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The Best of Florence

01/20/21 | COVID-Era Travel, Florence, Italy, Italy Roadtrip, Travel, Tuscany

Panoramic View from Piazzale Michelangelo

Today marks a milestone as after 10 days in quarantine I finally am allowed outside today.  This is not because I am sick but is a rule of the British government that I had to self isolate after visiting the US.  Now that this is over there are not many places I can go as the UK is in lockdown so while I try and get out for a walk today (one of the only things that is allowed) let’s take a walk down memory lane and visit Florence.  As I mentioned in my live from Italy post this was my third time to this gorgeous city but it constantly surprises, which also makes sense as I have not been here in nearly ten years.

More than any other place we visited on our Italian roadtrip Florence is a cultural hub and really the epicenter of Renaissance art.  We only had four days this time and even with a day trip to Tuscany we managed to see many of the hotspots including he Uffizi Gallery, the Palazzo Pitti, and the Ponte Vechio.  If you only have a few days like we did here are my recommendations for the top 12 things to do, see, and eat in Florence:   

– – –

1) Duomo – It would be hard to do any write up of Florence without talking about the Florence Cathedral, which used to be known as  the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore.  Not only is this church an arcitecture marvel (which is being resorted as you can see in the photos below) but it dates back to the late 12th century and the dome engineered by Filippo Brunelleschi is famous around the world. 

The Side of the Florence Cathedral Best of Florence - Florence Duomo, Cattedrale di Santa Maria dei Fiori, from the BackBest of Florence - The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore

2)  Ponte Vecchio Bridge – In any other city it would be a bit odd to have a bridge as number two but this medieval stone arch is far from ordinary.  It is unusual because while it connects the two sides of Florence across the Arno River both sides are lined with two-story shops.  In the Middle Ages you would have found butchers, tanners, and local produce but today it is more likely you will find souvenirs and jewelry. 

2011 Shot of Ponte Vecchio BridgePonte Vehchio in the Rain Best of Florence - Boat from the Ponte Vecchio

3) The Uffizi Gallery – The Uffizi is one of the most visited art museums in the world and given my past trips I was insistent on pre=booking tickets for the minute it opened.  It turns out with COVID there were only a fraction of the usual visitors which meant Mark and I had many of the rooms to ourselves to take in the art in the historic building.  There are dozens of famous works here such as ‘The Birth of Venus’ by Sandro Botticelli and ‘Laocoön and his Sons’ by Baccio Bandinelli and below you can see works by Cimabue and Giotto and Raphael. 

Ognissanti Madonna Painting by Cimabue and Giotto at the Uffizi Gallery Main Hall of the Uffizi Gallery Doni Tondo Painting by Michelangelo at Uffizi Gallery

4) The Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze, –  Sharing two museums in a row?  You better believe it.  I hate to say this but this one, the
Gallery of the Academy of Florence, has only one piece of note – Michelangelo’s sculpture David.  On this visit to the museum I took a look at some of the sculptures in the museum but this nearly 20-foot Renaissance sculpture is really the thing to write home about. 
 
Hall of Statues at the Accademia Gallery, Galleria dell'Accademia di Firenze David at the Accademia Gallery, Galleria dell'Accademia di FirenzeMichelangelo's 14 Foot Statue of David at the Galleria dell'Accademia museumBest of Florence - Statues in the Accademia Gallery

5) Piazza Michelangelo – Florence is a beautfiul city but sometimes when you are standing immediately infront of a huge building even when you strain your neck and look up, it can be hard to take in the scale.  The Piazzale Michelangelo helps save this for you as it provides a stunning panoramic view of Florence from the Oltrarno district. 

 
Best of Florence - From the Piazzale Michelangelo ViewKelly and Mark with the Panoramic View from Piazzale MichelangeloArno River and Panoramic View from Piazzale Michelangelo
6) Shopping –  Known as the city of leather there are so many great places to go shopping in Florence.  I have already mentioned the Ponte Vechio but the most famous shopping street is Via de’ Tornabuoni,  You can find the top designer fashion houses on this elegant street but local boutiques are dotted without and little wonders can be found as you ebb and flow down side streets. 

Leather Bag in Italy

Shopping on the Ponte Vecchio in Florence
Jewelry Shopping on the Ponte Vecchio in Florence

 

7)  Pitti Palace –  I love castles and I love palaces and this one, Palazzo Pitti, will be getting its own blog post soon.  Exploring  of the dozens of rooms it is remarkably how many 17th and 18th century paintings the incredibly rich Medici family were able to collect.  Get ready to see more of this palace and it’s gorgeous gardens some time soon but if you are on the fence about adding this to your intintera because it is on the South side of the Arno River, it is worth it! 
 
View of the Pitti Palace GardensPalatine Gallery at the Palazzo Pitti in Florence 
8) Good Eats – There is a reason Italian food is one of the most famous in the world, it is oh so tasty!  We had great pizza, pasta, wine, and more – there is something for absolutely everyone in Florence, even if you are gluten free like Mark. One of our favorite meals was Ciro and Sons,  a phenomenal pizza restaurant in Florence, and Angel Roofbar was a great spot for cocktails with a view. 

Best of Florence - Ciro and Sons PizzaBest of Florence - Good Eats - Rooftop Drinks ViewTrattoria Palle D'Oro dal 1860

9) Climb the Tower – oOu saw the Florence Duomo in point number one, but only from the ground!  It was a bit of a fluke that we got these tickets but after assenting 414 stairs across four platforms we were granted the most beautiful views of the cathedral dome and the city of Florence.  Well worth the climb! 

Live from Italy - View of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore Duomo from Giotto's Bell TowerKelly and Mark at the top of Florence's Bell Tower by Giotto

10)  Tuscany Day Trip  You will be able to get great wine around Florence but nothing is really the same as going to a vineyard, seeing the process of the grape growing and drinking them where they are bottled. In less than 30 minutes you can easily escape Florence and be in the lush and gorgeous countryside and well on your way to a wonderful day of vino.  Make sure you check out my Tuscany wine tasting post if you have not done so already! 

Tuscany VineyardsPasta with Butter and Truffle and Red Wine at Fattoria Palaia

11) Scuola del Cuoio: Florence Leather School –  Behind the Basilica of Santa Croce, the minor basilica of half a mile Southeast of the Duomo, you can find the Florence leather school. Since WWII there are artisans handmaking leather goods in the monastery and it is a truly unique spot.  For our visit the tradesman were off and we had the place nearly to ourselves to browse the beautiful handmade goods and to pick up a few Christmas presents for family.

The Basilica of Santa Maria NovellaSign for the Scuola del Cuoio, Florence Leather SchoolInside the Scuola del Cuoio, Florence Leather SchoolBlue Bag at the Scuola del Cuoio, Florence Leather SchoolBags at the Scuola del Cuoio, Florence Leather School
12) Free Walking Tour – In nearly every city I visit I google to see if there is a free walking tour.  I find it such a nice way to orient myself in a new space while learning fun facts from a local.  We had a great time on our first afternoon doing this free walking tour where at the end you tip the guide in cash based on your perceived value of the tour.  

Palazzo Vecchio on the Florence Walking Tour Walking Tour Selfie with Nuns Best of Florence - David Outside the Palazzo Vecchio on the Florence Free Walking Tour

`That was a lot of words and a lot of pictures, yes, but I wanted to give you a true run down of my picks for the best of Florence and a descriptive guide if you are thinking of visiting once international travel restrictions allow!  If you have questions on anything else drop them in the comments!

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Comments

  1. Linda says

    January 21, 2021 at 11:10 am

    I have been and have done almost everything on this list but did not make it to Piazza Michelangelo – the view from there is gorgeous!

  2. Nancy says

    January 21, 2021 at 9:32 am

    So glad you were able to still travel in 2020, I know it was hard for so many!

  3. Liza says

    January 20, 2021 at 5:41 pm

    OMG that blue purse is to die for. What a great color and shape. You can tell it came from Italy and no one else is walking around with a bag as nice as that.

    You two look adorable in the wine cellar. So in love.

  4. Lucy says

    January 20, 2021 at 3:06 pm

    So happy that your weather was superb to visit one of my favorite cities of all time.

    Whenever my friends ask me my favorite city Florence is always right at the top.

    What is your favorite Kelly? You have travelled so much it is insane.

  5. Laurie says

    January 20, 2021 at 1:45 pm

    One of my favorite cities in the world. I always have to walk everywhere when i am there to work off the bread, pasta, olive oil and fantastic wine that I consume when I am there.

    Can’t wait to get back there once this nasty COVID is over!

  6. Hilary says

    January 20, 2021 at 7:28 am

    You look like you had a great time in Florence, it really is a gorgeous city!

    So many amazing photos you have. You have such a wonderful eye for photography.

Hi, I am Kelly and welcome to Sparkles and Shoes, a fashion, travel, and lifestyle blog.  I am a New York City girl at heart but I moved to London in the Spring of 2018!

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