Florence Travel List

4. Activities Recommendations

• Academia tour – Michelangelo’s David
• Visit the indoor market called Mercato Centrale 1 piano (1st floor) open every day from 12 pm to 12 am. Restaurants, food shops etc. At the bottom floor of the Mercato Centrale there is a conventional food market.
• Academia gallery
• Pitti Palace
• Bell tower
• Duomo (get tickets in advance it’s slot system gets sold out)
• Visit the new museum Opera Del Duomo
• Get a professional guide for 1 day or half of a day who can get advance tickets for museum avoiding lines.
• Visit the hill of Fiesole and eat at the restaurant Vinandro Piazza Mino. Take a walk to the top of the hill. 
• Visit the trendy shop Luisa Via Roma in Via Roma at the shop of: luisaviaroma.com
• Climb to top of Duomo
• We went to Tuscany, to San Gimignano – a walled fortress. Very cool, ate the greatest simple country lunch there at La Terracotta on via San Giovanni
• Romi The Foodie – “If you wanna be a little adventurous in Florence, Romi does food tours in the market. You go stall by stall, eating over a dozen different things. Walking tour / food tour / wine tour over 3 hours. She knows everyone in that market and has friendly banter with them and you get to ask them about their stories. She is also theatrical and has some performance type elements sprinkled in. This was, by far, one of my best experiences in Florence.”

Even More to do in Florence:

• Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio - this place gives some of the best options, being the heart of the historic center and a free open-air sculpture exhibit. Many famous sculptors and artist have left their impression in this place.
• Ponte Vecchio - built in 1345, was Florence's first bridge across the Arno River and is the only surviving bridge from Florence's medieval days (others were destroyed in World War II). The Ponte Vecchio is still lined with shops selling gold and silver jewellery. You must walk down here and peek into the shops.
• The Uffizi holds thousands of paintings from medieval to modern times and many antique sculptures, illuminations, and tapestries. 
• Galleria Accademia holds Michaelangelo's David, probably the most famous sculpture in the world. You can spend quite some time just admiring the statue and being amazed by the flawless work. It is a must-see, although it shouldn't take more than an hour of your precious time. You can pre book tickets on the link.
  
  Cathedrals

• Santa Croce, in Piazza Santa Croce, is the largest Franciscan church in Italy and holds the tombs of several important Florentines including Michelangelo and Dante.
• The Baptistery of John the Baptist, from the 11th century, is one of Florence's oldest buildings. Sit on the steps and gaze across to the bronze doors of the Baptistry. Get a look at the detailed doors.
• Il Duomo-Florence's most popular site is its Duomo (cathedral), the Cattedrale de Santa Maria del Fiore. The huge Gothic duomo was begun in 1296, consecrated in 1436, and holds 20,000 people. Its exterior, made of green, pink, and white marble, has several elaborate doors and interesting statues. Climb the 463 steps to its top to get a beautiful view of Florence. It is truly stunning.