Travel Florence, Italy, in a Day
by: Suzanne Morrison
Overflowing with history, art and culture, Florence is a city that’s
very hard to do justice to in a single day. A visit to the Uffizi museum
alone could easily eat a day or two into any itinerary.
If you’re fortunate enough to visit Florence, Italy for the first
time, but unfortunate enough to have only a single day to savour the
delights of this city, you will need to ensure that you have a plan.
So allow me be your guide for the day and take you on a whistle stop
tour of the sights and sounds of Florence. I can’t promise you
the Uffizi in a day, but hopefully at the end of the tour you’ll
feel like you’ve seen the best of the city. Your only problem
will be deciding when to come back for more!
The first thing you’ll need before you start your tour is a map
of the city. The centre of Florence is pretty compact, so the best way
to see it, without missing a thing is by foot. If you don’t have
a map or a guidebook and you’re not the type that enjoys aimless
wandering, make your first stop of the day one of the tourist offices
where you can pick up a free map of Florence.
Starting off in the main Piazza, you’ll easily spot the famous
Duomo, with its magnificent terracotta coloured cupola. If you are there
early enough to avoid the crowds and feel you can face the 463 steps
I’d recommend starting your tour by climbing up into dome for
a spectacular view of the city. The Duomo is probably the most distinctive
feature of Florence’s skyline and is the result of years of work
spanning six centuries.
Once you’ve taken in the view, catch your breath with a leisurely
stroll around the streets surrounding the Duomo, and then take a walk
to the nearby Piazza della Signoria. Here you’ll find a unique
outdoor gallery of sculptures, including Neptune’s Fountain and
a copy of the famous Statue of David. You’ll also find the Palazzo
Vecchio (the Old Palace) here. This was built in the early 14th century
and is still used today for its original purpose, as a Town Hall.
Just beside the Palazzo you’ll find the Uffizi museum, with its
unrivalled collection of Renaissance art. If you’re an art lover,
you don’t want to miss the Uffizi, but it’s not something
that can be easily covered in a short 2-hour visit!
Alongside the Uffizi you’ll find the River Arno, with its many
bridges. If you take a right turn you’ll arrive at the Ponte Vecchio,
the famed bridge that houses a multitude of goldsmiths and jewellery
shops, with its medieval workshops overhanging the bridge. The bridge
itself was built in 1345 and is the only bridge on the Arno that wasn’t
destroyed in World War II.
Once you’ve crossed the bridge, you’ll arrive in the area
called Oltrano, which literally means “Over the Arno”. Here
you’ll find the Palazzo Pitti – a large 16th century palace.
The palace was originally home to the Medici family who ruled Florence
almost continuously between 1434 and 1743 and it now houses several
important museums and galleries.
You may want to finish your day by taking a relaxing stroll in the
Boboli gardens, which can be accessed through the Palazzo Pitti. These
gardens were laid out in 1550 for the Medici a year after they bought
the Palazzo Pitti and were opened to the public in 1766. Many parts
of the gardens give stunning vistas over Florence and make a welcome
retreat after a day of walking round the city.
If you have the time, it’s worth returning to view the Ponte
Vecchio at sunset, followed by a walk along the bridge after dusk, when
the lights on the bridge reflect on the River Arno and everything seems
almost magical.
Finally, don’t forget to take a break from your sightseeing –
stop for lunch or a drink in a pavement café, take some time
to soak up the atmosphere and do a spot of people watching.
About The Author - Suzanne Morrison is a keen independent
traveller and considers Florence one of her favourite European cities.
To find out more about Florence, visit her website http://www.PlacesToVisitInFlorenceItaly.com.
|
