Florence On A Schedule

Last July I took my first trip to Italy and Florence was definitely one of my favourite cities. That time of the year is peak tourist time though, so it's unlikely that you'd be able to cover everything if you're on a tight schedule. The great thing about Florence is that the majority of the sights are within walking distance of each other. The Florence Cathedral (Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore), Piazza della Repubblica and Giotto's Bell Tower were the most impressive sights of the city and were all within one minute of each other. The best plan of attack is to designate at least half a day to all of them. Be warned though, you'll climb a ridiculous amount of steps at the same time as what feels like every other tourist in Florence. The view is totally worth it though!

View from the Cathedral

The Florence Cathedral

Also there's a steady stream of gelato shops as you wander around the Piazza, so grabbing a cold snack is never a problem. Gelato is one of the few things that I never noticed rising in price s you got closer to the major tourist sights. Restaurants were crazy expensive around the Piazza so if you want a proper, sit down meal it's safest to venture a few streets back. If you wanted a quick lunch though there's an amazing (and infamous) sandwich shop called I Fratellini. You can score a delicious panini and generous glass of wine pretty cheap here, as long as you don't mind not having a table. The major benefit of this, besides the killer sandwich, is that you're still within walking distance of everything. If you're in a rush to see all the sights, this is a great option.

Giotto's Campanile

I Fratellini

The other major thing to do is check out Michelangelo's David. Seeing it in person was like a reverse-Mona Lisa experience, meaning that it was bigger than I expected. If you're keen to know the history of the various artworks in the Academie di Belle Arti di Firenze, then a tour group is a good choice. If you couldn't care less about art then it's still worth a tour, since you're usually lumped together with some hilarious tourists who think it's OK to touch 18th Century oil paintings.

The Medici Family

If you've got any time to spare one of the most rewarding experiences I had while in Florence was a cooking class I took. The produce is seriously amazing and the teacher's are enthusiastic. And you come away with a killer panacotta recipe. 

Markets in Florence

Hopefully these tips offered some guidance on the must-see spots in Florence. It's definitely a cannot miss city in Italy so even if you can only spare a day there it's well-worth it. Happy travels! 

- Liv