Fast Facts:
- Country: Italy
- City: Florence
- Location: Florence is the capital city of the Tuscany region.
- Language: Italian
- Currency: Euro
For this trip:
- Month of Travel: October
- Weather: 14 to 19 deg C
- What to Wear: As we were travelling south, we were also moving closer to winter, which meant the weather didn’t get dramatically warmer. Although Tuscany in general was a lot more comfortable than the Veneto region, it’s best to always carry an extra jacket or scarf especially if you plan to stay out late.
Florence is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance, a period when a great number of intellectuals emerged, all seeking higher learning of ancient times and truths. Seeing the works of some of the most inspiring humans who walked this earth can leave anyone feeling fully overwhelmed (and in our case, excited about how much more we can learn and hopefully achieve in our lifetime).
From a visit to the art museum to a simple stroll along the street, it’s so easy to find the artistic and cultural remnants that make Florence one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Make time for Art Galleries
Some of the masterpieces of the greatest artists live in the Uffizi and Accademia Galleries. The spaces are huge and the collections are almost endless, but make sure you find the following at the very least.
At the Uffizi Gallery:
- Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus” and “La Primavera”
- Leonardo da Vinci’s “Annunciation”
- Michelangelo’s “Holy Family”
- Titian’s “Venus of Urbino”
- Caravaggio’s “Medussa”
- Raffaello’s “Madonna del Cardellino”
- Flippo Lippi’s “Madonna and Child with Angels”
At the Accademia Gallery:
- Michelangelo’s “David” and the “Prisoners”
- Giambologna’s “The Rape of the Sabine Women”
- Pacino di Buonaguida’s “Tree of Life”
- Jacope di Cione’s “Coronation of the Virgin”
You can also visit Palazzo Pitti, which is home to several museums like the Gallery of Modern Art, Silver Museum, Costume Museum, Royal Apartments and more.
Hunt for the best bistecca alla Fiorentina
We found ours at Il Latini. A crowd built up outside before they opened. We were glad to be among the first few to arrive. We started with pasta and red wine while we wait for our 1kg of bistecca alla Fiorentina. When it arrived, other guests stared at us possibly doubting that we could finish it. The perfectly crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside steak surpassed expectations and so did we as we triumphantly finished our food before our secret naysayers’ eyes.
Indulge in some of the world’s yummiest gelato
One source says the gelato was invented in Florence during the Renaissance period. The only thing that matters now is that there are more gelato artisans and flavors than stories about its origin. Venchi is a shop found in major cities (also our favorite), but the independent ones that post signs about winning some world gelato competitions are worth trying too.
Feast your eyes on the architecture at Piazza del Duomo
In this UNESCO complex, you’ll find three of the most important religious structures of Florence.
Florence Cathedral is the Roman Catholic mother church of the city.
The Baptistery of Saint John is one of Florence’s oldest religious buildings dedicated to the city’s patron, John the Baptist.
Giotto’s Bell Tower is built for the adjacent Florence Cathedral.
Explore Piazza della Signoria
Within five minutes of walking from Giotto’s Bell Tower, you’ll reach Piazza della Signoria, which houses the Palazzo Vecchio, previously the seat of United Italy’s government and now the Town Hall of Florence; and the Uffizi Gallery.
Just four minutes walking from Palazzo Vecchio, you’ll see Ponte Vecchio, which used to be the only bridge that crossed the Arno River. Once occupied by butchers, the shops have now been taken over by sellers of jewelry, arts and souvenirs.
Watch the Sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo
As we marveled at the panoramic view of Florence from the Michelangelo Square, we also breathed in love and breathed out gratitude for being present at that time and in that place.
Check out our video!