Two days in Florence
Welcome to Florence! A city full of charm, romance, art and beautiful architecture. And let’s not forget those amazing sunsets.
When I first visited Florence 4 years ago, I remember thinking it was like an open-air museum, with sculptures and beautiful frescoes in the most unexpected places. I loved it then and I love it even more now. Florence is relatively small compared to other main cities in Italy, making it a great place to add to your itinerary if you’re planning a trip to Tuscany, and it can be easily reached by train from major cities. Everything is within walking distance and you can see all the main sites in a day.
When is the best time to visit Florence?
The best time to visit is early spring or autumn. Summer is unbearably hot and packed with tourists.
You’ll be able to find great deals during off-peak seasons and the weather will be much nicer so you’ll be able to enjoy the city without having to hide from the sun and it will be quieter.
Getting to Florence
We took a direct train from Milan to Santa Maria Novella station in Florence which took just under 2 hours on the fast train. We always prefer spending a little more to get direct trains rather than having to change and risk missing the next train which has happened to me quite a few times as trains are often delayed here in Italy.
Basilica of Santa Maria Novella
Once in Florence, our first stop was the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella; a beautiful 15th-century Dominican church with famous frescoes by artists such as Giotto, Brunelleschi, Masaccio, Michelangelo, Ghirlandaio, Botticelli and Vasari (just to name a few).
Visiting hours: Monday to Thursday and Saturdays from 09:30 am to 5:30 pm. Fridays from 11:00 am to 5:30 pm. Sundays from 1:00 pm to 5:30
Tickets cost €7.50 per person. For more info on reduced and free tickets check the link below.
Make sure to double-check the website as times may vary in spring and winter.
Officina Profumo – Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella
From the basilica, it’s about a 2-minute walk to the Officina Profumo – Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella. Its roots can be traced back to 1221. In that year, Dominican friars founded the convent of Santa Maria Novella and began to cultivate – among other things – a garden. From that same garden, many centuries of experience in pharmacopoeia and natural preparations started to develop. And in later years that experience would expand to include the worlds of cosmetics, fragrances and wellness products.
The store is incredibly beautiful and worth visiting so don’t miss it!
Just around the corner from where we were staying was the stunning Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.
Il Duomo (Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore)
The entrance to the cathedral is free, however, the queues in summer are insanely long so be prepared to wait. If you don’t have a lot of time, I would skip going in. Make sure to check the official website for ticket information if you want to visit the Dome, Bell tower and Baptistery, museum and Santa Reparata.
To reach the top you will have to climb up 414 steps, so make sure you’re ready! There’s no lift access.
As advised by the official website for the Cathedral, “The climb is strongly NOT recommended for people with cardiovascular, respiratory diseases, vertigos, claustrophobia, and pregnant women”.
Uffizi Gallery
If you have more than a day to visit Florence make sure to visit the Uffizi Gallery. This is where you’ll find the famous ‘Birth of Venus painting’. It’s incredible, not to mention how amazing the statues are on the exterior of the building.
It is one of the most celebrated art museums in all of Italy. Make sure to set aside 2 to 3 hours to visit the museum and book your tickets in advance. You’ll want to get to the museum just before it opens to avoid queuing.
The Uffizi Gallery’s opening hours are 8:15 AM to 06:50 PM from Tuesday to Sunday.
Ponte Vecchio
Probably the most recognizable bridge in all of Italy. Ponte Vecchio was the only bridge across the Arno river in Florence until 1218. The current bridge was rebuilt after a flood in 1345. It was the only bridge in Florence that survived World War II.
Butchers, tanners, and farmers initially occupied the shops that you see on the bridge; the present tenants are jewellers, art dealers, and souvenir sellers.
Something that you might not notice at first whilst wandering around Florence is that there is a corridor that connects the Uffizi Gallery to Palazzo Pitti.
When the Medici family moved from Palazzo Vecchio to Palazzo Pitti, they decided they needed a connecting route from the Uffizi to the Palazzo Pitti on the other side of the Arno that would enable them to keep out of contact with the people they ruled. The result was the Corridoio Vasariano, built in 1565 by Giorgio Vasari and which runs above the little goldsmiths’ shops on the Ponte Vecchio.
Piazza della Signoria: Palazzo Vecchio – Loggia dei Lanzi
Piazza della Signoria is the main square of Florence and is where you’ll find the Palazzo Vecchio and a replica of Michelangelo’s famous David statue. The original statue can be found at the Accademia Gallery.
General Timings: Tuesday to Sunday 9 AM to 6:45 PM. Prior bookings are required for weekend visits.
Piazza della Signoria is the liveliest part of Florence and the day we visited, there was a small concert taking place in the Loggia Dei Lanzi, free for everyone to enjoy. It was wonderful; kids danced whilst tourists and locals sat on the ground with their florentine schiacciata (similar to focaccia) sandwiches and enjoyed a cold beer after a long hot summer’s day.
Basilica of Santa Croce
The basilica of Santa Croce is also known as the Pantheon of Florence. This is because the church contains many tombs and funerary monuments of famous Florentines. You’ll find the grave of political leader Niccolò Machiavelli, but also of scientist Galileo Galilei. In addition, a large number of artists and architects are buried here, including Michelangelo and Vasari. Dante has a funerary monument here but he is actually buried in Ravenna where he died in exile.
To visit the basilica make sure to wear appropriate clothing. Shoulders and knees must be covered, this applies to most religious sites in Italy so it’s always best to be prepared.
Palazzo Pitti
The palazzo is now the largest museum complex in Florence. This is also where you’ll find the beautiful Boboli gardens. I didn’t have time to visit Palazzo Pitti so will update this the next time I visit.
The Palace is divided into four museums: the Treasury of the Grand Dukes on the ground floor, the Palatine Gallery and the Imperial and Royal Apartments on the first floor, the Gallery of Modern Art and the Museum of Costume and Fashion on the second floor.
For information on tickets and opening hours click the link below.
Piazzale Michelangelo
Beautiful views of the city, the only downside is the number of tourists that flock to the top to watch the sun setting. If you don’t want to deal with the crowds you can also watch the sunset from the Rose Garden which isn’t far from Piazzale Michelangelo. There’s also a little bar and seating area for you to enjoy a drink and relax.
Mercato Nuovo: Fontana del Porcellino
The famous Fontana del Porcellino can be found in the New Market. This bronze statue is supposed to grant wishes to those who place a coin in the boar’s mouth and let it drop, if the coin falls through the grate at the bottom, your wish will come true. Good luck!
Where to eat:
Mercato Centrale
If you’re not quite sure what you fancy eating and want to try a few different things, Mercato Centrale is a great option and has something for everyone.
Galleria Iginio Massari
Opposite the hotel we stayed in was Galleria Iginio Massari, a cafè that had been on my list of places to try for quite some time. The interior design is beautiful and even though I didn’t think Iginio Massari’s famous maritozzo was incredible, the other cakes I tried were really nice. It was also nice to escape the midday sun!
If you’ve never tried it, a Maritozzo is a brioche cut open and filled with whipped cream. Very typical of Rome. Iginio Massari prepares his with whipped cream and crema pasticcera which is custard.
Trattoria Za’ Za’
For amazing food and a chance to try the famous Florentine steak head to Trattoria Za’ Za’ which is on Piazza del Mercato Centrale. You won’t be disappointed.
Where we stayed
We stayed at the Strozzi Palace hotel which is in a fantastic location just a few minutes away from the cathedral and the Strozzi Palace as well as Piazza della Repubblica. Have a look at the image below. The rooms were very spacious and I loved the decor.
If you’d like to have a look at the hotel click on the link below.
Get lost in the city
Around every corner, there’s something beautiful waiting to be discovered. Don’t forget to wander!
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Amparo's Travels & Musings 