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Jan
10
Florence Holiday & Sightseeing Guide
Filed Under Italy
A trip to Florence
Located on the River Arno in the northwest of Italy, enclosed by the Chianti vineyards, is the capital of Tuscany - Florence. This travel destination is undoubtedly one of the world’s greatest art cities and it boasts innumerable striking attractions such as churches, palaces, museums and some outstanding art galleries. Florence offers visitors a timeless Italian ambience, delicious cuisine and an abundance of entertainment options. The city is served by two airports from where visitors can conveniently get to this hugely popular tourist destination.
Flights to Florence
Florence’s Amerigo Vespucci Airport receives flights from several domestic and European destinations. It is only three miles northwest of the city centre and transport options include buses, taxis and an airport shuttle service which takes about 20 minutes. For visitors coming from overseas, Pisa’s Galileo Galilei Airport is an alternative international hub to Florence and the city’s major air gateway. Also called Pisa International Airport, it handles flights from various European destinations such as London, Munich and Paris. If you are looking for a cheap flight to Florence try lastminute.com. The airport is connected to Florence by buses, shuttles and hourly train services taking between 45 and 60 minutes.
The easiest way to get around Florence is on foot; you can walk across the compact and mostly pedestrian-only city centre in about 30 minutes. The superb ATAF bus network is an inexpensive choice for visiting the outlying highlights, while tourist buses and taxis are also available.
Florence
Sightseeing in Florence
Florence is literally overloaded with marvellous well-preserved artworks. The eye-catching Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore is the city’s breathtaking cathedral which dominates the captivating skyline and provides spectacular vistas from its top; the Baptistery of St John was constructed in the 11th century and is assumed to be Florence’s oldest building, while one of Italy’s best examples of Italian Gothic architecture is the 14th century Campanile di Giotto.
Culture devotees will be overwhelmed by the gargantuan structure of the renowned Uffizi Gallery, which is one of the world’s leading galleries and houses a collection of world-famous masterpieces. Nature lovers should not miss out on the Giardino dei Semplici, beautiful 16th century botanical gardens with several specialist museums and greenhouses on-site, while Palazzo Strozzi is an enormous Renaissance palace that presents art exhibitions and a library. Florence also boasts a splendid assortment of museums situated in lovely old buildings including the Museo e Istituto di Preistoria and the striking Casa di Dante.
Fun by night – eating, drinking and partying
Dining options in Florence are unrestricted and vary from stand up snacks in bars to family-run trattorias and full-scale restaurants. The tourist areas can charge an arm and a leg for an authentic meal, but less expensive authenticity can usually be found just a block away down a back lane.
There is plenty of live music entertainment in Florence as well as a selection of cocktail bars and a rising number of Irish-style pubs. The city also features a fine array of wine bars as well as various cinemas, nightclubs and discos. The more cultured might find amusement at one of Florence’s popular theatres or opera houses, or enjoy some of the events staged at the city’s parks and palaces.
Fun by day – shopping and activities
Florence is a real paradise for shoppers and a hub for designer labels, which are to be found along via dei Tornabuoni. Ponte Vecchio is the spot for jewellery, while antique devotees should head for via Maggio or the Mercato delle Pulci. Florence is also famous for its various picturesque markets such as the San Lorenzo for food lovers, offering mouth-watering delicatessens, wines, cheeses and other fare.
Daytrips
Although Florence is factually stuffed with attractions, its surrounding areas also have numerous draws to present the sightseer. You can travel around this region for weeks without getting bored since the city is set in the heart of Tuscany, a region of spectacular views, miles of vineyards, fields of sunflowers, mountaintop castles and rolling hills.
An excellent daytrip leads to the historic town of Siena, with its imposing cathedral which is a great example of Romanesque architecture. The Museo dell’Opera del Duomo houses Duccio’s renowned Maestà, and more Sienese paintings can be discovered in the Pinacoteca. An architectural treasure is the shell-shaped town square (Piazza del Campo), which is also famous for being the site of the world-known Palio horserace.
Another itinerary takes you to the small mediaeval hill town of San Gimignano, situated 24 miles from Florence. Founded in the 3rd century BC, this municipality has managed to preserve 14 different towers, which make up its international symbol. The two most significant of the plentiful churches are the Collegiata and the Sant’Agostino.
Must-see attractions
Among Florence’s main landmarks is the unique Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge). Built in 972 AD, this is the oldest of the city’s six bridges and is actually more like a pedestrianised street than a bridge as it is lined with various tempting shops held up by stilts over the Arno River. Highlights include the Bust of Cellini, a mixture of jewellery and gold shops, and Vasari’s elevated corridor, not to mention the panoramic views.
Constructed in 1457, the huge Palazzo Pitti across the Arno consists of four museums and presents one of the world’s best art collections. Renaissance and Baroque artworks from the Medici family’s collection can be admired here, as well as masterpieces by Van Dyck, Titian and Raphael. Neighbouring the palace, the Giardino di Boboli are elaborately landscaped gardens featuring a sculpture gallery and Bacchus Fountain.
In the heart of Florence, in Piazza della Signoria, is the Fountain of Neptune, a magnum opus created between 1563 and 1565. The Basilica di San Miniato al Monte is placed on a hill outside Florence and provides unsurpassed views, while a less frequented place of interest is the 16th century Pharmacy of Santa Maria Novella which stocks an abundance of perfumes, soaps and herbal elixirs.
Best time to go
The best season to visit Florence is in the spring, when it’s relatively warm and dry. Between March and May, average temperatures range from 15 to 19°C and it occasionally rains. The summers are hot, with daily average highs of around 30°C, so make sure to bring some headgear and sunglasses. Winter in Florence is not very cold but offers a fair amount of precipitation, with temperatures between 3 and 13°C.
Rainy day suggestions
Florence offers several indoor attractions in case the weather turns sour. The Bargello Tower is home to sculptures of the Renaissance, while Angelico’s works are showcased in the Museum of San Marco. Additional options are the chapels of the Medicis, and Buonarroti’s House containing sculptures of Michelangelo. Countless museums include the Museum of the Opera del Duomo, the Museum of Precious Stones, and the Gallery of Modern Art, but the jewel in Florence’s crown is the Uffizi.
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