One day in Florence: 10 things you HAVE to do!

Yes! I know it’s almost impossible to condense the things to do in Florence in a list of 10!!
Most people would need at least a couple of days to fully enjoy the city, visit most museums and neightborhoods and to REALLY get the taste of the city, he vibes that locals breathe everyday!

But, as I know most of you only have a really short time to spend in Florence, and that usually Florence is one stop amongst many other stops and different cities in Europe, i thought it might be useful to have a one day program with the 10 most intense, unique and “typical” things and experience to live in Florence!

1) 9 am – Visit the Uffizi Gallery

The Galleria degli Uffizi is one of the oldest and most famous art museums of the Western World .The Renaissance paintings that you will find are quite unique because they are one of a kind. These are paintings by famous artists such as Michelangelo and da Vinci. In high season waiting times can be up to five hours that’s why we recommend you to reserve a ticket in advance have a to shorter wait.

 

2) 11.30 am – Sit down at the Loggia dei Lanzi and watch the beautiful Piazza della Signoria

 

This beautiful open piazza is just in front of the Palazzo Vecchio and it’s surronded by different statues: a “David”replica. Nettuno and at the Loggia dei Lanzi (an amazing outdoor sculpture gallery) the statue of Perseus with the head of Medusa by “Benvenuto Cellini,” the Rape of the Sabine women and many others. In the squares you will also find a great number of restaurants and bars . Just sit down on the steps of the Loggia or in a bar, and admire the beauty of this square!

3) 12.00 pm – Visit San Lorenzo’s Market

Take the time to visit one of the Food markets in central florence: There are two closed markets one is San Lorenzo’s (the largest and oldest) – the other Sant’Ambrogio. Here you’ll get the chance to live the real florentine feel… you will smell, see and touch the freshest products and above all you will get to taste whatever catches your attention!

4) 1.30 pm – Eat a Panino con Lampredotto

Eat Panino con Lampredotto – This delicious abomasus sandwich might sound strange but is delicious.  You can only have this local delicacy in Florence so this is your chance! There are lampredotto stalls near every important square in the city, I will however use Dan’s map of where are the best stalls that sell this panino are: Lampredotto and Tripe in Florence – i trippai di Firenze But once you’re in in San Lorenzo we would suggest you to pick up one the Trippaio just in front of the Market, you’ll save some time !

 

5) 2.30 pm – Visit the Duomo and get to the Top of the Cupolone

Climbing Florence’s Duomo, with the huge cupola by Filippo Brunelleschi, is one of the most breathtaking experience you can do in the center of Florence. From there you can dominate the whole city and have an unique view. But, beware!The steps to get on top are 463, pretty challenging even for the trained ones! If you want to know more about how many steps are there in the Florence’s Duomo?

6) 5 pm – Have an aperitif-snack at The Biblioteca delle Oblate

After climbing the Duomo steps you definetly deserve a nice rest. Why don’t you have a snack or an aperitif at the Caffetteria delle Oblate, with the great view of the Duomo!
The caffetteria is located on the roof terrace of one of Florence’s public libraries: the Biblioteca delle Oblate!
It’s a popular study spot for young Italian students during the day, but in the evenings the program and views of the city create an atmosphere comfortable for a mix of ages.

7) 6.30 pm – Walk along the Arno River and Cross The Ponte Vecchio

The Ponte Vecchio is one of Florence’s landmarks and probably the most photographed bridge in the city.

The most famous bridge of them all was built at the narrowest part of the Arno. It’s distinguished as being the only remaining bridge to have houses and shops on it. In part this is because something important was built on top of those: the Vasari Corridor. This secret passageway built by Vasari for Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici in 1565 links the Palazzo Vecchio to the Pitti Palace. In 1593, the jewelry stores that tourists so love were brought to the bridge on command of Ferdinando, the Medici heir who thought that the previous tenants – butchers – smelled too bad in his corridor.
During WWII, the treasures of the Uffizi gallery were stored in the Corridor. Hitler had been on a tour of it at the start of the war, and perhaps because of this, the Ponte Vecchio was the only bridge spared bombing during the German retreat of August 1944. (If you want to know more about all the Bridges of Florence)

8 ) 7.30 pm – See the sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo

 

Piazzale Michelangelo is most famous square in Florence with a magnificent panoramic view of the city, and it’s located in the Oltrarno district of the city. The view from this observation point overlooking the city is justly famous and has been reproduced on countless postcards and snapshots over the years. To get there you will have to walk the tiny streets of San Niccolò neightborhood and you will probably see Clet’s Studio in San Niccolò. Clet is a famous french artist that decided to set up his studio in Florence, a quick visit will surprise you!

9) 9:30 pm – Get lost in Oltrarno

 

The Oltrarno, the section of Florence on the other side of the river from Piazza Della Signoria, it’s the more “intimate” area in Florence, (compared to  the rest of the city) and in many ways feels like a small town. In this area you will find a lot of histot and art heritage: monuments, museums, churches, palaces, parks: Pitti Palace, the Old Bridge, Santo Spirito Square, the Gardens of Boboli, but also handcraft shops, artisan workshops, mosaic-makers, wood carvers, gilders, goldsmiths carrying on a century-old tradition of both spirit and working methods. And last but not least a great number of restaurants and cafes mantaining the typical athmosphere.

10) 11:00 pm – Final drink in Santo Spirito

Santo Spirito is not a famous tourist spot (not as much as other squaresin Florence!), it’s more of a “locals” neightbourhood so the atmosphere you will breathe here is asbolutely different from any other squares in Florence. There are good local coffee places, a local market, young people strolling around, and nearby some of the cheapest restaurants of the town. Also, at night bars host live bands ranging from jazz to european techo with a wine bar.
It’s a great place to end your intense day in Florence!

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