Florance, Italy offers more to see than what can be achieved in a day or even two. The city is credited with having numerous outstanding treasures which gives any visitor a variety of options to chose from. The choice depends on what you may be interested in as well as how much time you can spare to experience what this magnificent city has to offer. You will have much fun if you pay less attention to memorizing each experience and just enjoying each and every experience.
Below are some of the most exciting treasures you can see and experiences you can have when visiting Florence, Italy.
1. Ponte Vecchio
This is one of the key landmarks in Florence. It is one of the most photographed treasure bridge in the entire city. The bridge is built at a very narrow point in the Arno and is known for being the only bridge housing commercial shops and residential places. There is a secret passageway which was built on top of the bride in 1565 for Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici by Vasari known as the Vasari Corridor. The passageway links Pitti Palace to Palazzo Vecchio. The tourist jewelry shops were brought to the bridge by Medici heir – Ferdinando to replace the butchers who were believed to be the source of the bad smell below the corridor.
2. Loggia de’ Lanzi and Piazza della Signoria
The beautiful piazza has an open landscape and is located next to the Palazzo Vecchio. This treasure hosts lots of notable statues such as the Fountain of Neptune and a David replica. Other notable statutes include the statue of Perseus with the head of Medusa created by Benvenuto Cellini and the Rape of the Sabine women made by Giambologna. Besides the statues, there are a number of restaurants and bars when you can step in and have a drink while you admire the serenity.
3. Lunch in San Lorenzo
The market is one of the oldest and market located at the center of Florence, the market is known for the stocking of the freshest products. There are several stalls in the city that serve delicious meals. Some of the outstanding joints include Trippaio located just next to the market, while other lampredotto stalls serve different delicacies. It is also advisable to try the local cuisines while in Florence.
4. Galleria degli Uffizi
This is one of the most famous and oldest museums in the entire western world. The museum holds a number of the most unique masterpieces including paintings such as the Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. Besides these, the museum is also known for the outstanding architectural design. The museum is always fully booked and so you are advised to book in advance due to the high demand more so during the high seasons when waiting times are up to more than five hours.
5. Brunelleschi’s Cupola and Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore
You should plan to climb the Duomo, which houses the cupola by Filippo Brunelleschi. This is one key experience for anybody visiting Florence. Although the stairs to the top are challenging even to a trained climber, you will be able to enjoy the unique view of the entire city.
Florence has quite a number of unique experiences you can have while in Italy and is one of the recommended cities to have on your bucket list.