Visit Florence

Welcome, welcome to the center of rebirth, the origin of Renaissance, the “Athens of the Middle Ages”, the astonishing Florence! Culturally, politically and economically it was considered one of the most important cities in the world between the 14th and 16th century, and it hasn’t lost its glory since. This fact is proven by being chosen as the second city as European Capital of Culture in 1986, right after Athens. Florence is disputably the last conserved Renaissance city in the world, and it is thought of as the art capital of Italy.

According to a recent survey, the city has been nominated the most desirable tourist objective in the world. The city is mostly envisioned by the statue of David, the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore or the Palazzo Vecchio, but these are only a few of the town’s symbols. The list can go on, because of the impressive cultural heritage Florence offers for the everyday tourist. Some people can’t even remember all the enchanting buildings they’ve admired, the imposing sculptures they’ve stared at or the vivid paintings they’ve venerated. I know it’s impossible to remember everything, but keep your camera at hand, because this city is worth every shot!

Lying in a basin among the Senese Clavey Hills, Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is situated between the hills of Careggi, Fiesole, Settignano, Arcetri, Poggio Imperiale and Bellosguardo. The town is crossed by the river Arno and three other smaller rivers. It is the most densely populated are in the Tuscany region, with a metropolitan area with more than 1,500 000 inhabitants.

Wondering about how to get there?
Luckily for you, there are plenty of rides you can catch, depending on your taste and need for luxury. First off, you can travel by plane, because Florence has its own airport. You can fly here from a lot of other Italian cities or, if you’re not in the country, Florence airport has connections with a lot of European cities as well. If you’re more old school and prefer traveling by train, you can even reserve rail tickets online. You might not find a direct line to Florence from your own city, but I am positive that once you travel to a larger city, nothing can stop you from getting to the city without the headache of changing trains. Let’s not forget about the bus-loving people! You must know that there are plenty of bus companies that assure direct lines to Florence from most European cities. An example can be Eurolines, which can offer you comfort as well as easily accessible prices, fit to the regular man’s pocket. Whatever choice you make, choose it wisely, because this city doesn’t deserve to be greeted by its new visitors with frustration and anger, just because of a ride gone bad.

Florence, being a walking city, can be very easy to get around in, because all of the main tourist attractions are at just a walk’s distance. However, if you’re too lazy to walk, I’d advise the segway tour, with which (for kind of a huge price, in my opinion, but if you’ve got the money-why not?) you can travel with this 21th century machinery through this old town. You will rarely have to travel by bus, as for the city’s compactness, and due to the short distances and easily approachable sights. If you’d like to go by cab, I warn you: they aren’t cheap, so I’d advise it only in case of emergencies. On the contrary, I’d advise you to rent a scooter or a bike, with which you won’t have to worry about any traffic jams, and they can be rented at a fair price.

Another question you might ask from yourself is where to stay. Accommodation also ranges from low budget to extra luxurious, whether we speak of either hotels or bed and breakfasts. When it comes to hotels, you can find them in different shapes and sizes, colors and offers, and you can probably find the perfect match for yourself if you really want to, even if you are picky. B&Bs also offer high standards and assure maximum comfort during your stay. There are plenty to choose from, so, again, choose wisely! If you like camping, you’re in luck! Florence has a few high profile campsites, which you can enjoy at an easily reachable price.

In the article about Venice, I’ve already told you about typical Italian dishes worth tasting, so now I’d like to show you some excellent places where you can get all these great meals. But you’d probably like to have a cup of coffee before an abundant feast. Florence has loads of cafe’s from which you can choose from and decide for yourself which serves the best coffee in town. If you’ve had your cafe’ and became a bit hungry, I won’t keep you waiting. The city probably has hundreds of restaurants from which you can choose from. You’d might like to read a review of the restaurant before you’re forced to order something in an overpriced restaurant just because you’re ashamed not to, so be sure to pick one which fit your pocket! After your tummy’s full, you could probably use a drink as a dessert. Lucky for you, Florence has numerous pubs, bars and wineries, depending on what you’d like to drink or what music you want to listen to. Just be sure you can still make it to the hotel room in one piece!

When it comes to the chapter “what to see”, you may find yourself facing a problem: so many things to see, so little time! Well, whether you stay for a couple of days or two weeks, the next few places MUST be on your to-do list. If you’re in love with art as much as I am, your first stop must be at the Uffizi Gallery, to take a look-see at Italy’s most celebrated painters’ creations. Among others, it houses work of art by Botticelli, Leo da Vinci, Donatello, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Goya, Raffaello, Tiziano, Caravaggio and more! Although there is an entrance fee and you’ll probably have to wait in line for a while to get in, don’t skip it- it is totally worth it! Sticking to art, the next stop could be the Accademia Gallery which is famous for its Michelangelo collection, especially because of one of the artist’s masterpieces: the statue of David. There are plenty of museums you can choose from, based on different themes, so everyone can find the perfect one for their interest.

The Museo dell’ Opera del Duomo contains many pieces (sculptures and paintings) taken from the breathtaking Florence Cathedral. The Archaeological Museum contains an impressive Egyptian collection, the second most significant in Italy. Museo Galileo also houses an impressive muster of exhibitions and events, while the Natural History Museum is the most important naturalistic museum in Italy and one of the greatest in the world, with an awe-inspiring 8 million specimen collection. Let’s not forget about the Opificio delle Pietre Dure, one of the country’s most important museums. Don’t forget to check out the Cathedral, a one-of-a-kind construction. While you’re there, how about visiting some typically Italian palaces? What you mustn’t omit is the Pitti Palace, which houses the Gallery of Modern Art, the Palatine Gallery, the Costume Gallery, the Porcelain Museum, the Boboli Gardens and the Museo degli Argenti. Other notable palaces are the Palazzo Vecchio, Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Palazzo Magnani Feroni, Palazzo Rucellai and  Palazzo Strozzi.

I know that a trip like this can cost a lot of money. And maybe you don’t have any. That’s why, luckily for you, virtual tours exist, where you can take a look at a sample of Florence’s most important places, museums, galleries and palaces. Take a look and enjoy!~ 

If you’re in need of more travel tips, take a look at the 6 tricks in planning your budget trip to Florence and the 6 best places to stay in the city. See why Florence is the perfect destination for every type of traveler, check out how you can explore Florence off the beaten path and take a look at how to visit Florence on the cheap.

If you liked the post, don’t hesitate to Pin it to help spread the word. Thanks! 🙂 (Photo via Flickr by gωen)

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