Brett & Janna
Things To Do
Piazza del Duomo, Santa Maria del Fiore
Designed at the end of the 13th century, the Cathedral's trademark dome is now the symbol of Florence. Its a must-see for all visitors of Florence. Therefore its super popular amongst tourists which creates huge lines. The link above lets you book the cathedral tickets in advance. For those who have any anxiety issues, claustrophobia or scared of heights we would not recommend climbing the Dome. For everyone else its an awesome experience - make sure you plan it in your schedule!
Florence Walking Tour
Florence Free Tour is the original walking tour of Florence. It does not require booking in advance, you can just show up on a convenient day for you. Very cool experience that gives you a bigger picture of the city and its outstanding history. It is expected to give tips at the end of the tour.
Uffizi Gallery
The sheer number of art objects in Florence is overwhelming. There are about 250 000 art objects in public museums alone. Out of thirty most famous works of art in the world, at least one third are conserved in Florence There is nothing like that anywhere else in Europe. Visiting museums in Florence is a big must. One of the greatest museums of the world, the Uffizi houses the premier collection of Italian Renaissance art, featuring works by such masters as Michelangelo, da Vinci, Botticelli and Titian. The best way to plan your visit is by purchasing the Ufizzi Gallery ticket online and at least a week in advance. Follow to link to learn more.
Pitti Palace
While the Uffizi and Accademia Gallery are first to draw Florence’s main art-loving crowds, the Pitti Palace’s Palatine Gallery houses another must-see collection. Enjoy the largely 17th-century artworks by greats including Titian, Raphael, Botticelli and others. We definitely recommend to do these art tours with a guide because it is pretty overwhelming in terms of the size of the galleries and the number of art objects. Follow the link to learn more about the types of tickets you can get to all the galleries at the Palazzo Pitti.
The Boboli Gardens
Situated right behind the Pitti Palace the Boboli Gardens are one of Florence's largest and most beautiful ones. Great place to soak in some sunshine after exploring the galleries in the Palazzo Pitti. The visit of the gardens is part of the ticket to the Palazzo Pitti museum but can also be visited separately for 10€ at the ticket office situated to the right of the main entrance to the Palace. The ticket for gardens includes the visit of Porcelain museum with its elegant collection of ceramics, pottery and tableware collected over the years by the families of Lorraine and Savoy. The highest point from which to enjoy a wonderful view is to the "Limonaia dei Lorena", here you can have an overview of the whole city. At sunset it is really impressive!
Piazzale Michelangelo
This 19th century piazza has undoubtedly the best panoramic view of Florence. The square is decorated with copies of Michelangelo's sculptures, but it's the view people come here to see. Bring a nice bottle of Chianti with you and enjoy the sunset overlooking the city of Florence. Does not get more romantic than that. The walk to the top of the Piazzale may be too strenuous. You might want to take a taxi. It gets pretty crowded closer to the evening so you might want to come a bit in advance to get your seat on the stairs.
All'Antico Vinaio
This place looks like a hole in the wall but the paninis are to die for! The line outside the place proves that. Don't get too intimidated by the line - it goes pretty fast and these huge sandwiches are definitely worth it!
Mangiafoco Osteria Tartuferia
We stumbled across this little Osteria during one of our visits and it was such an amazing win! Very cozy casual place, great Tuscan food and of course wine!
Mac Dario
Place for big meat lovers! Dario Cecchini, the legendary Italian butcher has literally made Panzano in Chianti a tourist attraction in its own right. In the past years, he has opened three restaurants next to his butcher shop. These are the Officina della Bistecca, Solociccia and Dario Doc. The first is for people with a ‘big appetite’ and aims to answer the difficult question of the perfect way to cook the Bistecca alla Fiorentina. Solociccia on the other hand is the butcher’s kitchen and it is here that Cecchini showcases the nose to tail philosophy. At Dario Doc, he takes his aim at fast food chains and shows how you can serve good food at reasonable prices. His first dish is the famous ‘Mac Dario’ which plays with the concept of high quality yet fast food.
Siena
One of the must-visit Tuscan cities is definitely Siena, which is famous for its medieval–era architecture and has UNESCO World Heritage status. Make sure you visit the Siena Cathedral, which features a distinctive, black-and-white façade and even more opulent interior.
Montepulciano
Standing high atop a hill in southern Tuscany not far from Siena (70 km = 43 mi), Montepulciano is a medieval town of rare beauty. The city, full of elegant Renaissance palaces, ancient churches, charming squares and hidden corners, boasts vast panoramas all over the wonderful Val d'Orcia and Val di Chiana valleys that surround it. Montepulciano is a major producer of food and drink. Renowned for its pork, cheese, "pici" pasta, lentils, and honey, it is known worldwide for its wine. We highly recommend to stay at least one night and experience wine tasting, dinner overlooking the Tuscan hills and roam the narrow medieval streets of this stunning city.
Montalcino
Montalcino is a hill town and comune in Tuscany, Italy. It is famous for its Brunello di Montalcino wine. The town is located in 42 kilometres (26 mi) from Siena. If you are driving through Tuscany its worth at least a short visit to walk around this cute city and pop by some wine stores for a tasting and purchase of Brunello to take home. :P