What to see and do in Florence?

[ComingUpTrumps]

Heading off to Florence this weekend with family for a couple of days. Just wondering what to see please? It's my first time in Italy, so would love to hear your suggestions please :)

The Uffizi Gallery and Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral sound great, as well as the Ponte Vecchio and Santa Croce basilica.

Thanks!

Have you had chance to pre-book the Uffizi tickets? If not, try and do it before you go as it can get horribly busy.

Ponte Vecchio and the Basilica are lovely, the Accademia is worth a visit and the Pitti Palace is gorgeous inside and out. We spent most of our time there walking from beautiful location to beautiful location, a bit dazzled by it all. Brunelleschi's famous gates of paradise are worth the wait to get to them, too.

The Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy. Yes honestly, go to Florence and visit a chemist shop! It ain't Boots.

Fabulous icecreams.

The boar statue outside the market, apparently rubbing it brings good luck.

The fruit and veg market so you can wonder why we ever bothered being in the EU since they keep all the best stuff for themselves.

Go and leer at the police cadets in the training school next to the cathedral (can't remember the name), the black and white one, which is lovely anyway, and of course the only reason you are there.

There was a monastery with lovely frescoes and examples of illuminated manuscripts.

The Gardens.

Beautiful city, I made the mistake of going in February when it is freezing, I spent a day being snobby about Italian women in fur coats and then realised why they wear them (though I still don't approve)

Firenze is one of my favourite places in the world, like a smaller version of Rome- you can walk everywhere. Def book tickets for Uffizi. Ponti Veccio, leather market on a Sunday. I'm just happy with the coffee and shops!

Thanks everyone! :)

Ooh why do they wear them viques? You've got me all curious now

I second the Pitti Palace. The Palatine Gallery and Royal Apartments were stunning and so much amazing art on display.
I also loved the Convent of San Marco where you can see frescos by Fra Angelico.
Do book tickets for Uffizi in advance to save waiting and for the earliest time in the day if you can as it is a bit quieter in the galleries.
Enjoy - it is a wonderful city.

Fur coats seem to be a very Italian woman of a certain age thing Coming, I've noticed it in Venice and Rome too, I wonder if younger women will carry it on., but anyway you won't see many at this time of year!

Mercato Centrale for lunch upstairs, then the markets themselves.

Check if you need to prebook the Duomo - I think you do.

Pre-book museums and galleries wherever possible then you don't have to queue. The Uffizi used to do a free late night once a week or month and when we went there was hardly anyone else in the place. Just us and the Birth of Venus. Definitely worth a trip to see David and we went to the Bargello which is not much known about.

Go to the Duomo and the Baptistry, climb Giotto's bell tower. There are some nice restaurants near the Duomo which do a set lunch aimed at workers really which is good value.

Don't bother going to the Foundling Museum - it's relatively expensive and there isn't much to see.

Fur coats are also a thing in Spanish cities. Wear comfy shoes as there are lots of cobbles. One of the best things about Florence is that most of the centre is pedestrianised. The Ponte Vecchio is a bit seedy with unlicensed traders, etc. Keep an eye on your bag and any valuables round there.

The Boboli Gardens. If you want to travel out of Florence, go to Siena.

Just checked - Tuesday evening till the end of September the Uffizi is open late till 10pm. Not free though. There's free entry on the first Sunday of the month.

Just a thought: if you are thinking of climbing the dome of the cathedral and taking photos, you need to know
a) the queue for the dome can be extremely long (2 hours in high 30 degrees temperature last summer) if you have not pre-booked

b) naturally, any photo you take from the top will not include the iconic dome as you are standing on it! Obvious, I know, but it didn't occur to me

A better option with a much shorter queue and the chance to get the iconic dome in your photos, is to climb the campanile (bell tower). You get pretty much the same view but better, and a lot less hassle.

You need a tour guide. I've been twice, my passport is ready and I'm doing nothing this weekend. What time shall I meet you at the airport?

Oh how exciting I love Florence! The academia just to see David- I was so impressed. We also got the bus to sienna which was beautiful- the duomo is amazing inside.

Just remember to cover your shoulders if you are going into the duomo/ religious buildings. I forgot one day and had to buy a scarf as I was only wearing a vest.

Unless you have pre booked the Uffuzi or don't mind huge queues don't bother even pre booking will necessitate a 45 min wait.

A better bet is the basilica Santa Maria novella .
Piazza di Santa Maria Novella, 18, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy
No queues, lovely building and some notable artworks .

The bridge is of course great .

I'm going too on Monday!

A heads up about the campanile though - ITS A KILLER TO GET UP THERE! the duomo is much easier

We loved the Medici palace, loggia, Santa Croce and Maria novella churches. We love everything about it - hence our third time going 😀

Go up to Fiesole - you could walk it, but you wouldn't want to in the summer. Buses go from the train station - the town is at the top of the hill and has incredible views across to the city and also some super Roman ruins and a little museum. It wouldn't be a whole day, just a few hours unless you are a museum obsessive.

Palazzo Davanzati is small and lovely.

There's a great view of the city from Piazzale Michelangelo, worth the walk.

MrsQuim, what makes you say that about the campanile? I did both it and the dome of the duomo on the same day last year. The campanile was infinitely easier. ?

I would 100% recommend the Boboli gardens and the Piazzale Michaelangelo. Absolutely breathtaking views! Was in Florence last week and the whole city is just stunning. Have the best time

Gelateria della Passera is the best ice cream in the world.