Some time ago we decided to give you some travel tips to discover the Bel Paese. Among the experiences we proposed there was a beautiful two-day itinerary in Florence.
We decided to return to the cradle of the Renaissance, an unrivalled destination that welcomes a significant number of beauty-seeking visitors every year. We were looking for something unique and exciting that would leave you speechless.
We wanted to create a short guide that could follow you wherever you went, to start discovering one of the most beautiful Italian cities, with its UNESCO heritage sites, its history, art and splendour.
During our travels to Florence, we realized that we wanted to answer two main needs: the first one was to create a small itinerary that would allow you to discover all you could about the city and its history; and the second one was a pass that would guarantee access to Florence’s three main museums.
Florence is a city with a rich history and an immense artistic heritage. Without an itinerary, you risk missing some of the most precious pearls that are hidden from the eyes of the “hit-and-run” tourist. Florence has to be experienced, discovered, studied in order not to miss a single small detail. It is essential to bring with you a short itinerary guide, with useful tips that will help you marvel and experience the century-long history of this city.
What about the second need that we wanted to fulfill at all costs?
We managed to create for you a brand new Medici Pass in collaboration with our partner Tiqets.
The pass includes in a single ticket: a guided tour of Palazzo Vecchio, access to the Uffizi Galleries and to the Galleria dell’Accademia.
A single ticket, covering the whole history of the Medici Family, allowing you to explore Florence’s three key museums.
In addition, we have developed a small guide that you can bring with you at all times. Find the guide below:
Arriving in Florence is always an exciting and unique experience. If you reach the city by train, you will immediately be immersed in its atmosphere, right from Santa Maria Novella Station with its artistic details that you will find only in a few Italian railway stations.
When approaching the exit, you will in fact admire “Departures” a fresco by Giampaolo Talani dated 2012.
Choose whether you prefer to take a taxi or walk to your hotel to complete check-in procedures, leave your luggage and finally set off to explore the city.
Our advice is to book in advance a walking tour By Night that will allow you to explore the city of Florence with a tour guide.
This tour is perfect for people exploring Florence for the first time as well as for those who have already visited the Cradle of the Renaissance.
With a licensed tour guide you will visit the main landmarks of the city and start to appreciate the hidden beauty of this city.
These include Piazza della Repubblica, followed by Piazza del Duomo, Piazza della Signoria and the not-to-be-missed Ponte Vecchio.
At the end of your By Night tour you will be ready to enjoy a typical Florentine dinner. Scroll further below: you will find a list of recommended restaurants that we have tested and selected for you!
Your second day in Florence should start at the crack of dawn. This will allow you to make good use of your Medici Pass to visit the Uffizi Galleries.
Our advice is to book your entrance to the museum in the first available time slots, between 8:15 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., so that you can enjoy the wonderful masterpieces that are preserved inside far from the madding crowd.
A world of wonder will open in front of your eyes inside the Uffizi Galleries. You will discover the origin of their name Uffizi and the reasons that led Giorgio Vasari to build this immense structure, connected to Palazzo Vecchio and Palazzo Pitti by a corridor named after its architect: The Vasari Corridor. You will admire works by immortal masters, such as Michelangelo, Botticelli, Caravaggio, and Leonardo Da Vinci, to name a few.
You will get lost among the finely decorated rooms, and corridors painted with grotesque frescoes, plunging into the history of Italian art.
The recommended time inside the museum is about two hours.
Once your unguided tour of the Uffizi Galleries is over, you can reach the meeting point for the guided tour of Palazzo Vecchio, which you booked when you purchased your Medici Pass.
During the 90-minute tour of Palazzo Vecchio you will discover, together with your tour, the place where the Medici Family lived, and from where they ruled the city of Florence. Here you will discover that renowned masters such as Vasari, Michelangelo and Leonardo took part in the building and decoration of the rooms. You will admire unique workmanship and fine details, imagining how 16th-century life might have unfolded inside this sumptuous palace.
At the end of your guided tour, allow time to rest and have lunch. Stroll along the Florentine streets, and explore the narrow alleys that connect wonderful and culturally rich squares.
In the afternoon, you will be spoilt for choice in deciding what to do: you can enjoy a walk around the Boboli Gardens, continue to follow in the footsteps of the Medici by exploring the Medici Chapels, or admire the precious frescoes and works of art preserved in the silence of the Basilica of Santa Croce.The cloister of this church is full of magic and from there you can easily reach one of Florence’s movida areas.
Just before going to dinner, we recommend that you book a wine tasting experience within walking distance of Florence Cathedral, an opportunity to taste some of the highest quality Tuscan wines. One thing is for sure: when you are in Tuscany, you can’t miss this experience!
Your Florentine journey is drawing to an end. But do not despair, you still have an extraordinary highlight to visit.
When you purchased your Medici Pass you also booked your access to the Accademia Gallery on this last day. Enjoy the chance to admire perfection up close: Michelangelo’s David in its majesty and magnificence awaits you.
Once your exploration of the Accademia Gallery is over, you will have some free time to wander through the streets of Florence, immersed in the artistic spirit of this city.
Take a few steps to reach the San Lorenzo Market, the ideal place to find inspiration. Here you can buy wonderful souvenirs to take home, as well as taste some delicious typical Tuscan street food. From here, it takes only a few minutes to reach Santa Maria Novella station, in case you have a train waiting for you.
We hope this guide will be a useful tool to help you explore the city that is one of the most loved destinations of Hidden Experiences.
Below you will find our selection of restaurants and hotels. We hope that you will appreciate our tips and that they will be useful to make this a truly unique and unmissable experience.
On last tip: we suggest that you visit Florence off-season if possible, for example taking advantage of a pleasant weekend in November or March that will enable you to wander through the elegant streets, avoiding the crowds of peak season days.
Should this not be the case, don’t worry, you can still enjoy the many pleasures that Florence can offer you, and don’t forget to follow our blog and share your discoveries with us!
Looking forward to help in your next journey!
