Florence is more than just another place to visit. It is a flame that rekindles the artist or poet within you. Perhaps in all of us there is a passion for beauty and genius, for deeper connections with people, for celebrations of the generosity of brilliantly prepared wonderful food, accompanied by great wine. It is in Florence, “Cradle of the Renaissance”, where these inner gifts resurface for a life well lived and a totally absorbed beauty. Your Florence vacation will claim its place in your mind and in your memory long after you return home, and it will always be better for it.
Prepare to be in awe as you fly into Florence, locate your accommodation, and head towards the river for your first glimpse of Ponte Vecchio. Plan to spend at least five days here (more, if possible), residing on the left bank of the Arno River, called the “Oltrarno” (Oltr-Arno- “other side of the Arno”), within a short walk to the Ponte Vecchio. Here they will become the 21st century “neighbors” of the Medici, just around the corner from their opulent Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens. You’ll also be close to restaurants and bistros, as well as neighborhood grocery stores that offer a wealth of delicious produce, deli, and fresh-baked bread, along with great and very affordable local wines.
By staying close to the river on the “other” side, you’ll be a short walk from two convenient bridges, one of which is the Ponte Vecchio, which will quickly take you to the busier side of the river where the dome of the Duomo dominates the horizon. As you walk “your” side of the river, or have lunch at a table by the window in the Golden ViewThe entire Ponte Vecchio spectacle is before you, with the imposing Uffizi Gallery that borders the river across the road, and the dome of the Duomo behind.
Start your visit to Florence with the bridges and squares
There is no better way to get to know a city than by looking for its main bridges (if it has a river), as well as its main squares or squares. Florence has the most photogenic bridge of all, the Ponte Vecchio (“Old Bridge”). It is likely that what inspired you to visit Firenze (Florence) in the first place was seeing one of the many impressive images of the Ponte Vecchio.
The Ponte Vecchio was the only bridge that crossed the Arno until 1218, and it will be your main route to cross the river during your stay in Florence. And what a lovely road this will be, coming and going, with its sights and fascinating shops.
There have been shops on the Ponte Vecchio since the 13th century. Initially these were shops of all kinds, including butchers and fishmongers that created an offensive stench in the area. So, in 1593, Fernando I it decreed that only goldsmiths and jewelers would be allowed to locate their shops on the bridge. This ruling was “to improve the well-being of everyone as they walked across the bridge.”
In addition to learning the bridges, you will need to master the Piazzas. Florence is a city of narrow, winding streets, lined by tall canyons of buildings. Therefore, every time you approach a square, it will feel as if you are breaking into an immensity of open space. These wide city squares have been used for hundreds, sometimes thousands, of years as meeting places for the population. It was in the squares that important news was announced and the preachers delivered their messages. And it was in the squares that the public executions were carried out.
- Piazza della Signoria It will be your place to begin to know the squares of Florence, located directly outside the Palazzo Vecchio, palatial home of the obscenely wealthy Medici family. This square is lined with sculptures and fountains, including a copy of Michelangelo’s David (the real David is now preserved and displayed in Galleria dell’Accademia). The Dominican priest Savonarola staged his vehement book and art burns in Piazza della Signoria. And it was here that he himself was burned after his reign of terror ended.
- Piazza della Republica Then it comes, surrounded by majestic arcades, with an imposing triumphal arch as an entrance, and a Merry-go-round. This square was the Forum during Roman times. It is now a favorite spot for alfresco dining in one of its canopied restaurants, with plenty of people-watching opportunities.
- Piazza Santa Croce It was once a gathering place where public meetings were held and Franciscan monks preached to the crowd. This square is now home to local artists, who display and sell their creations, and many charming local shops. Gatherings and monks have now been replaced by street performers.
- Piazzale Michelangelo, With its tanned replica of Michelangelo’s David sculpture, it stands high on a hill in the Oltrarno, offering one of the most panoramic views of the city. As you sit at the top of this hill, high above the Oltrarno neighborhood, you will be at eye level with the iconic red roof of the Duomo on the other side of the river. Return here at the end of the day to see one of the most impressive sunsets in Florence.
See some of the “must see” sights
Take plenty of time to see Florence’s “must see” sights. Start with these five:
The Duomo and the Baptistery: The 13th century Duomo did not have a dome until two centuries after its construction, when the construction of such an architectural marvel became possible. Step inside to enjoy the heavenly immensity of your interior space and marvel at the mosaic carpet covering the tile floor. This structure was designed to shock and amaze. Take a seat at an outdoor table for lunch, in full view of the intricate white, green and pink marble mosaic outside. You will need at least a full hour to absorb this.
Take time to study the three sets of gilt bronze doors in the exquisite octagonal baptistery. The first set of doors, facing south, was designed by Pisano and took 6 years to complete. The Ghiberti north gates required 21 years of work, then another 27 years to complete the east gates, for a total of 54 years of work by the masters to create the gates that are now in front of you. For the eastern gates, Ghiberti used newly discovered principles of perspective to add depth to his compositions. Michelangelo declared that these gates were the “Gates of Paradise.”
Palazzo Vecchio, Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens: Imagine the lifestyle of the rich and powerful Medici family while visiting their workplace in the city center, Palazzo Vecchioand his opulent residence across the river, Pitti Palace, surrounded by the lush Boboli Gardens.
Cosimo de ‘Medici commissioned these two places, work and home, to be linked by a private passageway, the Vasari corridor, located above the city streets and across the top of the Ponte Vecchio. This passage stretched for a full kilometer, from the seat of government in Palazzo Vecchio to the Medici house in Pitti Palace, going out next to the famous Buontalenti Grotto in the Boboli Gardens. This private corridor allowed the family and their guests to move freely and safely from one place to another, observing the people below while they themselves went unnoticed. A small carriage for two carried the Medici and guests back and forth down the hall when they preferred not to walk.
Medici Chapels: Add an additional Medici monument to your “must see” list: Medici Chapels. Visit the sumptuous octagonal Chapel of the Princes, another splendid testimony to the greatness of the Medici. The crypt below this chapel became the mausoleum for this remarkable family. Michelangelo himself worked on the sarcophagus sculptures, completing the statues of the brothers and co-rulers Duke Giuliano and Duke Lorenzo. The master sculptor also created remarkable allegorical statues of Dawn and dusk, Night and day, just like him Madonna and Child.
Michelangelo’s David at the Galleria dell’Accademia: Your visit to the Galleria will focus on the glorious sculpture of David. Stand under this imposing marble masterpiece, pristine and resplendent under a circular skylight. It will take your breath away. Take some time to absorb this. But also explore the other intriguing works of Michelangelo, including the Prisoners’ Hall leading to the statue of David. The pieces on display here are those that Michelangelo never completed. His unfinished work creates the effect that each of these figures is forever trapped within its own block of marble.
Uffizi Galleries: Enter the Uffizi (schedule ahead for an allotted time!), Then climb the grand staircase to the gallery, with its frescoed ceilings and maze of rooms packed with masterpieces. Follow the U-shape of the building, detouring into the side rooms to view the screens. Cosimo de ‘Medici commissioned Vasari to create this grandiose building next to Palazzo Vecchio to house the government offices. A secret entrance to the Vasari Corridor is found behind an unmarked door on the first floor.
This building that was once the site of the Florentine government, now houses a vast art treasure chest. First find the great works of Botticelli (Pavilions 10-14) – Allegory of spring and Birth of Venus. Look for the portraits of Michelangelo and Raphael (pavilions 35 and 66), and also the only panel painting by Leonardo da Vinci. From the other end of the corridors, pause to look out the windows and see San Miniato, high up on the hill on the other side of the Arno, just above Piazza Michelangelo. Take a closer look at the Ponte Vecchio to see the windows of the Vasari Corridor that runs the length of the top.
Visit the markets to interact and find treasures to take home
Florence has a vast heritage of artisans. When it comes to shopping, you’ll find a tempting array of products on sale, including leather jackets, bags, shoes, belts and gloves, marble mosaics, intricate jewelry, and cutting-edge fashions. At the very least, visit the leather market near the Medici Chapels and shop for original works of art on Piazza Michelangelo.
Visit the open air market in Piazza Santo Spirito and the Mercato Nuovo, the loggia covered with a bronze sculpture of a pig in front. Watch the fun of the kids stroking the pig’s nose for luck. And feel free to haggle a bit if you decide to shop. Also stop at some of the shops along the Ponte Vecchio to admire the handmade jewelery and select a unique pendants or two to take home.
Your trip to Florence will be a deeply enriching and life-changing experience. “One’s destiny is never a place, but a new way of looking at things,” says Henry Miller. And Florence is a destination that absolutely inspires new ways of seeing and living.
