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Florence is a city in central Italy and the capital of the Tuscany region. It is widely considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world and is famous for its rich history, culture, and art.
Since we had 8 full days in Rome we wanted to venture outside of the city. We decided to visit Florence since it is not too far from Rome and we absolutely fell in love with the capital city of Tuscany.
The best time to visit is during the shoulder season when there are less tourists and the weather isn't too bad. The peak season is mid-June through August, shoulder season is April through mid-June and September through October.
Florence weather in May is quite enjoyable with up to 11 hours of sunshine per day and 15 hours of daylight. The average temperature is 16°C, which is a little chilly so bring warm clothes with you.
We decided to take the bullet train from Rome to Florence since it is faster than renting a car and driving to Florence. The bullet train goes up to 280 KPH. The earlier you book your tickets the cheaper it is. You could get tickets for real cheap if you buy them 4-6 months before your trip. We didn’t know so and booked our tickets 2 months in advance and that is why the price was so high. It is also important to buy the tickets back and forth.
•Route: Termini Station (the station in Rome) to Santa Maria Novela (the stop in Florence).
•Cost: 64 USD per person.
•Tickets: Print out your tickets that way you get a bar code and just scan it through the machines and don’t have to wait in line to convert your order into tickets in the booths.
•Comfort: The train has very comfortable seats and outlets to charge your phone so relax and enjoy the beautiful view of Tuscany as you pass them on the train.
•To order tickets: click here!
Since it takes a 1 hour and 40 minutes train ride, we decided to take the 7 AM train so we could arrive at Piazzale Michelangelo at around 9 am and enjoy the beautiful view before the crowds come. We wanted to make the most out of our day in Florence so we decided to book the 9 pm train back to Rome so that gave us a great amount of time to enjoy the city.
When you exit the train station in Florence you will see a machine on your left that you could buy bus tickets. It’s about 1.5$ for a bus fair for 90 minutes. We then crossed the street and took the a bus to Piazzale Michelangelo. The bus drops you off right there and from there we walked everywhere.
There is nothing better than starting your trip in Florence with the most beautiful view of the city from this balcony. If you can, best come for sunrise or sunset! There is a copy of the statue of David over there but the original one is in the Accademia Museum.
Giardino delle rose is a garden park located right below the Piazzale Michelangelo. The views from the hillside of the city are incredible and all the greenery and flowers make it a wonderful spot to disconnect from the city life. There are various places to walk through very old walkways and go through the buildings that have been there for a very long time.
From the garden we walked towards Ponte Vecchio, taking in this beautiful city and enjoying its picturesque streets.
The Ponte Vecchio is a medieval stone closed-spandrel segmental arch bridge over the Arno River and is a must-see bridge while visiting Florence. It's got such great history and it is very cool to see. they have many little jewelry stores, nice cafes overlooking the river, and great leather stores nearby.
The Palazzo Vecchio is the town hall of Florence, Italy. It overlooks the Piazza della Signoria, which holds a copy of Michelangelo's David statue, and the gallery of statues in the adjacent Loggia dei Lanzi.
Piazza della Signoria is a square in front of the Palazzo Vecchio. It was named after the Palazzo della Signoria, also called Palazzo Vecchio. It is the main point of the origin and history of the Florentine Republic and still maintains its reputation as the political focus of the city Statue of Neptune - Made of marble and bronze, the fountain was commissioned in 1565 and designed by Baccio Bandinelli.
Piazza della Repubblica was the site of Florence's forum, a central location, and a place where people met to shop and socialize. In the second half of the nineteenth century, the square was redesigned when Florence became the capital of a reunited Italy.
Florence Cathedral, formally the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, is the cathedral of Florence. It was begun in 1296 in the Gothic style to a design of Arnolfo di Cambio and was structurally completed by 1436, with the dome engineered by Filippo Brunelleschi. Cathedral: Santa Maria del Fiore is the third largest church in the world (after St. Peter's in Rome and St. Paul's in London) and was the largest church in Europe when it was completed in the 15th century.
•Entrance Fee: Free.
•Opening hours: Monday-Saturday from 10:45 am to 5:00 pm.
•The Dome: Brunelleschi's Dome is an absolute masterpiece of art that enchants the world since its creation: it is the symbol of Florence. Entry from Porta della Mandorla (North side of the cathedral).
Visitors are required to climb 463 steps. No lifts are available.
•Entrance Fee: 15 EURO.
Opening hours: Monday-Friday 8:15 am to 7:45 pm. Saturday 8:15 am to 5:30 pm. Sunday and public holidays 12:45 pm to 5:30 pm.
•Giotto's Bell Tower: Giotto's bell tower is one of the four principal monuments on the Piazza del Duomo. It is the most eloquent example of 14th century Gothic architecture in Florence.
Visitors are required to climb 414 steps. No lifts are available.
•Entrance Fee: 15 EURO.
Opening hours: Monday-Sunday 8:15 am to 7:45 pm.
Tip - Don't miss ice cream at Don Nino right near the Basilica.
The Great Synagogue of Florence or Tempio Maggiore is one of the largest synagogues in South-central Europe, situated in Florence. It is not as famous as other attractions in this city, but nevertheless, it is worth a visit! The area is pretty large, with a mix of Synagogue and museums.
•Entrance Fee: 13 EURO.
•Opening hours: Sunday-Thursday 10:30 am to 1 am. and 2 pm to 5 pm.
Tip - Ruth's Kosher Jewish Restaurant is located right around the corner.
From there we headed back to Santa Maria Novela Train Station.