It’s great to be in Florence for a day! did you know that you can reach the center of Rome within 1.5 hours by train from Florence? Florence is the capital of the famous region of Tuscany, it is called the Renaissance city of Italy. This is because you will find about buildings and art from this period.
A word of warning though: in the summer months it is insanely busy in Florence. Large groups of tourists swarm through the center and over Ponte Veccio where you can only shuffle. Prices also go up during this period, so pay attention to where you settle. But don’t let this stop you from visiting Florence, it is a super nice city!
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
This is one of the largest cathedrals in Europe. It is a beautiful building, with the magnificent dome as the showpiece. Both the outside and the inside are special, inside it is decorated with beautiful paintings.
Unfortunately there is always a long line to get in, you have to be patient for this. The cathedral itself is free, you only need a ticket for the museum and crypt. If you want to climb the dome, you must book a time slot in advance. But when you go to the adjacent Campanile and climb it you have a much nicer view, you see the stand including the cathedral!
The Campanile
As I have already described above, you can climb the Campanile which is right next to the cathedral. Also here the line can be very long! The Campanile is 85 meters high and you have a view over Florence from three floors.
Ponte Vecchio
One of the most beautiful highlights of Florence is the Ponte Vecchio. The old bridge is full of small jewelry shops, this stems from an old tradition. Noblemen have been sitting here in small cubicles on the bridge since the 16th century.
You have a special corridor that runs higher than the ordinary bridge, this one built by the wealthy De Medici family, they did not want to walk among the common people of Florence.
Forte di Belvedere
It is quite a climb, but the view certainly makes up for it! From the Forte di Belverde you have a beautiful view over Florence. Don’t expect too much from the fortress itself, it’s all about the view here. And frankly also for the peace and quiet, because it is a lot quieter than the busy streets in the city center!