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| Beautiful Florence from Palazzo Vecchio |
After a quick and early breakfast buffet at the hotel, we then set out to see more of Firenze.
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| Breakfast Buffet at Hotel Balcony |
PALAZZO VECCHIO
Being the City Hall since Medieval times, the Palazzo Vecchio is known for spectacular views of the town from the tower, as well as the magnificent Hall of the Five Hundred.
What to see/do:
- The Hall of the 500 has become more famous after it has been featured in Dan Brown's Inferno. It is the largest and most important room of the building. The beautifully coffered ceilings are 18 meters high and are adorned with beautiful frescoes. The walls feature paintings of battle scenes, and the room also feature statues and tapestries - all of which exalts and glorify the Medici family. The room was the largest in Italy made for a civil power palace. However, originally, it was built for and commissioned by Savonarola in 1494 when he was able to briefly overthrow the Medici family. He established a democratic government and created the "Great Council" or the "Council of Five Hundred" modelled after the Council of Venice. The Great Council holds their meeting in the hall, hence, the name.
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| Hall of 500 |
- The famous Dante Death Mask: also made more famous by Dan Brown's Inferno, the mask can be found in a small audit (hallway) between the apartments of Eleanor and the Halls of Priors. The mask was carved directly from the face of the lifeless Dante Alighieri, the Florentine poet and father of Italian language.
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| Dante Death Mask |
- The palace has various secret routes which include the Studiolo of Francesco I.
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| Studiolo |
- The Map Room which features old maps of the world painted on leather and the 6ft-tall sphere Mappa Mundi, which is the largest rotating globe of its era.
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| Mappa Mundi |
- Climb up ~416 steps and marvel at the beauty of Florence a full 360 degrees.
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| Stairs to the top Tower and Embattlements |
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| One of the views from the top |
Recommended length of stay: >1 hour
UFFIZI GALLERY/PIAZZALE degli UFFIZI
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| Piazzale degli Uffizi |
Uffizi Gallery served as judiciary offices for the magistrates, the seats of Florentine Guilds, hence the name Uffizi (Italian for offices). It is now one of the most frequented museums in the world housing a grandiose collection of art works by the Medici family. It is a must stop for serious art lovers. But expect long queues and waiting times.
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| Entrance to Piazzale degli Uffizi |
Recommended length of stay: >1 hour
PALAZZO PITTI AND BOBOLI GARDENS
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| Facade of Palazzo Pitti |
Originally built for the Pitti family, this palace was sold to the Medicis and became the primary residence of the grand ducal family. Behind the palace lie the famous Boboli Gardens.
The compound now houses the Palatine Gallery, the Silver Museum and the Gallery of Modern Art inside the palace, and the Porcelain Museum and Costume Gallery on separate buildings outside.
Recommended length of stay: ~2 hours
VINTAGE & THRIFT SHOPS
Explore the different dwindling and tiny streets of Florence to find hidden gems tucked inside shops, such as the Pitti Vintage and Ceri Vintage near Palazzo Pitti, Elio Ferraro, and my personal favourite, Boutique Nadine near Ponte Vecchio.
Vintage shopping can be fun and exciting, and can be jaw-dropping in terms of prices. Vintage pieces are 35 years or older, while thrift shops may feature clothing or accessories with missing bits & pieces. But each shop has their own characteristics, and more often than not, the owners hand pick the pieces to fit such personality, making this a fun and kind of a 'discovery' experience.
There are 16 'unusual' places to visit in Florence, which include Boutique Nadine. Read more about them at Unusual Florence.
I due FRATELLINI
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| I due Fratellini sandwiches |
On the go but hungry? Grab great tasting classic sandwiches served with a glass (or two) of good wine from the oldest sandwich stall in Florence, I due Fratellini. The fresh ingredients put in the sandwich are classic, ranging from mozzarella, ham, artichokes, grilled eggplant, truffle cream and many more. A single sandwich is sure to fill your tummy.
GROM GELATO
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| Grom gelato |
Grom almost always has a long queue outside because of its premium quality gelato - which are 100% natural and made without any added flavouring, colouring, preservatives or chemical additives of any kind. The serving is generous and there is a wide variety of flavours that is sure to satisfy your gelato fix for an affordable price. This is a must try for gelato and or food lovers!
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| Typical Florentine street |
We then headed to grab our stuff from the hotel, had a quick prayer stop at Basilica di Santa Maria Novella, and went to the train station to catch our train back to Rome and head back to the airport.
I think that Florence is a very walkable city, and it's a beautiful place to have a laid back itinerary, especially if you have a couple more days to spend. If we had more time, we would have went to see the real statue of David in Galleria dell'Accademia, explored the Santa Croce and Palazzi Pitti/Boboli Gardens.
Expenses:
- Fratellini Lunch: 4 euros
- Palazzo Vecchio ticket: 12 euros
- Scarf: 10 euros
- Grom gelato: 2.60 euros
Total: 28.60 euros
Warning: If you're taking the Trenitalia airport express train from Roma Termini, be sure to validate your tickets in one of the very much concealed machines along the platform before boarding the train. Otherwise, you will be charged on board by the ticket inspector.
