for gelato of course and get ready for sunset at one of the most beautiful lookouts in Florence. You have to stop at Piazzale Michelangelo at least once during your trip to Florence. Get there early as it gets crowded closer to sunset. We took a taxi up to the lookout then walked back down the looping ramps to our hotel. I highly recommend walking at least one way because it’s such a beautiful walk down to the river Arno and the Torre San Niccolò, an old tower of the now destroyed medieval city walls.
Day 3
There is so much more to do in Florence. When we are getting to our last day in a location we like to take it easy and really take time exploring neighborhoods and locals restaurants. On the last day we recommend making it to the Basilica of Santa Croce. The Basilica of Santa Croce is one of Florence’s largest and most beautiful churches. Building began in 1294 and was paid for by some of the city’s wealthiest families. It is also where some of Florence’s most illustrious citizens are buried: Michelangelo who died in 1564, Galileo in 1642, Renaissance man Giorgio Vasari in 1574, Renaissance sculptor Lorenzo Ghiberti 1455, political philosopher Niccolò Macchiavelli 1527 and Barber of Sevillecomposer Rossini 1868. There is also a monument to the poet Dante Alighieri who died in 1321 but is actually buried in Ravenna.
It is also the anchor of the Piazza that has several good places to eat right on the square where you can also do some people watching. There are some very nice family owned stores and leather shops in this area as well. Nothing in downtown Florence is far to walk so this is a great place to get away from the many tourists and enjoy the locals of Florence. We could spend an entire day exploring the restaurants and shops of a local neighborhood. In this case we also split our day at the hotel pool at Plaza Hotel Lucchesi, I mean who could resist a rooftop pool overlooking the rooftops and basilicas of Florence.
We hope you enjoy your time in Florence and if you are looking for a day trip from the beautiful city check out our Cinque Terre blog post!
