Things to do in Florence

The huge multicoloured facade of the Florence Cathedral rises majestically through Florence’s skyline. Officially known as Santa Maria dei Fiori (Saint Mary of the Flowers), the Duomo was designed by the great architect Arnolfo di Cambio (1245-1302). The new cathedral was intended to surpass all of the great buildings of antiquity in both size and splendour. The cupola for one is incredible. It’s huge and is one the biggest depictions of the Last Judgement. You can take a tour of its insides. It can be seen as a little bare compared to the exterior. It’s worth a look though, to understand the simple beauty of the city’s art. It’s one of the most rewarding things to do in Florence. 

Attracting well over two million visitors a year, the Uffizi Galleries is the finest picture gallery in Italy. It’s trove of art treasures. There are multiple rooms to peruse where you’ll pass prints and drawings and classical sculptures. Follow the fine brushstrokes of pieces like Michelangelo’s Doni Tondo and explore the detail of Botticelli’s Birth of Venus. Home to the world’s greatest collection of Italian Renaissance paintings, this is one of the best things to do in Florence.  

What to do in Florence if you like wine? Our suggestion is to head to Chianti, the country’s most famous vineyards. This is the picturesque territory of vineyards and hill-towns that stretch between Florence and Siena. Life in Chianti seems in perfect balance: the landscape is a softly varied terrain of hills and valleys. The climate for most of the year is sunny. Full of sweet charm, Chianti is bursting with character. There are plenty of wine bars for you to choose from to enjoy a glass of wine.

One of the best things to do in Florence is to simply eat! Tuscan cooking is all about simple dishes and using fresh, quality, local ingredients. Olive oil, as suspected, is the essential flavouring. It’s used as a dressing for salads and a medium for frying. It’s also used for drizzling over bread or vegetables and into soups and stews just before serving. Soups are very popular - Tuscan menus almost always include either ribollita, a hearty stew of vegetables, beans and chunks of bread. You could also opt for zuppa di farro, a thick soup with spelt (a barley-like grain). Pappa col pomodoro (bread and tomato soup) is another staple. White cannellini beans (fagioli) are another favourite, turning up in salads, with pasta (tuoni e lampo), with sausages in a stew (fagioli all’uccelletto) or just dressed with olive oil. Whatever you choose to eat, you’ll certainly be yearning for more. Buon appetito! 

For incredible views in Florence, Piazzale Michelangelo is the place to be. The square was laid out in the 19th century and is dotted with reproductions of Michelangelo’s sculptures. You’ll also spot numerous tour buses and souvenir stalls here. The views are marvellous. You’ll recognise the backdrop. This is where all those classic postcard pictures of the rooftops of Florence are taken. You’ll find terrocatos buildings aplenty from here.

One of the best things to do in Florence is to stroll over the city’s oldest bridge, the Ponte Vecchio, and to look out at the twinkling view of the Arno River. This is the only bridge that was spared destruction during World War II. Its banks were bombed, but the bridge remained intact. The present bridge dates to 1345. The area is lined with jewellers’ and goldsmiths’ workshops that overhang the river. It’s a great place to shop for a souvenir.  

One of the most unique things to do in Florence is to visit the Accademia Gallery Museum. The gallery’s main attraction is its seven sculptures by Michelangelo. The centrepiece is the 4.5m David, perhaps the most famous sculpture in the Western world. Brought here from the Piazza della Signoria in 1873, it is displayed in a purpose-built domed room. It can get crowded around here, but once you can see the whole sculpture, you’ll instantly understand why this is such a standout piece.

After you’ve perused the galleries, take a relaxing stroll in the delightful Boboli Gardens. An Italian pleasure-garden of arbouses and cypress-lined avenues dotted with graceful statues. Spot the lodges, grottoes and trickling fountains. In 2013, the garden was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.