If you haven’t yet been to Florence and experienced the magic and beauty of this amazing city, then be sure to put it on your list of holiday destinations across the next 12 months.
With an incredible amount of things to do in Florence, there is plenty to fill a long weekend, week or even a months stay! With its stunning architecture and incredible sights, and a host of Florence attractions, from the Duomo to the Uffizi, and from the Palazzo Pitti to the Ponte Vecchio, it’s a city full of wonderful art and architecture and beautiful gardens. And of course, in between sightseeing, it’s equally fascinating to just sit at one of the many cafes and watch the world go by…
A popular starting point for any trip to the city is the Piazza del Duomo. Brunelleschi’s dome dominates the city landscape. For the fit amongst you, it’s worth climbing the 463 steps up the inside of the dome to enjoy the staggering views from the top. Or, if you’d prefer to have a view of the Dome itself, then instead head up the 414 steps of the adjacent Campanile, one of the highest places to visit in Florence!
The Museo dell’ Opera del Duomo is another one of the places to visit in Florence and is also close by. This includes works by Donatello and Michelangelo. Also nearby is the Baptistery with it’s stunning, ornate doors.
Just a couple of minutes walk from the Duomo is the Piazza della Repubblica, another of the other ‘must see’ places to visit in Florence. It’s the biggest piazza in Central Florence. Other piazzas worth seeing during your Florence holiday include the Piazza Santa Croce, the Piazza Santa Maria Novella and the Piazza della Signoria. The latter is arguably Florence’s busiest piazza. It is always busy, not surprising considering that the Palazzo Vecchio stands on one corner behind which is the Uffizi Gallery. In front of it stands the copy of Michelangelo’s ‘David’. (The original is housed in the Accademia).
Also not to be missed is the nearby Uffizi Gallery. Among the many things to do in Florence, it must rank as Italy’s best art gallery, and the staggering number of visitors each year reflects this. Visitors are keen to get a glimpse of works of art by, amongst others, Giotto, Paolo Uccello, Masolini, Piero della Francesca, Boticelli, Michelangelo, Titian, Rubens, Van Dyck and Leonardo da Vinci. The draw of these artists means that queues to get in can be long and in peak times, you need to make sure you book in advance to guarantee a chance of getting in. The best way is to book tickets to the Uffizi online although it is possible to turn up and queue for next day tickets. Only 200 are allocated in this way each day though so prepare to be disappointed unless you turn up extremely early!
If you’re staying in the city for a while, and have the opportunity to discover a number of the things to do in Florence, it’s definitely worth checking out whether it’s worth purchasing the ‘Amici degli Uffizi’ card. It’s not cheap at 60 euros (40 euros for those under 26) but it is valid for a year and gives you unlimited access (with no queuing) not just to the Uffizi but also to the other of Florence’s state museums.
With the majority of Florence’s attractions lying to the north of the River Arno, you mustn’t forget to cross over to the Oltarno to discover the many other hidden gems that lie on that side of the water. There are plenty of things to do in Florence on the South side of the river too! Make sure you cross over at least once via the Ponte Vecchio which takes you in the direction of the Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens. The palace and gardens contain no less than eight museums housing an art collection to rival the Uffizi. Visitors can see works of art by Caravaggio, Fra Bartolomeo, Raphael and Titian. Also on this side of the Arno is the Church of Santo Spirito, one of Brunelleschi’s last projects, described by Bernini as ‘the most beautiful church in the world,’ as well as Santa Maria del Carmine.
If you’re tempted, then the next step is finding accommodation in Florence. Bookings For You are pleased to be able to offer their guests a stunning selection of holiday apartments and villas in Central Florence.
These include this wonderful 3 bedroom Florence villa in the heart of the city. Boasting a private garden and terrace, it offers exceptional accommodation within walking distance of restaurants and shops.
Or perhaps you’re travelling as part of a large group and need accommodation in Florence that will offer room for everyone. If so, then this 2 bedroom Florence apartment with views over the River Arno can be rented together with 2 other apartments to offer Florence accommodation for up to 13 people.
Whatever your Florence accommodation needs, Bookings For You have a range of Florence apartments and villas available to rent. Please do contact Bookings For You for further information and advice.