How to Plan Your Magical Day in Florence - a Travel Guide

Welcome to Florence, a renaissance gem in this amazing city. Welcome to Florence, the most beautiful renaissance city. You know what? This really isn't working. Can we start over again? Starting over early in the morning. That is so much better. Florence is an incredible city, but it can get very, very crowded. So if you don't plan your visit right, you might not enjoy it. I'm going to show you how to have a great time here and avoid the crowds as much as possible. We'll learn about the city's renaissance history, check out some of my favorite places, try some local Tuscan cuisine, and even have a moment alone with someone very special. Personally, I love Florence. I spent a lot of time here in my 20s when I was studying, and I'm really excited to show you around today. We begin at the Duomo, the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, the heart of Florence's historic center. It's also free to enter, by the way. So impressive. If you don't mind waiting in line, you can also go up to the top for a great view. The best way to get around the center is to walk. I really recommend you get off the busy streets and explore some of the little side streets. Honestly, you never know what you're going to find. Like, look, we just walked down the street and here is the house of poet Dante Alighieri. I mean, that's incredible, right? Speaking of famous names, you can't come to Florence without learning about the Medici. The Medici family ruled Florence from the 15th to 18th centuries, and they filled the city with their architectural and artistic commissions. The Medici are closely associated with the Italian Renaissance, the cultural and political rebirth after the Middle Ages that was marked by a rediscovery of classical philosophy, architecture, literature, and art. I meet up with tour guide Fulvio De Bonis in Piazza della Signoria, one of the most famous squares in Italy. Welcome to the center of the political Florentine power. You're standing right in the middle. Isn't it amazing? Power center, Renaissance power. I feel it. Fulvio tells me that the banking industry and wool trade made the city wealthy. The wealthiest of the 1400s. That's why this was the place where the Renaissance started. Next, we head to Piazza della Repubblica. The name of Florence, Florencia, is from Flora, the goddess of abundancy, of fertility. You still see the statue of Flora, this beautiful lady, up above the ancient column, the granite column. I ask if there's anything you should not do when in Florence. I wouldn't eat in a fast food. That's what I would do. No McDonald's. You are in the city of the delicious food, incredible pastry. Don't go to fast food. Don't go to fast food, but enjoy yourself. Tip number one, don't go to fast food. And now the city's famous bridge, the Ponte Vecchio. Let's start from the name. Why old bridge? Because it was the only bridge that was not knocked down, destroyed during the Second World War. These days, the bridge is full of jewelry shops, but I learned it was once an area of butchers and tanners, until the Medici, not liking the smell, decreed it should be dedicated to goldsmiths. Thank you so much. You're more than welcome. It's time to talk about museums. So we're here at the Uffizi, one of the most famous art museums in the world, with works by Renaissance masters like Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo. And I'm going to give you a tip. Go to the official Uffizi website, book a ticket for a specific day and a specific time, then you'll be able to skip the ticket line and just go straight to the security line. But now a visit to the Galleria dell'Accademia, home to the Statue of David, carved by Italian Renaissance artist Michelangelo. To accommodate more visitors, the museum recently extended opening hours and spread out its vast collection, director Cecilia Holberg tells me. Thank you so much for having me. The 17-foot-tall David is the collection's highlight. I have to say it's way more impressive in person than I could have imagined. Michelangelo shows this shepherd, this young shepherd, in an incredible way. He's not aggressive, but he is strong. He is naked, showing his innocence. And they put it in front of the Palazzo Vecchio, which is the political center of the town. And showing the independence of the citizens and the city of Florence. This symbol of Florence is one of the most famous sculptures in the world. And now I have a moment alone with him. I think I'm in love. But now it's time to cross the Arno River to check out my favorite part of the city, the Odrarno district. You'll find fewer tourists here. I really like the vibe on this side of town. It's a little bit more alternative. Definitely more laid back. And you can find lots of great restaurants without all of the crazy crowds. I really like the areas around the churches of Santo Spirito and San Frediano. It's also Florence's artisan district. Crafts like leatherworking, silver and goldsmithing have been practiced here for centuries. So it's a good place to look for high-quality souvenirs from Florence. At L'Ipogrifo, Duccio Raffaelli and his parents use a centuries-old etching technique called Acqueforte. I was curious to check it out. Thank you so much for having me here in your atelier. Can you tell me a bit about what you and your family do here? Yes, we do etchings. This is an ancient process that was invented in the 16th century and for 400 years was used for the illustration of books. Today we use it for deco, for art. We start with one engraving on the copper. We put a wax varnish on the top of the plate. We etch and then keep it in acid. After we make the matrix, we can print one by one. We spread the ink all around into the grooves. Then we clean, we remove the ink excess. Then we put a wet paper on the top of the plate. Then the print with the ink, after transferred into the plate, goes into the paper. After it goes from the press machine. So then we wait a couple of days, two or three days, to dry the ink and the paper. And then we can keep it in black and white. Or if you want, we can use colors. We use watercolors. So each one is painted one by one. Wow, it was really peaceful in there. And I definitely could have stayed all evening. But we have to go check out the sunset. Let's go. The most popular place to watch the sunset is Piazzale Michelangelo. But it can get pretty crowded up here. So I'm taking you to my favorite sunset spot just down the road. The Basilica of San Miniato al Monte. And to go with this beautiful sunset, I thought it would be nice to have some classical music here in Florence. So I've invited my friends, Trio Chitaristico Fiorentino. An Italian Baroque composition by Alessandro Marcello. Dinner at Trattoria Enzo e Piero, which specializes in Tuscan cuisine. Joining me are some friends who live in Florence, including fellow Michigan girl, author Casey Rose. So this is where we embrace a more slow travel vibe. Food culture is not to be rushed in Italy, especially not dinner. Dinner is a time for togetherness, being with friends and family, and enjoying each other's company. And in Italy, you have to look each other in the eyes when you raise a glass. Casey, you mentioned something about the bread that we'll find here. So Tuscan bread does not have salt, traditionally. Saltless bread is best enjoyed with meats and cheeses that are already salty, that already have so much flavor that you don't need the added salt in the bread. Italy has such diverse cuisine, so it's really nice to be able to order something from the region. Like pici with wild boar ragu, or ribollita, bread soup, or tortelli filled with potato. But Florence's most famous dish is Bistecca alla Fiorentina, loin steak served rare. The famous Bistecca Fiorentina. Definitely to be shared. Well, we really saw a lot today, although there's so much more that Florence has to offer. I hope you're ready to have a good visit to the city. And honestly, my job here is done. So, arrivederci!