Last Updated on May 9, 2024 by Welcome Tuscany
Florence is a treasure trove of Renaissance art and architecture, with stunning churches, world-class museums, and charming piazzas. Florence is one of the culture capitals of Europe. Home to an incredible collection of museums and art galleries, breathtaking architecture, Florence should be high on the bucket list of any self-respecting traveler…discover what to see and what to taste in Florence with links, weather, searches and videos How to Plan a Trip to Florence, Florence Travel Guide…
What to see in Florence?
Here are some of the top things to see and do in this beautiful city:
- The Duomo (Santa Maria del Fiore):This magnificent cathedral is the crown jewel of Florence. Its massive dome, designed by Brunelleschi, is a marvel of engineering and a symbol of the city. You can climb the dome for stunning views of Florence, but be prepared for a lot of stairs!
- Uffizi Gallery:One of the world’s top art museums, the Uffizi Gallery houses a collection of masterpieces by Renaissance masters such as Botticelli, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci. Be sure to book your tickets in advance, as this is a popular attraction.
- Accademia Gallery:Home to Michelangelo’s iconic David, the Accademia Gallery is another must-see for art lovers. This sculpture is a masterpiece of Renaissance anatomy and a symbol of human potential.
- Ponte Vecchio:This historic bridge is lined with gold and jewelry shops. It’s a great place to browse for souvenirs or just to take in the view of the Arno River.
- Palazzo Vecchio:This imposing palace was once the seat of Florentine government. Today, it’s a popular tourist attraction with stunning views from its tower.
- Piazza della Signoria:This lively square is home to a number of important sculptures, including a copy of Michelangelo’s David. It’s a great place to people-watch and soak up the atmosphere of Florence.
- Basilica di Santa Croce:This church is home to the tombs of some of Italy’s most famous figures, including Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli. It’s a beautiful and historic place to visit.
These are just a few of the many things to see and do in Florence. With its rich history, stunning art, and delicious food, Florence is a city that will stay with you long after you leave.
Here are some additional ideas for things to do in Florence, depending on your interests:
- Take a walking tour: There are many great walking tours available that will take you to all the major sights in Florence. This is a great way to learn about the city’s history and culture.
- Visit a museum: Florence has a wealth of museums to explore, from the Uffizi Gallery to the Palazzo Vecchio. If you’re interested in art, history, or science, you’re sure to find a museum that interests you.
- Go on a day trip: There are many beautiful towns and cities near Florence that are worth a visit. Siena, Pisa, and San Gimignano are all popular day trip destinations.
- Take a cooking class: Learn how to make traditional Tuscan dishes in a cooking class. This is a great way to experience the local culture and cuisine.
- Relax in a piazza: Florence’s many piazzas are great places to relax, people-watch, and soak up the atmosphere. Order a coffee or gelato and enjoy the view!
One of the biggest draw cards to Florence is the Uffizi Gallery. Lovers of fine art and Renaissance splendor will already have their trip to the Uffizi Gallery planned out. Home to works from some of the finest artists who have ever walked the earth – namely Botticelli, Caravaggio and Raphael – Uffizi is inspiring, mesmerizing and truly unforgettable.
Away from the art and the architecture, Florence’s food culture will leave you spell-bound. From traditional Florentine trattorias to the high street ‘gelaterias’, Florence will render you both hungry for more, and suitably stuffed.
Florence is really quite compact and walkable.
It’s a 10-15 minute walk from the train station to the Duomo.
The regional train from Firenze S.M. Novella to Pisa Centrale takes about an hour.
Don’t forget to validate your ticket in the machine on the platform.
You can walk to the Tower in about 20 minutes.
There’s also a bus.
If you want to climb the leaning Tower of Pisa, you can pre-book your date and time sensitive ticket. www.opapisa.it
Lucca is 1 hrs. from Florence, the train station is just outside the walls.
Siena is about the same via regional train, the station is outside the walls too.
There’s a bus for each too, the stops is within the walls.
Piazzale Michelangelo Florence
Up on the hill, in the ‘southbank’ of Florence, is a vast panoramic terrace where tour buses make their stop and a few stalls offer souvenirs to the tourists that venture up here to take the best photo of the city. As far as tourist attractions in Florence go, this is the daddy.
In a town full of spectacular views, this one beats them all. It’s close enough to the city centre to offer a great view of the monuments, with the massive Duomo dominating everything.
Where should I stay in Florence? Where to Stay in Florence Neighborhoods & Area Guide
The center of the Renaissance city of Florence is actually quite small, easily walkable from one end to the other in less than 30 minutes and contains almost all of the main sights you’ll be seeing in Florence. So staying within its boundaries makes lots of sense, particularly if your time is very limited and want to see most of the main sights in that short time plan your itinerary in advance starting from your accommodations.
Look at accommodations and choose based on the one you really like. Since all of the main sights are so close to each other, it won’t matter what area you are in within the center. If you want to be right in the very heart of Florence, I’d suggest staying anywhere between Piazza San Marco to the north, Piazza Santa Croce to the east, Ponte Vecchio and the Arno to the south and Piazza Santa Maria Novella to the west.
Where is the best place to stay in Florence for a first-time visitor?
The answer is simple: close to the city center of Florence!
We recommend being close to the city center and the central train station. Florence is a small city, so that is quite easy. Worry not, you have all the information you need below.
If you wanna get away of the crowds, then head to the beautiful vineyards and rolling hills of Tuscany.
You will get the most out of your first-time visit to Florence by choosing the area that would best suit your specific travel needs.
Take a look and see what would best fit your travel status for your up and coming trip to Italy.
The best neighborhoods and areas to stay in Florence, Italy:
Close to the city center: Borgo Pinti, Ponte Vecchio, Santo Spirito
Near the train station and airport bus: Santa Maria Novella
Why do we recommend these areas?
Generally, these are the most convenient places to stay because they have direct access to the airport, public transport and many of the major sights!
If you want to be right in the very heart of Florence, we suggest staying anywhere between Piazza San Marco to the north, Piazza Santa Croce to the east, Ponte Vecchio and the Arno to the south and Piazza Santa Maria Novella to the west.
Santa Maria Novella Train Station
Though technically a part of the Santa Maria Novella neighborhood, the streets closest to the city’s train station are slightly grittier than the rest of the neighborhood.
On the up-side the area is a convenient place to stay in Florence for those without much time, as it’s ten minutes from the Duomo and other major sites, and just a skip away from the train station.
It’s also the cheapest place to stay in central Florence. In fact, we often stay in this area for work trips to the city.
Stay here if: You’re on a tight budget; You have a very early morning train; You don’t need to navigate the city late at night; You booked last minute and there are no other hotel options in the city; You don’t mind staying a 10 to 15-minute walk outside the city center.
Fortezza da Basso
The Florence neighborhood of Fortezza sits to the east of the train station.
It might not seem like much at first glance, but that’s exactly its draw: It is well removed from the throngs of tourists, but still within walking distance of the city’s main sights.
You’ll find a few more cars here since it’s not completely pedestrianized, but you’ll also have the big complex of the 16th-century Fortezza (now a convention center) and restaurants featuring some of Florence’s most traditional foods, like the famous tripe sandwiches called Lampredotto and the classic ribollita vegetable soup.
Stay here if: You’d like a residential, quiet stay; you need to be near the train station but want to be slightly more up-market than Santa Maria Novella; you’ve come to Florence for a convention; you don’t mind walking a bit to see the city’s main sights; you want to avoid the crowds; you’re not interested in the nightlife.
DUOMO OF FLORENCE Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore Cupola di Brunelleschi
The Duomo is the city’s bullseye. As always in Italian cities, it’s the center of the action as well as the most touristy and expensive place to stay. The actual name of this neighborhood is San Giovanni, but we also include the beautiful Piazza della Signoria in here as well.
This is Florence’s main hotel district, but be careful; while some of the hotels are the height of luxury, others hide behind the star afforded to them by their great location. You won’t be dodging tourists around the Florence Duomo neighborhood, you’ll be one of them, but you’ll be steps away from the beautiful Cathedral, Palazzo Vecchio, and the Uffizi Gallery – and that’s hard to beat.
Stay here if: Money is not an object; You’re only in town for a short time; You’re unable or unwilling to walk a lot but still want to see the main sights; You don’t mind tourists; You want the convenience; You’ve come to Florence for a room with a view.
While there are many great neighborhoods in Florence, one thing that’s nearly universal is their accessibility. The capital of Tuscany is comparatively small when put up against some of the other major Italian cities. Because while this is definitely a modern city, you can also walk it end to end in about a half hour.
And the capital’s smart design and commitment to maintaining its sense of dignified characters means that you’ll encounter plenty of important landmarks, significant architecture, and cultural touchstones no matter what route you decide to take.
Pedestrians rule in Florence, and many of the more interesting and important streets are bereft of cars and scooters in favor of strolling individuals out on the town. Despite that, travelers looking to get off their feet will find opportunities to get around on the city’s ATAF buses.
Traditional cars aren’t suggested both because of the costly charges for taxis and the narrow streets that make navigating them a hassle.
If you care at all about the historical importance of Florence, you’ll almost certainly want to visit the Duomo. Named after what’s arguably the most significant piece of architecture in the entire town, the neighborhood known as Duomo is dense with landmarks of immense historical importance, and it also represents the true geographic center of town.
Lodgings in the Duomo district will put you into spitting distance of landmarks like the Museo Nazionale del Bargello – which is home to some of the most beautiful Renaissance art in the entire country – and the gorgeous and utterly unique historical religious building known as the Battistero di San Giovanni.
Santa Croce Square & Church
Santa Croce Square is where games and tournaments used to be played, and today it is still the stage for the historic game of “Calcio in Costume”, that happens every 24th June. The rest of the year it is a spacious and lively piazza flanked by beautiful buildings.
The Queen of the square is the Santa Croce Church. This is a vast place with Medieval frescoes that guard the tombs of the VIPS. Michelangelo, Galileo are buried here, no less.
Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore
What is it: The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower, better known as the Duomo di Firenze, is the centerpiece of the city.
The Uffizi
What is it: An absolute treasure trove of Renaissance art.
Galleria dell’Accademia
What is it: The home of Michelangelo’s most famous work of art.
Piazzale Michelangelo
What is it: One of the few places where you can soak up the whole stunning sweep of Florence in one go – for free.
Mercato Centrale
What is it: Two floors of foodie heaven.
Piazza Santo Spirito
What is it: A piazza of markets and aperitivo destinations in the district of the Oltrarno.
Giardino Bardini
What is it: While everyone flocks to the Boboli gardens, few venture further to the Bardini, which happens to be the home of the beautiful staircase you can see from the Arno.
Leather shops and markets
What is it: The go-to for finding the best leather products in Florence are local markets and shops.
Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella
What is it: A sixteenth-century pharmacy founded by Dominican friars.
VACANZA A FIRENZE
Firenze con i suoi musei, palazzi e chiese ospita alcuni dei più importanti tesori artistici del mondo.
Tra i luoghi d’ arte e di culto più conosciuti della città vi sono senz’ altro la Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, il Battistero, la Galleria degli Uffizi, il Bargello e la Galleria dell’ Accademia.
Le chiese di Santa Maria Novella e Santa Croce poi sono delle vere e proprie gallerie d’ arte, così come la Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana è un’ eccezionale espressione del genio architettonico di Michelangelo. Vi consigliamo di riservare un po’ di tempo per visitare anche le importanti e svariate collezioni conservate a Palazzo Pitti.
Quando vi sentirete stanchi di vedere musei e gallerie d’arte, recatevi all’ aperto e scoprirete che a Firenze è bello anche solo passeggiare per le belle strade del centro storico.
Camminate fino a raggiungere l’ Arno, soffermatevi sul romantico Ponte Vecchio e continuate fino all’ Oltrarno, la parte più “nuova” di Firenze.
Trascorrete una giornata ai giardini di Boboli oppure salite sopra la collina alle spalle di piazzale Michelangelo e raggiungete la Chiesa di San Miniato al Monte per godere di un’ incredibile vista su Firenze….
Vacation in Florence Ideas inspiration & travel tips for your next holiday in Florence Tuscany region trip to Florence selected attractions in Florence top sights in Florence
Get insights and insider tips What to see Best hidden gems in italy.
Tops thinks to do in Florence Tops thinks to see in Florence
https://www.timeout.com/florence/things-to-do/best-things-to-do-in-florence
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/florence/top-things-to-do/a/poi/360059
https://www.expedia.com/Province-Of-Florence.dx179893
https://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions-/florence-i-to-f.htm
https://www.toscana.info/firenze/cosa-vedere-firenze/piazzale-michelangelo
Condizioni Meteo a Firenze – Weather Conditions Local Weather Forecasts in Florence
https://www.ilmeteo.it/meteo/Firenze
https://www.meteogiuliacci.it/meteo/firenze
Where to stay in Florence? – Dove soggiornare a Firenze? – ¿Dónde alojarse Firenze?
Hotels in Florence online booking reservations by Google & Welcometuscany.it
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Luoghi del gusto a Firenze ristoranti e locali a Firenze dove mangiare a Firenze il cibo la cucina le ricette i piatti tipici Firenze
Places of taste in Florence restaurants and clubs in Florence where to eat in Florence the food of Florence the cuisine the recipes the typical dishes of Florence
Informazioni sul tipo di cucina, sulle loro specialità, offerte, iniziative, tipo di ambiente.
Ristoranti a Firenze.
Dimenticate la Firenze per turisti con l’ombrello e le tappe scandite dai selfie davanti ai monumenti.
Nel sottobosco fiorentino, lontano dalle guide di viaggio, crescono e si sviluppano iniziative sociali e culturali, quartieri “alternativi” e una geografia del gusto per tutte le esigenze e tutte le tasche.
Buon cibo, grandi vini e tanta mixology: nel capoluogo toscano c’è una new wave ben lontana dai cliché turistici e che parte da ambienti esclusivi, vintage o di design.
https://www.thefork.it/ristoranti/firenze-c170853
https://www.firenzerestaurant.it
Ricette regionali fiorentine cucina tradizionale fiorentina piatti tipici fiorentini prodotti tipici fiorentini cucina fiorentina
Regional recipes of Florence traditional florentine cuisine typical gastronomic specialty in Florence typical food in Florence
La Toscana è tra le regioni italiane con una delle più ricche tradizioni culinarie.
I prodotti tipici di Firenze, quelli su cui si basa la gran parte della cucina tipica fiorentina, sono il pane, l’olio extra-vergine d’oliva delle colline, la carne, i legumi e, naturalmente, il Chianti.
La cucina fiorentina è approssimativamente caratterizzata da almeno 5 elementi fondamentali: il pane toscano; l’olio extra-vergine d’oliva delle colline ; la carne (alla griglia, bistecche di manzo alla fiorentina, selvaggina arrostita e/o brasata col vino come il cinghiale, il coniglio e il cervo), i legumi come i fagioli e i ceci , e infine il vino Chianti.
Bistecca alla fiorentina
Al primo posto tra i prodotti tipici fiorentini…la fiorentina!
Talmente famosa che basta la parola. Una lombata di chianina o di scottona, da cuocersi rigorosamente “al sangue”.
La vera fiorentina deve pesare almeno 1 kg ed essere alta almeno 4 cm. Per gustarla al top, provala accompagnata dai fagioli all’uccelletto.
Lampredotto tipico fiorentino
Uno dei piatti tipici fiorentini dello street food.
Il panino col lampredotto è composto da due fette di pane ripiene di interiora di bovino.
Provalo “bagnato”, ossia inzuppato nel brodo bollente, presso uno dei tanti banchini di trippai della città.
Ribollita fiorentina
Tra i primi piatti di Firenze più famosi c’è senza dubbio la ribollita.
Una zuppa di origine contadina composta da pane raffermo e verdure, in particolare:
cavolo fagioli patate cipolla carote pomodoro
Una ricetta semplice e sana, gustosa e facile da preparare. Di diritto tra i piatti tipici fiorentini da non perdere.
Tortelli di patate mugellani
Tra i prodotti tipici di Firenze e provincia i tortelli di patate mugellani.
La ricetta risale alla metà del 1800. L’impiego di patate locali conferisce oggi ai tortelli della Valle del Mugello una morbidezza e un gusto molto apprezzati nella cucina toscana.
Schiacciata dolce: la colazione tipica
Se desideri fare una colazione tipica toscana devi necessariamente provare la schiacciata fiorentina, anche conosciuta come “stiacciata unta”. Dolce tipico del periodo di Carnevale, la schiacciata è una torta soffice all’aroma di arancia e vaniglia, ricoperta di zucchero a velo, con il giglio fiorentino disegnato in superficie.
Oggi spesso farcita con cioccolato, panna o crema chantilly. Una vera bomba!
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cucina_fiorentina
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