It’s one of the more popular cities, everyone has heard of it, even me! I did some googling and it said lots about the renaissance, Michealangelo and the Medici (who or whatever that is :/ ). I thought if so many people are going there, it must be worth a trip. So, I’ve written down some of the things I did, ate and saw so you can have a great time too and be a little more prepared than I was! You know it is a banger, otherwise I wouldn’t write about it, and just pretend I never wasted my time going there.
Have a read of this and find out why you should go to Florence, how to travel around without getting lost and what the locals eat. Tip number one; make sure you have enough storage on your phone to take around one million pics per day. It’s that kind of place 😉.
The Best Piazzas of Florence
- Piazza di Santa Maria Novella – Not to far from the Santa Maria Novella train station, which is the central station in Florence, you will find this large, green piazza. It was one of the first things I saw when wandering around Florence and the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella boarders it with its unique facade. It looks nice here but I wouldn’t eat at the places nearby as they are likely to be very touristy and you may not have the best experience. Although it is tempting to sit and take in the views.
- Piazza della Signoria – This is probably one of the reasons why I kept seeing online that ‘Florence is an open-air museum’. This piazza was truly breathtaking when it opened up to me for the first time. It is packed with amazing statues and buildings. It boarders the corner of the Palazzo Vecchio, contains a replica of Michelangelo’s David and leads through to the Uffizi gallery.
- Piazza Michelangelo – I had heard of this Piazza, but I wasn’t quite sure how to get there but I saw a group of tourists walking up the hill nearby so I took a gamble and followed them up. I was glad I did. What I found was, yet another replica of the statue of David, and the best view of the city you can find. For this alone, it’s worth the effort to get up there.
What to eat in Florence – The local dishes to try
The reputation is always for great wine in Florence, however I found it has a range of local dishes, that I may have found difficult to pronounce, that were absolutely delicious.
- Lampredotto – Fourth stomach of the cow, slow cooked, in a fresh bread roll, soaked, with a green or red sauce. Give it a try, don’t be intimidated. It is really tasty. I found a great place for it on the ground floor of the Mercato Centrale, I suggest hunting it down. Apparently even Stanley Tucci has been there!
- Bistecca alla Fiorentina – The famous giant steak that you will find all over the city. Pay by the gram (including the bone!) and eat rare.
- Cinghiale/Wild Boar ragu – Delicious slow cooked ragu that is perfect with pappardelle.
- Ribollita – A nice big hearty vegetable and bread soup. Truly delicious and healthy.
- Trippa – Tripe doesn’t always have a great reputation in some countries, but the way they prepare it here will definitely change your mind. This is what travelling is all about. Try something new!
- Schiacciata – Local bread with a crispy top and a light, airy inside. Find somewhere that will make you a fresh sandwich will meats and cheeses, you won’t regret it.
- There is so much more, so I won’t make this any longer than it needs to be and I will put it in a separate post!
What to see and do in Florence
This place is a dream for lovers of museums, churches, galleries and history. Many of these are known across the world. There is just so much to visit and see. I didn’t stay for three months so unfortunately, I couldn’t do everything, but here are the main sights. *I will add to this list on my next trip*
- Uffizi gallery – it is truly iconic and one of the main attractions in the city, I knew I had to make a stop here. The gallery has iconic works by all the big names like, da Vinci, Botticelli, Raphael, Caravaggio (if you have the stomach for it!), and many, many more. I highly recommend buying a multi-site ticket, in advance to take advantage of a discount and to make your trip easier. As it is so big, this one will take you at least half a day to get around and really appreciate it.
- Pitti palace – Giant renaissance palace. You have to be quite a renaissance obsessive to really appreciate it, which I wasn’t at the time. The size is incredible and there is art across the whole palace that everyone can enjoy. It’s also included in the combined ticket. However, if you venture through the palace, to the rear doors, you will find something magical…
- Bobboli gardens – For me, this was my favourite place in the city. The gardens are absolutely huge with interesting little sculptures and structures across the site. Make sure you pack your walking shoes as there is so much to see. Do not make the mistake of visiting after walking for hours around other museums like I did. I was in severe pain after walking for about six hours, but I couldn’t resist the urge to continue and go ‘ooh what’s that over there’. No pain no gain as they say!
- Mercato Centrale – It has two floors! Bottom floor is full of delicious meats, cheeses, baked goods and so much more. It also has quite a few hot food stalls that sell local dishes at a great price. It’s perfect to try a few new things. However, upstairs is more of a eating spot rather than somewhere that sells meats and cheeses. It has a giant bar in the middle with different food options to eat around the perimeter. There is something for everyone.
- Tip – the prices downstairs are cheaper for take away food but there is more choice and places to sit upstairs. While this market is great, there are many others that are more accessible to locals, and I suggest you check them out too.
- Academia gallery – If you want to see Michealangelo’s David, go here.
- Cattedrale di Santa maria del Fiore – I was walking through the city and suddenly this giant cathedral opened up to me. It is so unique I had never seen anything like it before. I saw the famous dome, and I realised where I was.
- Ponte Vecchio – The iconic bridge across the Arno River. I was worried I wouldn’t know which bridge it was, but with its colourful shops and unique look, I knew I had found it. I think it had a wide range of shops along its length but now it looks like it is mainly occupied by jewelry shops, though these were a little out of my price range!
Getting around Florence with Trams, trains and on foot
Florence has its own airport with easy links to the city centre. I decided to take the tram, as I did nearly every day I was there. It is so cheap compared to countries like the UK and USA. It is easy to pay with a simple card tap on the tram. It has several lines and they are all clearly mapped out. I love a tram! It will also take you to Firenze Santa Maria Novella station, which is the central station in the city with links to all the major cities and local towns in Tuscany.
Despite all this I found the city very walkable, maybe even a little too walkable, as I managed to wear through a pair of shoes in a week! It is very easy to get around here and also very affordable if using public transport.
Florentine culture tips
When I was visiting Florence, the strangest piece of culture was the fact that most bread is unsalted. It’s something to do with the rivalry between Florence and Pisa due to a ‘salt war’. Its ok though, just sprinkle some on top, especially when eating with olive oil. The food culture is exceptionally strong here and the city has many local dishes. I did try as many as I could but there was just so much variety, I needed an extra couple of weeks to try everything.
Just a note, that the city can feel a little touristy and of course this has an impact on the population of the city. Make an effort to understand the culture, be respectful and maybe even learn some Italian, to travel consciously. It is very easy to fall into a tourist trap here and pay inflated prices, I highly recommend doing your research on a fantastic site, like, um, I don’t know… Piazzapassport.com?
Accommodation and where to stay in Florence
Italy in general is great as tourism and therefore is great at different types of hotels, hostels, villas and unique stays. So, as expected, Florence is well catered for in terms of accommodation. If like me, you wanted to save a bit of money, and wanted to stay in Florence on a budget, usually the hotels and accommodation further out from the city centre are slightly more economical. As the tram network is so good and cheap, it will not impact your experience other than the small cost of a tram ticket.
Florence is a unique, special and inspiring city that can only be appreciated by visiting it for yourself. It really takes your breath away seeing these incredible landmarks and learning about the giants of history like, da Vinci, Michelangelo and the Medici. Yes, it’s full of tourists but it is worth the trip for this special experience. If you want to go at a less crowded time, I suggest going at the beginning of spring!
Travel your way and do not forget your passport!
Subscribe to the newsletter to discover the hidden gems of Florence and beyond!