ITALY  |  Florence, Italy Travel Guide
Thursday, December 26, 2024
images
12 Of 12

Suggested Tours in Florence

Sightseeing in Florence

Florence’s architectural and artistic treasures have drawn visitors to it for centuries – and for good reason. But, with an historical center of only half a square-mile, it can be hard to see the sights through the crowds. The throng on the Duomo steps, the lines for the Uffizi and the jostling for photos on Piazzale Michelangelo all require a good dose of patience, especially under the blistering summer heat. Fortunately, early evening offers a respite; the quieter streets and softer lighting at that time bring out the colors of the marble-clad cathedral topped by Filippo Brunelleschi’s archetypal dome, the sheer immensity of the Palazzo Vecchio and the charm of the medieval Ponte Vecchio, with its shops latched shut for the night. But avoiding the lines when you enter the buildings and museums takes some preparation, especially if you arrive in the busiest and hottest summer months when the only option is to drag yourself out of bed at sunrise to beat the crowds to the 8:15 am openings.

Florence's Suggested Tours

Florence, with so many attractions to take in, should be explored by quarter, with these four city walks:

Day 1

The first takes you around the historical center, with visits to the religious attractions on Piazza del Duomo, the civic monuments on Piazza della Signoria and a tour of the city’s best-known art gallery, the Galleria degli Uffizi.

Day 2

The second itinerary visits the quarter of Santa Maria Novella and includes the luxury shopping street of Via dei Tornabuoni as well as some of the city’s most attractive palazzi and churches.

Day 3

The third walk naturally leads off the second, comprising a tour through the Medici-rich quarters of San Lorenzo and down past the city markets to the vibrant Piazza Santa Croce.

Day 4

The final route is across the Arno River, in a district known for its artisan heritage and trendy nightspots. In the Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens, it also includes some of Florence’s most-visited sights. For those who don’t have the four days to spend in the city, this last tour can easily be picked up from the Galleria degli Uffizi for a pleasant evening stroll at the end of the day.

Last updated May 12, 2011
Posted in   Italy  |  Florence
No votes yet
Explore the Destination
Amenities and Resources
Trending Themes:

Guides to Popular Ski Resorts

  • Ischgl is a small mountain village turned hip ski resort, with massive appeal among the party-hearty young crowds. It is... Read More

  • Andorra la Vella is its own little world, and not just because it’s a 290-square-mile independent principality (a fifth the... Read More

  • Bariloche (officially San Carlos de Bariloche) is the place to be seen. It is to Argentina what Aspen is to the... Read More

  • Aspen is America's most famous ski resort. And that's an understatement. For, as a ski complex, Aspen is unsurpassed. Its... Read More

  • Zermatt is a small but glamorous mountain resort town, with a population of approximately 5,700. It is one of Switzerland's... Read More

  • St. Moritz is a glitzy, alpine resort town in the celebrated Engadin Valley of Switzerland, with huge notoriety as the... Read More

  • Lake Tahoe is the premier lake resort of America, and the largest alpine lake in all of North America. It is an absolutely... Read More

  • St. Anton, Sankt Anton am Arlberg in German, is Austria's premier ski-bum resort! It's actually a small village cum... Read More

  • Kitzbühel, a small, Tyrolian resort town in the Kitzbüheler Alps, comes with international renown and huge snob appeal, and... Read More

 

Copyright © 2010-2013 Indian Chief Travel Guides. Images tagged as (cc) are licensed under the Creative Commons CC-BY-SA license.