LivingTravelFlorence Italy travel guide Discover Renaissance Italy in everyone's...

Florence Italy travel guide Discover Renaissance Italy in everyone's favorite Tuscan city

Florence is located in the heart of the Tuscany region of Italy, in western Italy, along the Arno River. It is 145 miles north of Rome and 185 miles south of Milan. Florence is the capital of the Tuscany region, and has a population of around 400,000 people, with around 300,000 more in suburban areas.

When to go

The narrow streets of Renaissance Firenze are clogged with sweaty tourists in July and August. Spring (April and May) or fall (September and October) are much better, although it is still tourist season. Tourists also flock to Florence at Easter. November can be fine if you bring warm clothes and expect some rain.

Where to stay

Most people prefer to stay in the historic center to marvel at the Renaissance architecture of Florence. A stay in the hills outside Florence is also rewarding. We enjoyed our stay at Villa Le Piazzole, where a short, pleasant walk downhill into Florence takes you directly to the Ponte Vecchio.

Read reviews of hotels in Florence on TripAdvisor.

Main attractions

  • Archaeological Museum of Florence : housed in a palace with large Egyptian and Etruscan collections. Via della Colonna, entry under 5 euros.
  • Baptistery of John the Baptist – Dates from the 11th century, with three sets of incredible bronze doors.
  • Il Duomo (Cattedrale de Santa Maria del Fiore) – The Florentine Gothic duomo began in 1296 and was consecrated in 1436. Brunelleschi’s Dome is a masterpiece of construction and you can climb the 463 stairs to enjoy great views of Florence. Piazza del Duomo. Admission is free, but in summer you may have to wait in line to get in. Fees to see the excavations or climb the dome.
  • Uffizi Gallery – Housed in a 1560 Medici palace, recent renovations have meant that visitors don’t have to wait outside and the galleries have expanded. There is a good view of Florence from the upper floors. Piazzale degli Uffizi 6, as of 2019, the price was 12 euros to enter from November to February and 20 euros from March to October. [Special note: If you are planning a trip to Florence between May and October, the Uffizi is the only attraction for which you must purchase a ticket in advance. Select Italy Offers: Skip The Line: Uffizi Gallery Tickets.]
  • The Palazzo Vecchio or “Old Palace” is the Romanesque town hall of Florence. A copy of Michelangelo’s David draws onlookers to the fore. This is another place where you will want to book a tour in advance. Select Italy offers three very interesting tours: «the General Guided Tour offers an overview of the most important rooms of the palace; the Secret Itineraries Tour opens doors that are generally closed to the public; and the Paint a Fresco Workshop teaches you how to make your own fresco using techniques from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. See: Palazzo Vecchio Tours, Florence.
  • The Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens . The palace encompasses several museums and contains paintings by some of Italy’s most famous masters. The Renaissance gardens are a delight. Piazza Pitti, south of the Arno. Various entrance fees.
  • Dante’s House (Casa di Dante) : Okay, it’s a bit weird, but I liked the medieval section of town and visiting a house of the famous Dante. Via S. Margherita, 1, 3 euros, closed on Tuesday.
  • The Ponte Vecchio – The Old Bridge looks from the outside as if it’s still full of crowded blacksmiths and butchers from medieval times, but today it’s all shiny gold and tourist ornaments. Saved from bombing in WWII, it used to be built of wood, but a reconstruction in the 1300s made it primarily of stone. Free, unless you run into a jewelry or porcelain statues vendor.
  • The Church of San Lorenzo : It is not impressive from the outside, but it is probably the oldest religious structure in Florence. They say that it was probably founded before AD 400 and that its artwork includes material from Donatello and Bronzino.

Food and drink

Tuscan cuisine is world renowned for its simple combinations of absolutely fresh ingredients. Try the Bistecca alla fiorentina Florentine T-Bone (but note that it is listed on the menu priced at 100 grams, and this steak is usually huge). Tripe is also a specialty, as is the bread soup called ribollita. Tuscan entrees include crostini and bruschetta , toasted bread with various ingredients.

Best breakfast: Cucciolo Bar Pasticceria. Known for their Bombolone, a kind of Tuscan donut that is cooked here and immediately sends a conduit into town from the kitchen upstairs for each to slide to the front of the bar where you can grab one and eat. Your breakfast bottle doesn’t get any fresher than that.

Lunch at the market If you can find your way through the jungle of leather coats and handbags at the market in Piazza di San Lorenzo, you will see the old sign advertising Piero’s favorite lunch spot: Trattoria Gozzi. “Simple Tuscan food, always packed,” said Piero. He was correct. On a day in late October at 2pm, we couldn’t get in; there was at least a 45 minute wait. The Gozzi is only open for lunch. Arrives early!

Drinks with a view at the Oblate Library The Oblate Library is a former convent; the nuns washed the clothes of the adjacent hospital; you can see the bathtubs below. And there really is a historical library here. But the star of the show is the second-floor cafeteria overlooking the dome of the duomo.

Local buses

ATAF and LI-NEA hold the city’s public transportation system together. Bus tickets and passes can be purchased at the ATAF ticket office in Piazza Stazione (you can also get a bus schedule). You can buy a bus ticket at any tobacconist (indicated by a large “T” on a black sign outside the store) that displays an orange ATAF sticker on the door or window. All tickets must be time stamped using the machines on board the buses. Night tickets (9:00 pm to 6:00 am) can generally be purchased from the bus driver.

Taxis

Florence is served by taxi companies: Taxi Radio and Taxi Socota . Socota is the largest. You probably can’t take a taxi, it would be better to find a taxi rank or call.

Parking lot

Florence has a website dedicated to parking in the city. Click on “Parcheggiare” for a map of the parking lots.

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