Florence is my very favorite city in Italy. Everywhere you turn, there is an architectural or sculptural masterpiece. It was the home of the Italian Renaissance and as such really celebrates art and culture. In this city alone you can see some of the most famous works by Michelangelo, DaVinci, Donatello, Botticelli, Raphael, Brunelleschi, and Titian.

If you are planning a trip to Italy, Florence should be on the list for sure! We visited Florence as part of a 1o day trip to Italy and we stayed for 2 days. 2 days is enough to see most of the highlights of the city but you will need more time if you plan to visit every gallery.

The Duomo in Florence

The Duomo is the heart of the city of Florence. Any pictures you see of Florence will invariably feature the terra-cotta roof of the Duomo.

This cathedral is called the Duomo, which means the house of the bishop. However, the entire name of the church is the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore. The exterior is made of different colors of marble, and is extensively decorated with friezes, statuary and stained glass windows. It is truly awe-inspiring.

 

It is a masterpiece of Renaissance Florence although it was begun in the late 1200’s. Its famous dome was built in 1417. Statuary and colored marble was added to the exterior up until the late 1800’s.

Plan on 30 minutes to 1 hour to explore the outside and more to visit the interior or climb the dome.

Tips for visiting the Duomo:

• The interior is not particularly impressive. Save the 5 euros and visit the interior of the duomo in Siena or climb the tower of the Duomo in Florence.
• If you want to climb the dome make sure to book your ticket in advance!

The David

After the Mona Lisa, The David might be the most famous work of art in the world. Sculpted by Michelangelo in the early 1500s, The David was meant to be a depiction of biblical King David in his youth. This statue stood in the Palazzo Vecchio for centuries and was moved into the Accademia Gallery in 1873 to protect it from damage.

Today you can visit The David at the Accademia Gallery or visit a replica in The David’s original home in the Palazzo Vecchio.

Plan on 1-2 hours to get into the museum and visit.

Tip: If you are traveling with small kids, skip the Accademia gallery and show them the replica. It beats standing in the long entrance line.

Palazzo Vecchio

Translated into English, Palazzo Vecchio means “old palace.”  This was the principal palace in Florence before the building of the Pitti Palace across the Arno River. The original David sat on one side of the entrance to Palazzo Vecchio for hundreds of years.

Today the Palazzo is open for tours, and there are some beautiful works of art in the palace. Most of the sculptures and frescoes were created by some of the greatest artists of the Renaissance.

Plan on 1 hour.

Piazza Della Signoria

Also called Piazza Vecchio, this square is outside of the Palazzo Vecchio and is the home to the Loggia dei Lanzi which is a covered area with iconic statues such as “Rape of the Sabines” by Giambologna and the statue of Perseus by Cellini. Also on the square is the fountain of Neptune by Bartolomeo Ammannati. Restoration of the fountain was just finished last year.

It is amazing to see so many spectacular works of art just out in a public square! My kids especially like the statue of Perseus as they are big Percy Jackson fans.

This square was the site of ancient Florence’s trade and a gathering place for politicians.

Plan on an hour to explore.

Ponte Vecchio

Just down from the Palazzo Vecchio and Piazza Della Signoria is another famous Florentine landmark. Ponte Vecchio is a historic bridge of the Arno River. For centuries it was the only bridge across the Arno. Shops line both sides of the bridge as they did in the 13th century.

Immortalized in the Puccini aria, “O Mio Babbino Caro” and countless books and movies you will definitely recognize this bridge.

Plan on 30 minutes to walk it and take pictures.

Uffizi Gallery

The Uffizi Gallery is one of the world’s best known museums. It houses Leonardo Da Vinci’s “Adoration of the Magi”, Raphael’s “Madonna of the Goldfinch”, and Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” among hundreds of other famous works of art. While it is fascinating for art lovers and history lovers, it may not be your kids’ favorite destination.

So if you plan on being in Florence for a few days, book the Best of Florence for 3 days and you can do 30 minutes a day in the Uffizi and still see the highlights. Plus the 3 day pass gives you access to Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens. Check our what the Uffizi has to offer with this guide.

Plan on 1-2 hours

Boboli Gardens and Pitti Palace

The newer palace across the Arno River is Pitti Palace. Pitti Palace is now a museum that contains paintings from the 16th century, treasures of the Medici family, costume gallery and the Porcelain museum. The Boboli gardens were the extensive gardens of the Pitti Palace. The gardens are Italian in style and feature statuary, fountains, and grottos. The gardens are a wonderful place to explore on sunny day.

Plan on 1-3 hours.

Rivoire

Do yourself a favor and head to this restaurant located in the Piazza della Signoria and get some hot chocolate! Even if you aren’t usually a fan of hot chocolate, you will love this one.

Bitter, a little sweet, thick and decadent! Apparently, this secret recipe has been passed down for over 100 years. I don’t have enough exclamation points for how good it is. We also had a piece of their chocolate cake, and it was just as special.

This won’t be a cheap treat (the hot chocolate was 4.50 euros), but it will be a special one.

Gelateria dei Neri

If you love gelato in Italy, you will love Gelateria Dei Neri! You can easily spot it because of the line out the door! The Gelateria is very popular among the locals, and word has gotten out! Now you must wait 10-15 minutes to taste some of the best gelato you will ever have.

I recommend the Amarena gelato or the Caramel one, you won’t be disappointed.

If you spend one day or a week in Florence, you are sure to fall in love with this beautiful city and find dozens of things to do and see. If you are traveling with your kids, you can introduce them to many historically important works of art, which will help them know more and want to learn more.

Traveling to more of Italy

Florence is a beautiful city and if you combine visiting with nearby Tuscany you could easily spend a week here. However, if this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Italy, you may want to consider visiting other parts of Italy.

You can hit the highlights of Italy in a 7-10 day trip and see spots like Venice, Rome, Pompeii, Pisa, and Cinque Terre. Either way, you are sure to fall in love with the beautiful sights and gorgeous food in Italy.

 

 

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