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Florence In A Day
verflowing with history, Florence is pretty compact, so
art and culture, Florence the best way to see it, without
is a city that's very hard missing a thing is by foot. If
to do justice to in a single day. you don't have a map or a
A visit to the Uffizi museum guidebook and you're not the type
alone could easily eat a day or that enjoys aimless wandering,
two into any itinerary. make your first stop of the day
one of the tourist offices where
If you're fortunate enough to you can pick up a free map of
visit Florence for the first Florence.
time, but unfortunate enough to
have only a single day to savour Starting off in the main Piazza,
the delights of this city, you you'll easily spot the famous
will need to ensure that you have Duomo, with its magnificent
a plan. terracotta coloured cupola. If
you are there early enough to
So allow me be your guide for the avoid the crowds and feel you can
day and take you on a whistle face the 463 steps I'd recommend
stop tour of the sights and starting your tour by climbing up
sounds of Florence. I can't into dome for a spectacular view
promise you the Uffizi in a day, of the city. The Duomo is
but hopefully at the end of the probably the most distinctive
tour you'll feel like you've seen feature of Florence's skyline and
the best of the city. Your only is the result of years of work
problem will be deciding when to spanning six centuries.
come back for more!
Once you've taken in the view,
The first thing you'll need catch your breath with a
before you start your tour is a leisurely stroll around the
map of the city. The centre of streets surrounding the Duomo,
and then take a walk to the the bridge. The bridge itself was
nearby Piazza della Signoria. built in 1345 and is the only
Here you'll find a unique outdoor bridge on the Arno that wasn't
gallery of sculptures, including destroyed in World War II.
Neptune's Fountain and a copy of
the famous Statue of David. Once you've crossed the bridge,
You'll also find the Palazzo you'll arrive in the area called
Vecchio (the Old Palace) here. Oltrano, which literally means
This was built in the early 14th "Over the Arno". Here you'll find
century and is still used today the Palazzo Pitti - a large 16th
for its original purpose, as a century palace. The palace was
Town Hall. originally home to the Medici
family who ruled Florence almost
Just beside the Palazzo you'll continuously between 1434 and
find the Uffizi museum, with its 1743 and it now houses several
unrivalled collection of important museums and galleries.
Renaissance art. If you're an art
lover, you don't want to miss the You may want to finish your day
Uffizi, but it's not something by taking a relaxing stroll in
that can be easily covered in a the Boboli gardens, which can be
short 2-hour visit! accessed through the Palazzo
Pitti. These gardens were laid
Alongside the Uffizi you'll find out in 1550 for the Medici a year
the River Arno, with its many after they bought the Palazzo
bridges. If you take a right turn Pitti and were opened to the
you'll arrive at the Ponte public in 1766. Many parts of the
Vecchio, the famed bridge that gardens give stunning vistas over
houses a multitude of goldsmiths Florence and make a welcome
and jewellery shops, with its retreat after a day of walking
medieval workshops overhanging round the city.
If you have the time, it's worth Finally, don't forget to take a
returning to view the Ponte break from your sightseeing -
Vecchio at sunset, followed by a stop for lunch or a drink in a
walk along the bridge after dusk, pavement café, take some time to
when the lights on the bridge soak up the atmosphere and do a
reflect on the River Arno and spot of people watching.
everything seems almost magical.
About the Author:
Suzanne Morrison is a keen independent traveller and considers Florence one of her favourite European cities. To find out more about Florence, visit her website http://www.PlacesToVisitInFlorenceItaly.com
Source: www.isnare.com
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