There is more than art in Florence. It is art. Stroll down any sidewalk pavement and you are stepping in five hundred years of human genius. There is the scent of fresh espresso and Terracotta roof tiles that are scorched by the Tuscan sun. The bells of the church are heard resonating on the Arno in waves, and this time keeping is not to be rushed in the city. In each piazza, there is a masterpiece, in every corner there are tales of Medici ambition, Renaissance genius and the common men who put this city in the books of memory.
I suppose you think what I think: How could I possibly get to see Florence in a day? The thing is that you do not see everything. But you have a chance to feel the soul of it. This program is a very well-timed tour that combines the Florence that everybody dreams of with the actual Florence that people in the area live in.
Let’s get started.
Morning (8:00-12.30)
Piazza del Duomo (8:00-9:30)
Ahead of you is the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore with its impossible dome, the miracle of Brunelleschi engineering. The marble (white Carrara, green Prato, pink Siena) is striped, and the air is the aroma of espresso of the surrounding cafes, combined with an indescribable smell of stone and ages.
There are three things here you can see, and you do not have to hurry about it. The Baptistery of St. John faces across the piazza at the ceilings of the mosaic, which is Byzantine gold. Giotto has a Bell Tower next to the cathedral, a slim column of geometrical perfection that you can not pass without noticing it.
And there is the dome itself. Once you have booked online beforehand (which you will really have to do before you travel), it is a steep narrow climb but every breathless move will be worth it. The staircase then ascends up through the levels of the Brunelleschi, two-shell building, and then one suddenly comes onto that walkway that is within the dome itself. The frescoed interior falls under you, and in the oculus above, Florence is spread out all around in every direction terracotta roofs, the Arno meandering silver through the city, the hills beyond.
Piazza della Signoria (9:45-10:30)
Go down through the little streets to the south. The type that the laundry is hung between buildings, and the cats rest in doorways and you will come out into the open expansive space that is Piazza della Signoria. It is the open-air museum of Florence and it strikes in other ways in the early morning when one can actually think.
The piazza is dominated by Palazzo Vecchio, this great castle of medieval Florence which is still used as a town hall. The towers are crenellated and it seems to be waiting to tell some secrets. In the middle is the Fountain of Neptune that is jetting with a muscled Poseidon caught in the gaze. And there is the David or, at least, a copy of the David of Michelangelo. The original is there in the Accademia, but you are frozen by this copy still.
Should you feel energetic (and interested) make a slight digression into the Palazzo Vecchio Museum, and get about by its courtyard and corridors. There is no necessity of hours. 30 minutes brings the taste of Renaissance strength and mystery.
Uffizi Gallery (10:30-12:30)
Now comes the main event. Uffizi Gallery is the heftyweight and you have to plan how to make the best out of two hours only.
Purchase a skip the line ticket or a 2-hour guided express tour. This isn’t laziness. It’s wisdom. You will not be able to be in a queue that wastes 45 minutes of time when you can enjoy 45 minutes looking at art.
Room upon room of masterpieces: Botticelli, Birth of Venus, serene, impossible in her perfection, as she has come out of that shell. One of the paintings of Leonardo da Vinci the Annunciation, in which the face of Mary exhibits a certain element of surprise and acceptance. The instance that the world changes, in tempera and oil.
At twelve-thirty you will come into the Tuscan sunlight somewhat dazed and definitely alive. Your feet will hurt. Your mind will be full. That’s exactly right. Now it’s time for lunch.
Lunch Break (12:30-13:30)
Where to Eat
Go to Trattoria Anita or La Fettunta, which are situated near enough to the Arno that you will have river breezes between mouths. The tables are made of wood which has been well worn by elbows and conversation over decades.
What to Order
Order ribollita of Tuscany, which renders the seasonal Florentine autumn forever. The tomatoes, beans and the day old bread are combined to make something more than its components, and then completed with a ribbon of olive oil that reflects the light or attempt pappardelle al cinghiale wide.
Want to Explore Further?
Our what to eat in Florence in one day guide will help explore the food scene in Florence further.
Level Up Your Experience
Afternoon (13:30-17:30)
Ponte Vecchio (13:30-14:00)
It is the oldest bridge in Florence, and you will recognize it at a glance, by the number of jewelry-stores on it dozens of them. In WWII, Ponte Vecchio was spared but practically all other crossings across the Arno were demolished by German troops. The most optimal light to be used in photos is at around 14:00.
Pitti Palace & Boboli Gardens (14:15-16:45)
And when you are across the bridge, you are already in the Oltrarno the more artisanal part of Florence, as Florence has one. This neighborhood is contrasting with the east that is densely populated with tourists. Small avenues lead to the leather-worker workshop where they continue to craft the products by hand as they have since time immemorial.
It leads to the Pitti Palace, the old Medici house which is at the head of this quarter. Indoors, you have hours to be wasted in the numerous museums (the Palatine Gallery, the Silver Museum, the Costume Gallery), although I would suggest otherwise: avoid the interior museums unless you have more time than money. Rather, leave the Boboli Gardens to delight your eyes.
The strolls made along the cypress-grown walks and the discovery of some of the conceit of the grottos, fountains pressed into the bushes, and unexpected vistas of the city. This is the place where Florence shows herself to him who loiter. The views found on the panoramic strolls of the garden terraces of the upper levels are better than the Piazzale Michelangelo, without the throngs of selfie sticks.
Evening (17:30-22:00)
Piazzale Michelangelo (17:30-19:00)
It is half the battle of getting there. Starting at the center of the city, board Bus 13 that is moving toward the hills. Or walk about approximately 25-30 minutes straight up the hill along the streets.
The whole skyline of Florence is stretched down in front of you as a masterpiece on a museum wall. The dome of the Duomo is terracotta pink. The stone walls are lined by photographers, couples, and even solitary travellers. Get here before 5.45 PM during sunset time in order to get a good viewing point before evening rush.
Dining in Oltrarno (19:30-21:00)
Favorites are Trattoria 4 Leoni or Osteria Santo Spirito.
Have the bistecca alla fiorentina-a huge, bone-in steak of Florentine beef, which on the outside is seared, and inwardly turns rose-pink, concluded by sprinkling with the fleur de sel and a squeeze of lemon. The acidity of the wine is refreshing, the wine matches the richness exceptionally.
During dessert, you should have cantucci e Vin Santo hard almond cookies that should be dipped into sweet wine. Shall simple perfection taste a sweetness. This is what makes a meal memorable rather than a filling one.
Want more ideas? Our What to Eat in Florence in One Day will explore the dishes of traditions.
Evening (21:00-22:00)
Dinner is over but evening does not have to be.
