24 hours in Florence
Monday, 30th November 2009
What can you do in one day in Florence? Earlier this year I paid my first visit to the capital of Tuscany.
I had previously driven through Tuscan countryside visiting various hill top towns, however, not wanting to become involved in a maze of one way systems only to come up against a wall of beeping cars and American tourists, I decided that Florence should be saved for another time.
I wanted to visit the Uffizi, stroll through the streets and over the bridges looking at masterpieces around every corner but when you are limited to one day not everything is possible. But what shouldn’t you miss when time is tight in Florence?
My top 5 things to do won’t allow you to see everything Florence has to offer but can give you an insight as to what to see and do in one of Italy’s most beautiful cities:
1.Head to the Piazza della Signoria.
While you probably won’t have time to wander through the Uffizi museum, latch yourself on to one of the many guided tours in the open square and get a brief insight into the works of art dotted around, making this one of the most incredible piazza’s in Italy.
2.See the Duomo.
One of the most impressive and dominating buildings in Florence. Stand underneath and crane your neck to try to fit it all in.
3.Visit the Ponte Vecchio.
Shops cling to the bridge trying to stay dry above the Arno river while you can pass over to the quieter side of Florence and to Santo Spirito to avoid the hustle and bustle of the rest of the city.
4.Have a coffee.
No trip to Italy would be complete without a daily dose of caffeine. Head to one of the smaller piazza’s and drink at the bar to avoid the high prices and relax.
5.Enjoy a steak.
At the end of your day you will be tired (even after the coffee) and hungry. A kilo of steak, washed down with some fantastic local red wine will soon make you feel better.
More about Italian courses in Florence
Tags: florence, language course, italy, italian, guide
Posted by Neil Stawarz 2009-11 under Experience Cultures,
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Posted by Michael lee on 12/05 at 02:06 PM
Great blog, and Florence seems like a heaven.