How to spend one day in Florence Italy
During a trip to Rome, we took a train to spend one day in Florence in the Tuscany region of Italy.
Florence is home to an extensive collection of masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture, and is the burial place of some of Italy’s most illustrious Italians.
You can easily see most of the main sights on a day trip to Florence. The train ride from Rome to Florence is just under two hours, and the views getting there is amazing.
On the blog I will share how to spend one day in Florence Italy and the top must see sites. We stroll through the magnificent streets of Florence, and visit some of it’s most historic sites, including a visit to some of the most beautiful churches in the country.
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How to get to Florence Italy
Florence is an easy train ride from anywhere in Italy. We took a train from Rome into Firenze Santa Maria Novella railway station in Florence, and purchased our tickets online with Trenitalia.
To avoid the long lines at the train station, make sure to purchase your tickets online and don’t forget to validate the ticket before entering the train.
Top things to do in Florence Italy
Visit the Florence Cathedral
One thing you can be sure of when visiting Italy, is it’s abundance of beautiful and historic churches. Florence happens to have some of the most beautiful, and interesting churches we’ve visited.
One in particular is the Cathedral de Santa Maria del Fiore, which is the the main church of Florence and one of the largest in Italy.
The dome, which can be seen from far away, was added in the 15th century designed by Brunelleschi. Located in the Piazza del Duomo, it includes the Baptistery and Giotto’s Campanile, and is one of the most breathtaking churches we’ve seen!
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Florence’s major tourist attraction, a visit to the Cathedral is a must.
Entrance to the church is free, but lines can get quite long. Go early if you want to visit the church without the crowds. You can also climb to the top of the Duomo and get the most amazing views of the city.
There are 463 steps to get up (no elevators), just make sure to reserve tickets online as tickets sell out quickly for the day.
Visit Santa Croce
Another one of Florence main attractions is the Basilica di Santa Croce. This minor basilica in Florence is the largest Franciscan church in the world.
Built in the 13th century, legend says that Santa Croce was founded by St Francis himself.
Just a short walk away from the Duomo, it is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce and is definitely a must see when visiting Florence.
Santa Croce is also known as the temple of Italian glories. The church is the burial place of some of Italy’s most famous artist and philosophers, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, the poet Foscolo, the philosopher Gentile and the composer Rossini.
It was one of the most amazing Churches we’ve visited, and was such an honor to visit Michaelangelos tomb. A definite must see in Florence!
Explore Florence Italy: The Ponte Vecchio
Another one of Florence points of interest is the Ponte Vecchio. The Ponte Vecchio is a medieval arch bridge over the Arno River, in Florence, Italy.
It connects the Palazzo Vecchio with the Palazzo Pitti, and is known for its shops lining the bridge. Butchers initially occupied the shops, but today the present tenants are jewelers, art dealers and souvenir shops.
Walking though the bridge was pretty amazing, if your into jewelry and gold, then this is the place to shop for it. You also get amazing views of the Arno river and The city from here.
Visit the Palazzo Vecchio
The Palazzo Vecchio is the town hall of Florence, and the seat of the city government. Located on the Piazza della Signoria, it was built on top of the ancient theater of the Roman colony of Florentia (dating back to the first century A.D.), whose ruins can be admired in the underground level.
Standing tall over the piazza, you can’t help but feel like your looking at some medieval fortress instead of a town hall. There is a museum located inside, but since we were short on time, we decided to skip this one.
People watch at the Piazza della Republica
One of the best things to do in Florence with kids is simply relaxing at the Piazza della Repubblica. The Piazza is a city square in Florence on the site of the city’s forum.
The piazza is a theatre of street artists and exhibitions. It was amazing to just watch the artists create their masterpieces on the street floors. You will also find a fun carousel here for the kids which they will absolutely love.
Make sure so eat as much gelato while your here, it was the best way to cool down from the summer heat. A day spent at the Piazza della Republica is the best way to relax after sightseeing Florence with kids.
Explore Florence Italy: See the statue of David
One of the must see while in Florence, is the famed Statue of David at the Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze.
This art museum in Florence is best known as the home of Michelangelo’s sculpture David, and other sculptures by him.
It is also home to a large collection of paintings by Florentine artists, mostly from the period 1300-1600.
When in Florence you can’t miss a visit to to this museum and the statue of David. Just make sure to purchase tickets online to avoid the long queues.
Go shopping in Florence Italy
Make sure to purchase some leather goods when in Florence. The Florentine tradition of working leather dates back into antiquity, and has become an important source of high quality leather.
If your into high end luxury goods, then visit the Gucci Museo, and witness 90 years of Gucci’s history. It is located within the Palazzo della Mercanzia, overlooking the Piazza della Signoria.
Go in search of Pinnochio in Florence
Stroll through the city and you will come across Pinocchio souvenirs and statues everywhere. A popular children’s story and cultural icon, Pinocchio was written in 1883 by an Italian writer, Carlo Collodi.
This famous children’s tale was mostly inspired by his life growing up in Tuscany, and has since been called “Florence’s son”. It is such a cultural icon in the city, that you will find pinnochio statues everywhere, including this giant statue.
Where to stay in Florence
During our visit to Florence, we stayed right in the city center. Hotel delle Telle was the perfect accommodation just a short walk away from the train station and to all the main sights in the city.
We stayed in Florence for one day and felt it was the perfect amount of time to see most of the cities main sites.
Book your hotel in Florence here:
Booking.comSome fun day trips from Florence:
Read this post by Family Can Travel on the best way to spend the day in Lucca with kids.
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