Today we are going to Florence in Italy – the birthplace of Renaissance and I will show you my top 5 list of things to see in Florence. As always, you can find our YouTube video at the end of the post. Check it out!
One of the most popular ways to travel to Florence is by flying to Pisa and then take the train from there. You can buy a ticket from the machines at the station and it’s easy using the English language option. A one-way ticket is 9.30 euros. There is no discount by buying a return ticket.
Florence, called Firenze in Italian, is a beautiful city in the Tuscany region of Italy. 90km from Pisa and around 300km from Rome.
1. Duomo -Santa Maria del Fiore
One of the first things you see when you get to Florence is the extraordinary Duomo -Santa Maria del Fiore, which is number 1 on our list. Built in 1450, it is a masterpiece of architecture with a facade of green, white and red marble. But up until the late 19th century the façade wasn’t that decorated.
The original façade was only completed in its lower portion in the fifteenth century and then left unfinished. Grand Duke Cosimo I ordered the façade to be dismantled in 1587. A competition was held for a new façade but the competition came to nothing amid allegations of corruption. The façade was then left bare until the 19th century.
The current façade was only added and completed in 1887 after a competition won by the artist De Fabrio. Unfortunately he died in 1883 and was never able to see the magnificent end result. The impressive bronze doors was added 1903, which replaced the previous wooden doors.
Due to its geographical location, Florence has often been the victim of flooding. The 1844 flood has left a particularly lasting memory, even though the peak of the flooding remained significantly below the peak recorded on November 4, 1966.
You can enter the cathedral for free but the queues are long and to the honest the most impressive look is from the outside.
Climbing the 463 steps is the only way to see the paintwork of Brunelleschi’s dome, after which you will have a phenomenal view of Florence from the top of the dome’s roof. It is required to book tickets in advance for climbing Brunelleschi’s dome. Tickets starting at 35 euros.
2. Ponte Vecchio
The Arno river is a 10 minutes walk from the Duomo. It has many bridges but the most famous one is Ponte Vecchio.
It’s the only bridge in Florence spared from destruction during World War II. It is famous for the shops built along it which was once a common practice. Butchers, tanners, and farmers initially occupied the shops but nowadays it is the home to jewellers, art dealers, and souvenir sellers.
Between 2005 and 2006, 5,500 padlocks, known as love locks, which were attached to the railings around the bust of Cellini, were removed by the city council. According to the council, the padlocks were aesthetically displeasing and damaged the bust and its railings. There is now a fine for attaching love locks to the bridge.
The bridge is also home a stretch of the Vasari Corridor. Closed to visitors for security reasons in 2016, the Vasari Corridor will open again once the refurbishment works are done. The visit to the newly arranged Corridor will be made possible with a special ticket. Here you can see how the Vasari corridor connecting the Palazzo Vecchio with the Palazzo Pitti.
3. Eat a Truffle Pasta
When you are in Florence you have an array of restaurants to choose from. I would highly recommend to try a Truffle Pasta and it’s offered in most Osterias and Trattorias in Florence. I went to a restaurant called Trattoria Vasari, just south of the river, and ordered their Tagliolini al Tartufo. I’m sure there are better restaurants than this one, but try a truffle pasta is the restaurant you find good. It’s so tasty. The bill came to 19 euros including service and a beer.
4. Piazza della Signoria
We go back to the north side of the river to Piazza della Signoria which is number 4 on our list. Here you find a number of statues and a replica of the famous statue of David, made by Michelangelo between 1501 and 1504. The original is in the Accademia Gallery in Florence. The main building on this square is the town hall called Palazzo Vecchio.
Here you find many famous statues, like Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Cellini and the Medici lions. The fountain of Neptune is another beautiful sculpture.
Here you can see how the square could look like back in the late 15th century.
5. Florence oldest café
Our final stop is Piazza della Repubblica. Here lies Florence oldest café. It’s called Cafe Gilli and was founded in 1733. It’s has a beautiful interior and big terrace outside. I decided to try a classic Tiramisu and coffee. It’s definitely not affordable, but I think the experience and the beautiful interior made it worth it. The tiramisu was excellent by the way. You also have lots of great gelato shops in Florence – give them a try as well!
See our YouTube video from Florence here:
