Why
Travel to Florence?
One of Europe's most beautiful, walkable city centres and the
capital of Tuscany, Florence [in Italian: Firenze] contains a mass of incredible structures, statues
and a real best-of-medieval feel, if you can ignore the
eternal scaffolding and tourist overload.
A big player historically,
Firenze contains many artistic wonders in both stone and oils, inside and out, endless quirky details and spectacular
interiors. It's a must-see,
but not in the summertime if possible, though the Bugcrew arrived there in July [by chance!] and enjoyed the experience enormously in spite of the crowds.
Florence
climate guide:
Best: May, June, Sept, October
Avoid: July, Aug
[massed, mooing herds of tourists and considerable heat, though museum and church interiors make a great escape].
Main attractions:
Florence is one of those cities that is so packed with sights that
you shouldn't try to absorb it in one go or you'll never be able to look a gilded cherub in the
face again. So relax, take little steps...
Number one sight has to be the amazing, pink white and green Duomo cathedral [no charge to enter the interior] along with its glorious Baptistry doors and ceiling; Giotto's beautifully decorated Campanile tower -
[with great city views if you can handle 400 steps+]; Piazza
della Signoria with its multitude of frequently grotesque statues such as Cellini's Perseus; Palazzo Vecchio; the adjacent and world famous Uffizi gallery; and nearby the 14thC Ponte Vecchio bridge with its jewellery
shops.
Then there are more great churches - with more sensational interiors,
led by Santa Croce, with San Lorenzo not far behind in the awesome
stakes, and palaces galore, from the largest and most colourful,
the Strozzi, to the Pitti, with an interior as lavish as its art
collection, and backed by a stunning park, the Boboli Gardens, where
you'll need to lie down for a while before going back for more...
A quickie Florence tourist route suggestion [1-3 days]:
The best overview of Florence is from the hilltop Piazzale Michelangelo, and the best time to be there is in the morning with the sun behind you. This is an excellent starting point for a day's trot around the city's main attractions, and especially brilliant if you are driving as the car park there is big but more importantly free [but no camping cars]!
Then it's an easy walk along the river to incredible Ponte Vecchio [with a short zag left if you want to see the Palazzo Pitti]. Cross the bridge and almost immediately you'll be in Florence's best square, loaded with bizarre statuary, della Signoria, with Uffizi and Palazzo Vecchio museums right there.
Next it's either a zig right to visit Santa Croce church and its tombs of medieval celebrities or a 5 minute stagger up Via de Calzaiuoli to the Duomo [cathedral] area - Piazza di San Giovanni, to admire the awesomely elaborate exterior, and the interiors of both the Duomo [free] and the Baptistry [pay, though the doors are free!]
If you have the time, inclination or get too hot to trot then dive into a museum or gallery.
Buses 12/13 are supposed to run regularly to Piazzale Michelangelo for an evening return to watch the sunset and/or pick up your wheels.
Arts/Culture:
Museums/Galleries: Above all sits the Uffizi gallery and its stunning, world famous art collections. The place opens Tues-Sun 8.15am-7pm/10pm depending on the season and rooms are arranged in chronological order.
After that
what can you do
but have a few beers in the piazza? ...and then totter off to the
13thC Bargello Museum, housing superb Renaissance sculptures, the
Accademia including Michelangelo's David [tho' there's a fine reproduction in Della Signoria square], Palazzo Pitti's modern
art, and the towering Palazzo Vecchio.
Visit the excellent Firenze Musei site for more information on Florence museums.
Night Club/Live Music:
This is not a clubby destination and wild night moves are discouraged by the city council.
Central Park is an interesting club in the summer, set in a huge
outdoor area enclosed by bamboos and bars, and Anfiteatro is another
good summer-only place, though transport is a problem. Le Murate,
also summer only, is set in an ex-prison, good value and hip.
For classical music in classical settings, the Tavernelle Val di
Pasta concerts take place in a lovely monastery from June, and Vaglia
concerts happen in Villa Demidoff, also in June.
Puccini Opera Festival happens on the shore of Lake Massaciuccoli
July - mid August.
n.b.
Beware pickpockets, it's another Florentine art form.
Short
Trips:
There are many beautiful views and villages out in the Tuscan countryside,
exemplified by the Mugello region northeast of the city - popular with
hikers, climbers, canoeists and horsefolk.
If, unbelievably, you need to see more baroque buildings, travel
out to the Medici's Villa della Petraia or Lorenzo's Villa di Castello,
both just to the north.
Alternatively, travel 8km south to the tranquil city of Fiesole,
with great sights and cultural relics but without the teeming hordes
of Florence. The Estate Fiesolana performing arts festival takes
place July, August.
Pisa, Lucca and Siena are around an hour away by train or car.
Festivals:
Feb/March, Carnival.
Easter Sunday, Scoppio del Carro, festively exploding a cart in
Piazza del Duomo. What madness is this?
March, Cricket Festival [insects, not bats]
June, Festival of Saint John, parades, dances and more.
June, Calcio Storico, a violent 15thC costumed football match in
Piazza Santa Croce.
June, Dance Festival.
Sept, Rificolona Festival, kids & lanterns.
For
some precise dates or more information see: European
Festivals or Arts
Festivals.
Cuisine:
Naturally touristy locations are stuffed with poor value, mediocre
food, so for a decent meal look for a place where locals are eating
and try traditional dishes - which should be decently priced.
Beware ripoffs. A certain trattoria beside the Ponte Vecchio,
for example, posts an attractive menu outside then presents a totally
different one inside.
For a real $$$ blowout try Michelin-starred Enoteca Pinchiorri,
or Il Pizzaiuolo for good value Neapolitan pizzas, and Da Ruggero
trattoria for local food at local prices.
Shopping:
A terrific shopping city, especially leather goods [gloves, bags, shoes, jackets], spectacle frames [made in Italy] with the famous Italian brands at
accessible prices, fake Italian brands at astounding prices and
a gorgeous environment in which to window shop.
The starting point has to be Ponte Vecchio's jewellery shops, then,
for designer shops just wander around Via Tornabuoni, Via Roma,
Via della Vigna Nuova and Marcato Centrale along with all the Japanese
travellers.
Florence climate
Map of Florence/Firenze
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