Immerse Yourself in the Aesthetic City of Art
Florence is the capital of the Tuscany region, and the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. Remaining true to its origin, Florence offers a plethora of prestigious art galleries, amazing food, and elegant architecture. The city is fairly small in size, so it’s easy to reach many of the iconic monuments in a short walk. The elegant city offers an intimate ambiance, so I felt comfortable even just walking down random side streets. Here’s the top 8 best things to do for an enchanting time in the city of Florence.
8. Galleria Dell’Accademia of Florence
Also known as the Gallery of the Academy of Florence, this world class art museum is famous for Michelangelo’s notorious David sculpture. For any art fanatics this is a must see. As one of the most visited museums in all of Italy, purchasing tickets online is recommended to avoid huge lines and crowds. Tickets may be on the pricier side so be prepared to drop some Euros. Personally I feel like there’s enough identical imitation sculptures around the city. I wouldn’t want to pay more money to stand in an overcrowded space to stare at the real giblets. But my palate for art is probably not as refined as others.
7. Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
This medieval gothic style cathedral is the oasis of Florence’s sightseeing. The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is a massive structure and a testament to the city’s fantastic architecture. The cathedral itself is free to enter, however the inside is a bit lack luster in comparison to other Italian churches we’ve seen. A ticket to climb the Campanile di Giotto and (spoiler alert) Duomo can also be purchased to gain a new perspective on Firenze.
6. Eat a Bistecca Alla Fiorentina
Italy in general has some of the most delicious food I’ve experienced, and Florence also has a few authentic specialties of its own. One of the signature meals is the bistecca all Fiorentina, or Florentine steak. This rare (and a bit bloody) cut of meat is a 2kg, veal steak prepared in a specific way, and served on the bone. Only the super hungry can tackle this on their own, so most people share a dish. It’s a bit pricey, but the taste is undeniably exquisite. Almost on par with that one Brazilian steakhouse. One of the best restaurants with no reservations needed is Hostaria Il Desco. For vegetarians or any other foodies looking to expand their culinary horizons, check out Mercato Centrale for diverse Italian food experience.
5. Uffizi Gallery
Florence has no shortage of art museums. The next biggest one is the Uffizi Gallery. This eclectic mix of master pieces was even marvelous enough to get me pondering their complexity. The building itself is a labyrinth, so it’s easy to get lost and spend an entire day just wandering around. Inside lies a mix of sculptures and famous paintings, including works from Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Donatello. We got tickets pretty quickly in person, but you can also book them online.
4. A Florence Gelato
Food is considered one of the virtues of travel, and Florence continues to deliver delectable treats. With Firenze accepted as the birthplace of gelatos, there is no better place in the world to try this enticing dessert. Similar to ice cream, but 10x better as each restaurant prepares the snack with genuine, fresh, and quality ingredients. Find some of the most luscious gluten free gelatos at GROM, Sottozero, or Antica Gelateria Fiorentina. Buon appetito!
3. Basilica di Santa Croce di Firenze
A short 10-minute walk from the Duomo will get you to the Santa Croce Basilica. Within its walls lie the eternal resting place of the most well-known Italians to have ever lived. This includes the tombs of Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Rossini, and the father of celestial science, Galileo Galilei. The memorials have very intricate designs, so be sure to take some time and pay respects. Being an aerospace engineer, I totally nerded out over Galileo’s crypt. Thanks for creating me a career my guy. There’s also a monument to Lady Liberty’s lesser known cousin, Liberty of Poetry.
2. Ponte Vecchio
Italy has no shortage of nice bridges. Ponte Vecchio is a picturesque bridge inspired by medieval architecture. A few good vantage points are right outside the Uffizi Gallery. Walk across the overpass to peruse the many jewel, souvenir, and art shops. Of course, the best view lies from the adjacent arch! Take a moment to reflect at the oldest bridge in Florence.
1. Climb the Duomo of Florence
Formally known as Cupola di Brunelleschi, this dome shaped tower is the tallest structure in Florence. Heading up to the top will grant you the most splendid views of the city. But getting there is no easy task. It is mandatory to reserve a ticket to climb the Duomo online, which will also grant you access to all of the other monuments. With your printed-out ticket, head to the Duomo Entrance queue around 20 minutes before your time slot. Then you can ascend the 463 steps to the top of the massive structure. Look up at the dome’s interior for incredible frescoes of the Last Judgement, by Giorgio Vasari.
The way up includes steep inclines, claustrophobic pathways, and a seemingly endless amount of stairs.Despite all this, the top will reward you with the most extraordinary views of Florence. After enduring the walk back down, you can choose to climb the bell tower, if you have any energy left. There’s an amazing gluten free pizza restaurant right outside too, for an awesome lunch break.
Florence is a charming city with centuries of masterful art, intricate architecture, and delicious food. The smaller scale of the city gave it a cozier atmosphere, without the overwhelming feeling to see everything. Since it is centrally located, it’s easy to travel to various other Italian destinations. If you can spare the time, Pisa makes for an excellent day trip. For preparing the perfect trip to Italy, check out this guide. Thanks for reading and keep leveling up!
Here’s my Florence travel vlog so you can see the sights for yourself!
