Your Way To Florence Blog

Florence definitely sports a lot when it comes to art, shopping, palaces, and food. But it is important to realize that Florence is a city that also comes with an amazing nightlife. You won’t be returning to your hotel, villa, farmhouse, or hostel early. You may as well make plans to stay out late.

How do you discover this night life when it isn’t really that evident during the day?

Well, all you have to do is take a walk after dark.

The first place to head to is the Santa Novella Maria area. La Rotonda may seem like just a pizzeria, but what you will find is that it is a hangout and a place for live music.

Cappocaccia is another hot spot when you want some amazing cocktails. You’ll find it in the Duomo right along the river. This is a place where you can dress to impress and take a look at some of the best looking locals you can lay your eyes on. Overall, however, it is rather laid back.

If you want something with more of a Moroccan fusion style, Sesamie is a great place to go. You can lounge around and have a great time. The Rex Café is also a great place to hang out and enjoy its mosaic walls.

But if you really want to get into the contemporary nightlife of Florence, you will have to visit the area of the city where tourists don’t tend to go. This means going to an area where famous attractions such as the Uffizi are not around. If you go further down the river, you will find such hotspots as the Rifrullo Terrace bar. Club Montecarla is also a hot spot that consists of three whole floors.

So make sure you take advantage of all that Florence has to offer during the day and night.

Something that is great about visiting Florence, Italy is that most everything is easy to get to on foot. You don’t have to utilize public transportation.

However, there are times that you do need to use public transportation, so it is good to know what is available to you and what isn’t available to you so that you can plan your trip accordingly. It’s good to have a plan, especially in a place such as Florence that has a lot of activities that you can enjoy.

When arriving in Florence by plane, you may arrive at the Florence Amerigo Vespucci Airport. If you do, you do have a shuttle service that will take you into Florence and drop you at the Santa Maria Novella train station. Luckily, between 6 am and 11 pm, the shuttles leave every 30 minutes so that you don’t have to wait long periods of time. You can expect a 15 to 20 minute journey into Florence.

Another airport you could possibly fly into is the Pisa Galileo Galilei Airport. It is further away than Florence Amerigo. A train into Pisa results in a quick transfer to Florence and takes a little over an hour to get to Florence. You do see more this way, but it depends on what you wish to do. You will find yourself ending at the Santa Maria Novella train station.

Make note of where the Santa Maria Novella train station is so that you can utilize it to come and go from the city. There are trains departing every hour to Rome, Venice, Milan, and Bologna so that you can experience other parts of Italy while you are visiting Florence.

If you are unable to travel by foot once you’re in Florence, you can elect to take a taxi. You can also hire a car, but parking is less than plentiful in the city. You may have difficulty finding a place to park, which is why individuals opt for public transportation. The city is grand, but it is also considered small, so you will be able to take in the scenery and the many activities better if you walk.

Nevertheless, you have transportation methods that you can enjoy so that you can see everything Florence has to offer.

When traveling to Florence there are plenty of sites to see, but there are four that you should pay special attention to…unless they are not your cup of tea, but they are hard to not visit.

Here are those sites:

• The Duomo – You will find the Duomo in the Piazza Dumono. This is an area that is younger than some of the other areas of Florence because it was founded in 1891. You’ll be able to come to the Duomo and see the many changes that the city has gone through throughout the years. The changes are quite vast in some areas but not so much in others. These are portrayed in the way of sculptures. You may find that this is quite fascinating because that is the point when you really realize what sort of city you are visiting.

• The Ponte Vecchio – This medieval bridge can be found expanding over the Arno River. A lot of activities take place along the river and around this bridge. You can find gardens where you can picnic, as well as other activities. You’ll also find shops built into the bridge. This is something that was common in the old days. The bridge also has an interesting history that starts in 1117 and consists of rebuilds in 1333 and the last rebuild being in 1345.

• The Uffizi gallery – The Uffizi is the most popular gallery in Florence and is one that comes with long lines. It is best that you make reservations in advance so that you can see the great works by Michelangelo and many other Renaissance artists.

• The Palazzo Pitti – The Medici family once lived in this giant home. It is now the entrance to the Boboli Gardens and has give museums within it. You’ll find that many of the rooms have the original furniture owned by the Medici family. This is fascinating, considering the Medicis are responsible for a lot of things that occurred during the Renaissance era.

Planning on visiting Florence? Or maybe you have thought about it and you’re not so sure about seeing the Renaissance capital of Italy.

Either way, the Uffizi Gallery enables you to travel back to the 13th century to see artwork done by the masters of Italy. You can stand within the auras of works created by Michelangelo, Raphael, Giotto, and Bernini. It is literally like traveling through time. It is very gothic and very medieval all at the same time, which is great. This just shows how Florence has stayed with its roots.

So what can you expect?

Expect to get up early. You may want to be at the gallery at around 8:30 on your first day in Florence. However, make sure you make a reservation because if you don’t you will not see what the gallery has to hold. You can expect the line to get into the Uffizi gallery to be a mile long and not everyone gets to go in. Without a reservation, being in the line can consume 2 to 3 hours of your day. With a reservation, you don’t have to mess with all of that. You could find yourself inside in less than 5 minutes.

So what makes the Uffizi Gallery special, other than the artwork? Well, this is a gallery that was established by the Medici in 1581. However, it was originally commissioned in 1560 by Cosimo I. The design was by Georgio Vasari. However, despite all of this, it wasn’t until 1765 that the gallery was opened to the public.

So when you step inside, you have to climb three staircases where you are greeted by the busts of the prominent members of the Medici family. This is your first taste of how influential the Medicis were in the Tuscan region. From there, you will begin your tour and your breath will be taken away. Even if you don’t have an appreciation for art, you will be amazed at how well this place takes you back in time and educates you on how incredibly amazing it is that you are there.

Florence is a city of history. It is somewhere that people love to go to when they want to become more educated.

The truth, however, is that Florence is also romantic. You can make this city into anything you want it to be. If you want it to be an educational hub, it can be. If you want it to be a place in which you can learn more about cooking excellent dishes, you can do that. If you want it to be a place where you can get drunk, it can do that too. And if you want it to be a romantic getaway, what better way to do that than go to the most beautiful city in Italy.

We all know that Italy is associated with romance. There is something about the remnants of the Renaissance that brings about this feeling of mystery and intrigue. Much romance has taken place within the confines of the city for centuries. We all know that the Renaissance possessed romance. Even the thought of it brings about warm feelings because of the deep thought and ingenuity that took place over the time. The premise of much of the artwork was romantic in some way. All you have to do is take a trip over to the Uffizi Gallery and the many museums in Florence and you will see that romance is at the center of this grand city.

You have the Boboli Gardens to take a stroll through and even have a picnic. You can also find a romantic hotel in Florence, which isn’t hard at all. Many of the rooms have an atmosphere that is automatically romantic. In Florence, it doesn’t take much to make a honeymoon absolutely fantastic.

And don’t forget all of the amazing restaurants that are in Florence. You will have no problem having a romantic dinner.

You can savor everything that Florence has to offer, such as the gardens and the parks. You can also go as far as enjoying the many fragrances that Florence has to offer. But those are not the only three reasons for you to visit Tuscany. There are rivers, an amazing skyline, galleries, palaces, museums, amazing churches, and food that is to die for.

Two of the reasons why Florence is one of the most frequented cities in the world is because of the museums and the galleries. Art lovers from all corners of the world come to this city. However, you don’t have to be an art lover to enjoy it. You can enjoy such galleries and museums as the Uffizi Gallery, the History of Science Museum, the Archaeological Museum, the Bargello, and the Galleria dell’Accademia and not know a lot about art. All you need to know are such famous names as Michelangelo and Leonardo. You are probably knowledgeable of who these individuals are, as well as many other famous figures in the mathematical and artistic worlds.

You’ll also find a number of palazzos and they all have various vendors that you can really enjoy. For instance, you have the Bargello, the Palazzo Fenzi, The Palazzo Medici Raccardi, and many more.

But while you are visiting Palazzos, churches, galleries, and museums, you have to eat. Fortunately, the food in Florence is absolutely amazing. The natural flavors of the food are brought out rather than spices having to do all of the work.

So if you want to visit the “Athens of Italy,” as it is called, Florence is a great place to go. You can have an elaborate vacation or you can travel on a budget. It is entirely up to you. What’s important is that you will have fun.

Florence, Italy is also called the “Rome Light” because of the art and the fact that it was the ruling ground of the Medicis. At the same time, the city is modernly influenced.

When looking at Florence, you will see the great architecture. There are many places in the world with great architecture, but Florence takes the cake because it is unique and the history behind it is rather incredible. There are buildings that are to this day still being worked on. They have been in the building process for centuries. Not only does this mean the buildings change in appearance, but they are going to be around for many more years to come.

But something that may bring the “light” to your life is the shopping.

When you head over to the Santa Maria Novella Church, you have hit the ritzy part of the city. If you’re ready to pay the big bucks, you will find that this is where to do it. The high end shops are here and so are the big name fashion houses that you hear a lot about. If you’re a Versace fan, then this is where you are going to see it all first hand.

You also need to take a look at the Basso Fortress. This is an antique structure that has been turned into a modern convention center. It is quite amazing a transformation.

For when you don’t want to spend a lot of cash, you’ll need to head the direction of the Santo Spirito Oltrarano. There are many cafes located in this area and you’ll also find the Boboli Gardens, which are very beautiful. You can spend some quiet time here, enjoying the scenery. The walkways, the gardens, and the fountains make for an incredible sight.

So make sure you do these things and that you enjoy the “Rome Light” to its fullest.

The entire country of Italy is known for its incredible culture. That is why you need to get out of your comfortable hotel or apartment and check out the sites while visiting Florence. It can be rather tempting to stay in and enjoy the wonderful accommodations, but there is so much to Florence that you won’t know what to do with yourself.

You will find palaces, castles, cathedrals, museums, and so much more when you are walking around Florence. There is no need for a car when everything you need to see is close to one another. Take off on foot, get some exercise, and see some great things. You can go back to your hotel or apartment and rest a while before going and seeing even more of the city.

But something you will find about the many attractions in Florence…they are very, very old. This means you are literally looking at the past. And some of the structures are still under construction in a way. You’ll find that there are buildings that have been in the construction process for almost 1,000 years or more.

And make sure you stay more than just a weekend or a few days. Although everything is within walking distance, there is plenty of food and shops for you to check out. You will get to see artwork by Michelangelo, such as his famous “David.”

And you can even go outside the city into the rest of the Tuscan region so that you can experience even more of Italy. For instance, you can go on a wine tour in Chianti. You can even head over to Pisa and see the Leaning Tower of Pisa. You can then head over to Siena and see some great sights there as well. And don’t forget that you can have a panoramic view of Florence right outside the city in a beautiful park. That is always worth taking your camera for a gander.

If there is a chance that you will be spending a day in port in Florence, Italy, you need to know what things to do while you are there. You only have a day, so you have to make the most of it.

To have your full day excursion, you will have to ride a bus into Florence. That bus ride will take you an hour and a half, so make sure you allot time for the trip to Florence and the trip back.

One of the attractions that you will find when heading into Florence is a park that overlooks the city. It offers a very beautiful view. It seems as if you can see everything the city has to offer in one look. But it is when you are actually in the city that you will notice most of the attractions you want to see are within walking distance of each other. This will make seeing the city a lot easier.

It is very likely that your bus will drop you off within just a couple of blocks within the Academy of Arts. This is where you will see Michelangelo’s statue of David and many other masterpieces that are famous. How large the crowd is, is going to determine what sort of look you get, so keep that in mind. You may have to put up a little bit of a courteous fight to be able to take a gander at these famous art pieces.

You can then walk straight from the cathedral to the Duomo, which is an amazing cathedral.

You can then go for a nice lunch in the palazzo. After lunch, check out the Palazzo Vecchio. You will find a replica of David there. Although it is not the real thing, it can help you a little if you were not able to fight the crowd at the Academy of Arts. You then need to check out the Piazza Santa Croce to check out the shops that are there. There are some great jewelry stores and you will encounter a lot of artists.

Once you’ve seen all of these sights, you’re going to find yourself not wanting to board the bus to go back to the coast to board your boat. But the good news is that Florence will always be there for you to go back and really get to enjoy what it has to offer.

Even if you don’t like history and culture, Florence is still the city to visit when you want to take an Italian vacation. Florence is purely Italian and provides you with the opportunity to experience the world in a completely different way.

For instance, you’ll notice great architecture. Even someone who has no idea about architecture is really going to appreciate it.

And then there is the history and the culture, which much of it does have to do with the architecture. The rest has to do with the art, the food, the entertainment, and the people.

So here are some places you really need to take a look at when in Florence:

•    You have the Laurentian Library by Michelangelo in 1525.
•    The Ponte Vecchio by Taddeo Gaddi in 1345 and 1564
•    The Florence Cathedral by Arnolfo di Cambio from 1296 to 1462

And these are just three of the attractions that you need to see. And if you’re wondering about the dates, such as the Florence Cathedral being built from 1296 to 1462, you are right to think that. Many structures in Florence were built over hundreds of years. When you look at the detail, it is totally understandable. There are some structures that are still being worked on to this day. This brings about the question of whether or not the structures in Florence are truly ever finished. Perhaps this is why so much of it is so incredibly amazing.

And yes, there is great wine and great food for you to enjoy while you are checking out the history and the culture of the city. You’ll find that you’ll really have a new appreciation for history and culture because you’re literally stepping back in time when you visit. Once you’re there, you’ll probably have a hard time leaving.