Things to Do in Florence, Italy
This Cathedral is probably the most popular attraction of Florence. It’s what you will find in almost any image of Florence. I was able to go inside on my trip. Since I only had one day in Florence, I did not tour the dome or tower. Entrance to only the cathedral is free. It opens at 10:15 but you are able to line up ahead of time. I believe I got there around 9:00am and was able to get in right when it opened. The line will get super long and wrap around the building by the time it opens. If you plan to visit I recommend going around 9 as well. You can also tour the dome and go up inside of it to get closer to the paintings. This is something you have to pay to do but I believe it opens at 8:30 so if you want to you can squeeze it in before the cathedral opens.
Giotto’s Bell Tower
Giotto’s Bell Tower is something that I chose not to go inside but I still wanted to mention it. It is another attraction that you have to pay for but I imagine the views are amazing. It also opens before the cathedral. I heard that you have to climb stairs to the top though, so keep that in mind if you are not physically able.
Palazzo Vecchio
Palazzo Vecchio is a 13th Century palace that is now a museum. I didn’t go into the museum or tower but you are able to at least walk inside of the main entrance for free. The painted ceiling and pillars are incredible. If you aren’t able to do the museum, I recommend at least stepping inside.
The Gates of Paradise
Don’t miss seeing the Gates of Paradise. This is a golden doorway that is engraved with 3D images of biblical scenes. It’s beautiful doesn’t take long. My husband and I looked at it one at a time while we waited in line for the Cathedral. It was very crowded around 9:30am.
Ponte Vecchio Bridge
The Ponte Vecchio bridge is one of my favorite spots in Florence. It’s a beautiful bridge with old buildings and shops across the top. I’ve never seen a bridge like this anywhere on my previous travels so this felt special. This is where a bunch of jewelry shores are, if you are in the market for jewelry.
Fontana del Porcellino and Leather Market
If you are in the market for any Italian Leather, you need to stop by the leather market. While you are there be sure to find Fontana del porcellino. It’s a statue of a boar. You are supposed to rub the snout to ensure your return to Florence. This leather market has pretty good prices. I bought several souvenirs from there and then later saw similar items in shops for much more money.
The Boboli Gardens
If you’re a garden lover, like me, you should visit the Boboli Gardens. This is a massive garden with amazing views of the Florence skyline and Tuscany. You do have to pay to enter but it’s worth the price. This was my favorite thing that I did in Florence. You can also tour Pitti Palace but I didn’t have time to do both. I’m not sure what it’s like inside but if you see the garden your can walk through the courtyard area.
Piazza della Repubblica
This Piazza has a carousel and pretty architecture. It’s very picturesque. It’s not exactly a thing to do, but more a thing to see.
Statue of David at Accademia Gallery
One of the most popular things to do in Florence is to visit the Accademia Gallery, to see David. That is the massive marble statue that was created by Michelangelo. I was able to visit the museum for about an hour at the end of the day. David is so much more massive than I thought. He is 17 feet tall but he stands on a pedestal and towers over your head.
The rest of these photos are just kind of random pictures that I wanted to share. Of course one of the best things about seeing a city is just exploring and looking around at all of the interesting sites. You can’t forget to get gelato while in Florence either. Here is where I got this one. It was amazing and it’s highly rated.
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