The suggested itinerary is based on the trip I took in 2018, in the middle of winter and right on the January 1st holiday. As it was New Years, on the first day in the city many places were closed. I wasn’t so lucky with the weather either, I had a very rainy day as you can see in some of the photos.
And before talking about the tours, see this summary of the itinerary.
Day 1:
- Piazza della Repubblica (Republic Square)
- New Market
- Piazza de La Signoria (Square of the Lordship)
- Uffizi Gallery (Gallery of the Offices)
- Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge)
- Palazzo Pitti and Bobolli Gardens (extra: only if you have time)
Day 1
Piazza della Republica
Start the day in the most famous and bustling square in Florence , the Republic Square, which is located in the heart of the city, close to several other attractions such as the Duomo.
Praça da República is a unique charm, rich in history, where the old Roman Forum operated in the past , that is, it has already been the scene of several historical events.
It is in Republic Square where one of the oldest cafes in Florence is located, the famous Caffè Gilli , a historic bar that has been open since 1733 , it also has Caffe Paszkows .
In addition to the pleasant climate, Praça da República has a Carousel that is even more charming at night and a beautiful Triumphal Arch . So write down the tip, there’s a place to visit both during the day and at night, because it looks beautiful with the lighting of the lights.
Mercado Novo or Porcellino
Leaving Praça da República, if you are interested in this type of tour, very close by is a very popular market that has been in operation since the 16th century . The market is known as Mercado Nuevo or Mercado do Porcellino , as its main attraction is a bronze statue with the figure of a little pig, which is actually a wild boar.
The Fontana del Porcellino, this unusual tourist attraction attracts the most superstitious. For legend has it that if you rub your hand on the boar’s nose you will return to Florence. I think it worked for me, because I already have plans to go back hehe.
You will also see people rubbing coins on the boar’s snout. The difference is that later the coin is placed in the animal’s mouth and, if it falls into the drain, your wish will be fulfilled. In short, Florence’s lucky piggy bank. It costs nothing to give a mop, right?
Piazza de la Signoria
And just a short walk will bring you to Florence’s most important square , Piazza de la Signoria, which has been the seat of the city’s political power for centuries. Therefore, a true open-air museum that has historic buildings, various statues and attractions such as:
Old Palace:
The Palazzo Vecchio is home to the City Hall , a building with the highest tower in Florence (Torre di Arnolfo), built in 1322.
In addition to functioning as a museum in some rooms, the Vecchio Palace has two statues at the entrance , one is the famous statue of Michelangelo , which is just a replica. The original is in the Accademia Gallery .
Neptune’s Fountain:
It is a huge fountain, rich in detail and history, but at the time of my visit it was under renovation 🙁
The fountain that attracts the eyes of tourists was built by Bartolomeo Ammannati around 1560 and 1565, and its highlight is the statue of Neptune, which represents the maritime domain of Florence.
Loggi dei Lanzi:
And opposite the Vecchio Palace is an open building that functions as a kind of open-air museum. The area is made up of more than 20 sculptures, among which the one that most impressed me was that of Perseus holding the head of Medusa, a work by Benvenuto Cellini .
And before heading to the next attraction, which is just behind the Loggi dei Lanzi, be sure to pay attention to the Vasarian Corridor , which was created as a kind of secret route. The corridor, which works like a closed bridge, connects the Palaccio Vecchio with the Uffizi Gallery and ends at the Pitti Palace.
Uffizi Gallery
Close to the Vecchio Palace is one of the most important museums in the world , the Uffizi Gallery.
The museum, which is the oldest in Italy , is gigantic. It is made up of more than 50 rooms, which house the main Renaissance works . Of the works you will see, just a pinch of the main artists: there will be Leonardo da Vinci , Michelangleo , Botticelli , Tiziano and much more.
If you are interested, remember that the Uffizi Gallery is one of the most popular attractions in Florence. Therefore, depending on the time of travel, you may run the risk of not finding tickets on the day.
All in all, the Uffizi Gallery was one of the most impressive museums I’ve ever visited. I classify it as one of those unmissable tours even for those who don’t like art and don’t understand much about the subject.
Ponte Vecchio
And leaving the Uffizi Gallery, which faces the Arno River, turn right towards one of the postcards of Florence, the beautiful Ponte Vecchio, which connects the city from north to south.
Called the Old Bridge, it is the oldest stone bridge in Europe . But what we see today is its last version, which was built there in the 14th century. Before that date, the bridge already existed, but it had a different appearance since it had undergone some reconstructions.
To give you an idea of its historical importance, during World War II, all the bridges in Florence were destroyed by the Nazis. But guess what, only the Ponte Vecchio remained standing. The concrete reason is not known, perhaps Hitler had a certain affection for her.
Nowadays, Ponte Vecchio is occupied by small shops on both sides , most of which are jewelry stores. In the past it was the butchers who occupied the space. But due to complaints of bad smells and garbage that was left after working hours, Duke Fernando I prohibited the sale of meat.
For a complete experience, be sure to cross the Ponte Vecchio and notice its details, especially the small windows at the top of the bridge, where the Vasariano Corridor is located.
After a long day filled with attractions, you will probably be tired at this point and everything will depend on your willingness to go to the next tour.
Palazzo Pitti and Bobolli Gardens
Crossing the Ponte Vecchio, if you continue along the same street, in a few steps you will arrive in front of the Pitti Palace, which is located in the charming Oltrarno district.
The Pitti Palace began to be built in the middle of 1440 to be the home sweet home of the very rich Luca Pitti . At the time, the residence was considered one of the most beautiful in Florence. After all, that was Luca’s intention, to challenge the Medici family, as both families were rivals. And ironically, years later, guess who bought it?
The naughty Medici were so influential that they bought the palace to be the official residence of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany. Then the huge construction began to undergo major transformations. It was expanded and gained new environments, until it became the largest palace in the city. Just to illustrate, even won a secret passage.
Remember the Vasarian Corridor I mentioned earlier? So, continuing the story, the elevated corridor was built as a way for the family to have more privacy to move safely from their residence to the Palazzo Vecchio. Smarties huh?
Nowadays, the Pitti Palace houses several museums such as the Palatine Gallery , the Porcelain Museum , the Costume Museum , the Modern Art Gallery and the Silver Museum . It also has the Boboli Gardens , which is the largest green area in Florence and one of the most visited parks.