Approximately 10 seconds after arriving in Florence I knew this was going to become one of my favorite cities in the world. There’s simply no denying how special it is – from its influential art, historical landmarks, rich culture, and pure beauty, Florence is utterly unforgettable. Here are 8 awesome things that you shouldn’t miss on your trip to this incredible city!
1. Visit the Cathedral
The most stunning cathedral I’ve seen thus far in my life, Florence’s Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore is breathtaking. I walked around the massive structure a good 3 times just to get a grip on its beauty. The entire cathedral is covered in elaborate, multicolored tiles that make it simply exquisite. I can’t even find the correct adjective to use to describe the Cathedral, I don’t think words can even begin to convey its beauty. Go and see for yourself to see what I mean!
2. Take a Stoll along Ponte Vecchio
Ponte Vecchio is a medieval, picturesque stone bridge perched above the Arno River that flows through Florence. Among this pretty bridge, you will find jewelers and artists selling their handmade goods, plus tons of tourists enjoying the incredible views. It’s a fantastic place to grab a gelato and take a walk or sit and people watch!
3. Witness Michelangelo’s David
The Galleria dell’Academia Museum is home to an insane number of masterpieces, including Michelangelo’s famous David statue, aka perfection of the human body. After a €15 entrance fee, wander through the halls and be amazed at the sheer accomplishment of these artists. I don’t even normally like museums, but this one blew me away.
4. Want More Museums? Visit the Uffizi Gallery
Fact: The Uffizi Gallery is home to the greatest number of works of art from the Renaissance era than any other museum in the whole world. I skipped out on this one due to time constraints, but when (not if) I come back to Florence, it’s top of my list.
5. Gawk at Europe’s Most Gorgeous Skyline
After a long, uphill stroll to Piazzale Michelango, you will be rewarded with the most marvelous views of the city, and arguably in all of Europe. I have yet to see a skyline marvel that of Florence’s at Piazzale Michelango! From here you can see the duomo and other prominent landmarks, all while sipping a glass of wine at one of the several cute little cafes on site.
6. Wine and Dine
Because, duh. Florence is the capital of the Tuscany region of Italy and Tuscany is basically the food and wine capital of the world. No where else can you have such wide access to world-class Italian food at your fingertips and heavenly wine to pair it with. Take full advantage and totally stuff your face like I did! And don’t forget the gelato after ;)!
7. Visit Piazza della Signoria
This is an awesome, open-air, free “museum” that I stumbled upon during my time in Florence only to find out later that it’s a massively popular tourist attraction. Here you will find dozens of impressive statues all out in the open for the public to enjoy. What else did you expect from the cradle of the Renaissance?
8. Get Blissfully Lost Among Florence’s Backstreets
Veer off from any of Florence’s piazzas and you will encounter colorful, narrow cobble-stoned streets that will charm your socks off. Here, the real character of Florence comes out, where you’ll see locally-owned restaurants where no one speaks English, old Italian men on their morning walks through the streets, and stunning views all around. Getting lost like this, away from the very central parts of the city, often remain my favorite memories from each trip because it shows you the genuine character of any given city.
Florence is full of about 9890834 more cool things to do, but here’s my short list of 8 that you can’t miss on any first trip here! What would you add to my list?
