Florence Guide Italy

A special day

A special day

• Morning
  To really throw yourself into the educated and artistic atmosphere of Florence, there is nothing better than having breakfast at the Historical Literary Coffee Shop "Giubbe Rosse" in Piazza Repubblica n° 13. It was opened at the end of the 19th century by two German brothers and in the first decade of the twentieth century it became the meeting place for artist and literary experts of the time. Its tables have seen lively discussions between Marinetti and Papini, Prezzolini and Campana, Gadda and Boccioni, Montale and Quasimodo, and the projects for some historical futuristic magazines such as "La Voce" were planned here. The Coffee shop still organizes some cultural events for the intellectuals of Florence today.
  Go on foot from Piazza Repubblica to the nearby Piazza del Duomo that is in the medieval area of Florence, where Dante Alighieri was born. Don’t miss out on a visit to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, or the Duomo of Florence, where it is possible to see the Dome by Brunelleschi, the Bell tower by Giotto and the Baptistery. Near the Duomo, there is Orsanmichele, the Gothic church whose walls are covered with the sculptures that represent the activities of the citizens’ “corporations”. If you still have enough time, you can take a taxi or bus and visit the Bargello, the home of the National Museum that houses a collection of Renaissance sculptures including the ones by Cellini.
  Choose one of the restaurants in Florence, the one nearest to your next stop on this itinerary and get ready to taste some Tuscan delicacies, but try not to eat too much, as your afternoon will be spent visiting the city. We recommend some typical tasty dishes that are not so hard to digest: panzanella, zuppa di farro, fagioli all'uccelletto and ricotta alla toscana, served with olive oil. Pepper and honey.
  
• Afternoon
  Make your way to the amazing Piazza della Signoria, the center of Florentine political life since the 14th century. Some of the open-air works on display are Fountain of Neptune, the copy of Michelangelo’s David, the Ratto delle Sabine and Perseo by Cellini.
  A trip to Florence has to include a visit, even if just a quick one to the Galleria degli Uffizi where we advise you to stop and see a few important paintings: il Duca e la Duchessa di Urbino by Piero della Francesca, la Venere di Urbino by Tiziano, la Madonna d'Ognissanti by Giotto and the Nascita di Venere and la Primavera by Botticelli. There is still time for a romantic walk on the Ponte Vecchio.
  
• Evening
  Choose one of the restaurants in Florence shown in our guide and allow yourself to try all those things that you had to pass up on at lunchtime: why not start off with an antipasto of mixed salami and crostini and then go on to a first course such as ribollita or le pappardelle al sugo di lepre. As a second course, don’t miss out on the famous Fiorentina steak while for dessert, why not go for a slice of panforte and some ricciarelli. All washed down with a Chianti DOC, or, for the more sophisticated, a Brunello di Montalcino.
  Staying in accommodation in Florence for at least one night is necessary so relax and enjoy your romantic evening in Florence. You will have plenty of time to rest after this hectic day in one of the many hotels in Florence and you can set off on your journey again tomorrow.
  

Go to directories of the Web Sites

• Art & Culture in Florence
• Eating & Drinking in Florence
• Entertainments in Florence
• Hotels & Lodgings in Florence
• Transportation in Florence