August 4, 2015

48 hours in Florence


It was actually a very spontaneous idea - Florence for the weekend. It was my second time in the city of Renaissance and I would like to return for so many more times.
As I imagined, the city didn't disappoint me, it rather surprised me with a lot of treasures.


I put together the best places in a short travel guide:

1. Culture, Art and Gardens
Florence is certainly one of the cities with a rich art and architecture collection. Every corner or small backstreet is decorated by a impressive building or museum.

If you're interested in art, you shouldn't miss the following:

 Basilica of Saint Mary of the Flower
is an absolute must-see when visiting Florence. I even went up to the dome (cupola) to enjoy a breathtaking view over Florence. It was quite exhausting climbing up the 436 stairs, but the view was absolutely worth it. 
There is a unique ticket (it costs 10€) and you can visit the church, baptistery, bell tower and dome with that.






Piazzale Michelangelo
is a hill from where you can enjoy a magnificent view over Florence and the landscape of Tuscany. 
 Instead of going up following the path, you should walk up through the lovely "Giardino delle rose" which is a small garden that leads up to the panorama square as well.



Uffizi Gallery
is something everyone has to explore, when staying in the city of art - Florence. Some very famous paintings ("Birth of venus", "Primavera" by Botticelli) are exhibited in the museum.
You should consider getting up early, so you won't have to do a long line-up to be able to enter. 
At the end of your visit, you should also check out the bookshop of the museum, where you can find some amazing books (about art and Florence) and postcards. 



Pitti Palace & Boboli/Bardini gardens
used to be home of the influential 'de Medici family. You can visit the palace (museum, art collection) and the huge Boboli/Bardini gardens. It's probably best to walk around the gardens in the afternoon and relax a bit there. 






Santa Croce
is a very charming district near "Piazza della Signoria" (main square). There are lots of bars/restaurants and shops. 
On Saturdays there is held a flea market where you can find some real treasures. Additionally the church "Santa Croce" is absolutely worth visiting.



2. Where to sleep & eat
B&B San Remigio (Via dei Rustici, 3)
is a small renovated Bed & Breakfast facility in the historic center of Florence (5 mins to Piazza della Signoria -Uffizi).
The owner of the familiar establishment was extremely friendly and hospitable to us. All in all there are 6 rooms, 1 kitchen (breakfast-room) and a small but very lovely terrace.





Ditta Artigianale (Via dei Neri, 32R)
is my favorite coffeeshop in Florence. I've already told you about it on Instagram. Anyway I love the place because of its stylish interior and furniture. The music is always good (from jazz to rock), the drinks and meals taste and look well. 
Moreover you'll meet a bunch of interesting people there, working in the fashion and design industry.



is certainly a place to be for fashion and art enthusiasts. 
The bookstore is filled with great books about fashion designers, architects, art and a lot more.





3. Florentine fashion & street style

Florence is without any doubt a known fashion city. 
I caught a lot of stylish people (florentines and tourists).
The main shopping street is "Via dei calzaiuoli" where you find expensive brands like Chanel and Prada but also cheaper clothing stores.
I recommend walking through the narrow streets nearby to find some small boutiques.





- Hope you liked my Florence guide -

2 comments :

  1. I'm going to Florence next Tuesday, I will spend only a day here. Your guide is very useful and beautiful, congrats and thank you for the help! :)

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    1. Great! Enjoy your time in Florence. I'm glad my guide helped you. If you need more information , just write me an e-mail (judithbradl@yahoo.com)

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