Five Days in Florence

Season: Winter
Book recommendation: Still Life by Sarah Winman

Five days in Florence barely scratched the surface of this remarkable city.

There’s something to be said that as a nature lover, I fell madly in love with a city that doesn’t actually have that much nature. The city was built by artists, just for the sake of being beautiful.

Here are my recommendations for some of my favourite things I did in the city while I was there.

1.       Book a walking tour

I booked with Guru Guide, which offers “free’ tours, the booking is free, and you pay the guide how much you think they deserve. The tour was about 2.5 hours, and did a really good job of explaining the context and history of a lot of the city through its architecture. An approximate ammount to tip is between $10-20 AUD.

2. Ponte Veccio

Take the time to walk along the Arno river, and past the Ponte Veccio, which, after you have done your walking tour, you will know how imporant this once simple structure is to the history of the city and its transitions from a meat market to the tax-free gold smith haven it is today.

The Ponte Vecchio, over the Arno river.

3. Michael Angelo’s Piazza

You’ll likely get caught up in the crowd heading here for sunset but its not so bad in winter. Walk a little further towards Piazza Giuseppe Poggi, and head stright up the hill from there, you will have a lovely stroll through a lush green parkland and there will be fewer people – in fact it was empty when we walked through.

4. Giadino Bardini

This garden is far quieter than the Boboli Gardens and offers a better view of the city. It was still goreous in winter when everything is dorment, I can only imagine how stunning it is in spring and summer when the flowers are in full bloom.

View of Florence from Bardini Gardens.

5.       The Bell Tower

Book any of the main attractions you want to do in advance because they will sell out, even in winter. This was a gorgeous walk early in the morning, by early I mean 8.30, so really not that bad. Again almost no people were around at this time of day and the lighting was gorgeous for some photos and a view of the city.

6.       The Cathederal and The Dome

Unfortunately the Dome was closed the days I was in Florence for construction. But, I did hike it ten years ago on my last visit and it was well and truly worth it. If you don’t get tickets, then the Bell Tower is fantastic and offers just a good of a view and you get to look over the dome as well.

The Cathedral is stunning from a visual standpoint, but I booked the Duomo Express Guided Tour with Special Skip-the-Line Access with Viator, which was far more enriching to have expert knowledge on the history and cultural importance of the building that has been there since 1296. The Cathedral was rebuilt in 1436, with the original remains sitting below the cathedral, that have been opened up to the public to see the history and transformation as well as some of the old design and Filippo Brunelleschi’s tomb.

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Brunelleschi's Dome and the Bell Tower

7. Museo della Misericordia di Firenze

This was a hidden gem for sure! After the tour of the cathedral our guide suggested we head upstairs here to have a look at all the artworks that had been donated over the years to the paramadics.

The paramedics are still a service to the city since the Cathedral was built and they have been stationed outside the Duomo as guardians to the public and in return artists and art collectors have donated peices to their dedicated service. Now they are all on display, but there is nobody here!

If you can’t get tickets to the Ufittzi this was a wonderful alternative (and free!)

8. The Odeon Theatre

This beautiful old theatre has recently been converted into a multi-use space. It is now a bookstore, cafe and cinema as well as a digital working hub, with free wifi and squishy velvet seats. Nice to sit for a little break and an espresso if your feet are sore from walking on the cobblestones.

Odeon Theatre

9. Wine Windows 

There are number of these dotted around the city and they’re very fun. In the 1600s when the Plauge hit Florence, these little windows were a safe way for shopkeepers to sell wine and food with minimal contact, and came to be known as buchette di vino - wine windows. At the time wine was believed to have medicinal qualities. I personlly still believe it has medicinal qualities.

One of Florence’s Wine Windows

10. The Oldest Apothocary

I thought this might be a bit of a touristy gimmick, but I loved it! This pharamcy was founded in 1221. The space has been so beautifully decorated and displayed and the products are all of the highest quality. There’s even a stunning projected floral display, with a kelidescope of colours dancing around the empty room as you walk through.
I still have my Idralia face moisturiser which I love!

Florence’s oldest pharmacy