Top Ten Attractions
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The Uffizi
The gallery that houses the world’s greatest collection of Renaissance Italian painting. Tickets and visiting times can be booked in advance. http://www.uffizi.firenze.it
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The Duomo
The city’s magnificent cathedral, finished in the 15th Century and topped by a stunning dome. http://www.duomofirenze.it
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Piazza della Signoria
The heart of the city and a favourite meeting place of Florentines and tourists alike. A sumptuous palace, sculptures and outdoor music. http://www.mega.it/eng/egui/monu/signo
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Ponte Vecchio
The oldest bridge in Florence, dating back to 1345. Lined with jewelers’ and goldsmiths’craft shops. http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Ponte_V...
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Santa Croce
Perhaps the city’s most glorious church, full of art treasures. http://www.mega.it/eng/egui/monu/xbasilic
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Boboli Gardens
A pleasure garden of arbours and cypress-lined avenues dotted with graceful statues, lodges, grottoes and fountains.
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Palazzo Pitti
Another huge palace with an unrivalled art collection. Allow several hours to take in its countless treasures. http://www.mega.it/eng/egui/monu/pitt
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Accademia
This gallery’s main attraction is the seven sculptures by Michelangelo whose stand-out centrepiece is David, perhaps the most famous piece of sculpture in the western world. http://www.gallerieaccademia.org
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San Lorenzo
The first Renaissance church and home to the glorious Medici chapels. http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/San_Lor...
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The Arno
Florence’s romantic river. A place to enjoy a stroll, a glass of chianti and the setting sun.
Eating and Drinking
The streets of the historic centre of Florence are packed with cafes and bars where you can enjoy a drink, snack or quick lunch to enjoy while standing at the bar or seated, or to take away. Sitting at a table will cost more, while taking a place outside can be twice as expensive. Another option is the tavola calda (hot table), a self-service café where you can choose from a selection of pre-prepared dishes. Restaurants range from an expensive ristorante to more modestly priced trattoria. Pizzerie specialise in pizzas, but also serve pasta. Many trattorie offer a three-course, fixed price menu turistico, which is often a good deal. Long queues that form outside some restaurants are a good indication of the quality of the fare inside. One Florentine restaurant has made the list of the world’s Top 50: Enoteca Pinchiorri at Via Ghibellina 87 is housed in a beautiful 16th century palace. The guide books say it’s ‘molto chic and molto expensive.’ Book well in advance and make sure you’re suitably dressed. www.enotecapinchiorri.com
Shopping
Since the Middle Ages, Florentines have held craftsmanship in high regard and the city’s elegant shops are famed for the quality of their merchandise, especially jewellery (particularly gold), leather goods, antiques and fashion. It is one of Italy’s top shopping destinations and one that promises good window-browsing. The shops are mainly concentrated along the tourist routes. The vast majority close on Monday mornings or Saturday afternoons from June to September, although touristy shops are allowed to stay open continuously every day, including Sunday. Many shops close for a period of 7-10 days on and around August 15, while some craftsmen may go on holiday for the whole of that month. Antique shops are clustered round the Borgognissanti, Via della Vigna Nuova and Via dei Fossi and bric-a-brac addicts will find a permanent, modest-sized flea market on Piazza dei Ciompi. The biggest and most popular street market is San Lorenzo, which caters for both tourists and locals, selling everything from clothing to sunglasses. Florence’s biggest food market is the Mercato Centrale, which is bulging at the seams with just about every food product from the surrounding Tuscan hills.
Night Life
Florence is as beautiful by night as by day and when it comes to ways of spending the evening, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Santa Croce is a dynamic district with plenty of wine bars and friendly cafes. In the summer, many live performances are staged in the historic city centre, especially in the Piazza della Signoria. On the other side of the Arno, the San Spirito and San Frediano areas are very lively all year round. Most of the clubs and some disco-bars insist you have a membership card (tessera), valid for a year. Apart from a few of the more exclusive places, where you have to be sponsored by a member, you can buy a card at the door for about 15 Euros (including a free drink). At the risk of disappointing techno and house fans, it has to be said that Italian tastes tend towards Latin rhythms, reggae and funk. For full details of what’s on, get hold of the Calendar of Events (Evvenimenti) from the tourist bureau or try the website www.weekendafirenze.com
