FLORENCE TRAVEL GUIDE

Beautiful Florence, the birthplace of Renaissance. Planning a trip should be easy with numerous museums and art galleries to choose from, but overwhelming if you are limited on time. Lace up your sneakers and plan for a full day of walking and exploration! If you only have 24 hours below is my recommended list for the best in Florence, Italy.

PRO TIP: Stay within the downtown city center if you are only visiting a short time. Being close to all of what Florence has to offer is key during short stay trips. This helps to limit travel time to and from the historic city center.

MUST SEE IN FLORENCE

• PIAZZA DEL DUOMO

Start your day by walking to Piazza del Duomo. The square contains the city’s iconic landmarks and principal monuments; Duomo di Firenze with the Cupola del Brunelleschi, the Battistero di San Giovanni, and the Campanile. 

The Florence Cathedral formally the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore stands to dominate the skyline with the cupola at almost 300 feet high. The dome, designed by Filippo Brunelleschi is the largest brick dome in the world built without any scaffolding, but using the double shell construction method. Check out my favorite National Geographic Video explaining the dome’s famous design!

PRO TIP: Make sure to make reservations in advance if you want to visit and climb up the cupola/dome! (I wish we had done this!) 

Make sure not to miss Battistero di San Giovanni  (Baptistery of San Giovanni) it is adjacent to the Duomo and is an octagonal structure flanked by a set of gilded bronze doors, Port del Paradiso (Gates of Paradise; by Lorenzo Ghiberti.)  

• PALAZZO VECCHIO

Positioned between the Duomo and the Arno River, while overlooking Piazza della Signoria and Loggia Dei Lanzi (an open air sculpture gallery), Palazzo Vecchio (and the Arnolfo Tower) is the closest you can get to time travel. With Roman ruins, a Medieval Fortress, and Renaissance art and architecture plan to tour! The square hosts yet another Michelangelo replica of David, and is close to the iconic Italian fashion house museum, Museo Gucci (Gucci “Garden” Museum).

• SAN LORENZO MARKET

This historic market is not to be missed, and is comprised of two parts. The indoor and outdoor market. The outdoor market spills out onto multiple streets of the San Lorenzo neighborhood. Spend some time exploring the stalls selling leather goods, pottery, clothes, and tourist souvenirs.

When you are ready for lunch, find your way to the 1st floor of Mercato Centrale. The beautiful glass and iron building originally constructed in 1874 by architect Giuseppe Mengoni is Florence’s oldest and largest food market. The indoor space is full of flavor and options, all run by artisanal traders. Pick up anything from pasta to paninis, and sit at one of the communal tables underneath the beautiful antique clerestory windows. 

• GALLERIA DELL’ ACCADEMIA

With a full stomach, walk to Galleria dell’ Accademia to see Michelangelo’s original David statue. 

PRO TIP: Make sure you purchase tickets/reservations to skip the line, if you are interested in going inside! This is one of Florence’s top tourists attractions and the lines can be extremely long. 

• UFFIZI GALLERY

Continue walking towards the Arno river, down Piazzale degli Uffizi and you will find yourself right at the entrance to the Uffizi Gallery. Again, it’s my recommendation to purchase tickets to avoid long lines! This museum is one of the most visited galleries in all of Italy. Spot Botticelli’s Primavera and Birth of Venus and multiple notable works of art by some of my favorite early renaissance masters such as Caravaggio, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Michelangelo. 

• PONTE VECCHIO

The only bridge that was not destroyed in WWII, Ponte Vecchio literally translates to Old Bridge is one of the most beautiful spots in Florence sparkling over the Arno River with goldsmiths and jewelry stores.  

• BOBOLI GARDENS

If you are on the South side of the Arno river, make sure you walk through the Giardino di Boboli (Boboli Gardens), Palazzo Pitti (Pitti Palace) and Basilica di Santo Spirito (Basilica of the Holy Spirit) another unique Catholic church by Architect Filippo Brunelleschi. (Don’t be deterred by the main facade, the interior of the basilica is breath taking.)  

• PIAZZALE MICHELANGELO

Climb or bus up to this popular vista. It is one of the best ways to experience Florence. Grab a gelato and spend some time sitting in the square taking in all the magic Florence offers. Notably the piazza center has a bronze replica of Michelangelo's David. (Just in case you can’t make it to the Galleria dell’ Accademia!)

The Magical Skyline of Florence

FIELD NOTE: Two other churches I think are worth the visit… 

• Basilica di Santa Maria Novella (Basilica of Santa Maria Novella) and it is just a short walk from the Florence train station!

• Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross) = stunning. 

Basilica di Santa Maria Novella

Basilica di Santa Croce