We have one day in Florence, on a Saturday. We will be coming by car from San Gimignano, so I planned to follow Steve's advice and park on the south shore of the Arno river at Parcheggio Sansovino and bus in to the city. We want to do the following : Steve's Renaissance walk, visit the Uffizi and the Accademia, have lunch in the Mercato Centrale, 2nd floor, see the Duomo during the walk and shop a bit. If there is time ( I doubt it but...) we'd like to see the Barghello and possibly the Boboli gardens.
My Questions: 1) how realistic is my plan?
2) In which order should we proceed? The Renaissance walk goes from North to South...so I thought of going straight to the Academia, do the walk , stop for lunch in the middle of the day and finish at the Uffizi.
Thanks in advance.
Evelyne
Posted by
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
4044 posts
Florence is extremely popular -- I mean crowded -- in the summer. Your time plan ignores the other tourists standing in line-ups ahead of you. Sorry.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11179 posts
In your situation I would make a list, in order of importance, of what you want to see and start at the top and work your way through it. That way when you are compelled to leave you will have done the 'most important' items and not regret the order you did things.
Posted by
lexington, il
4105 posts
This new parking facility just opened recently.
https://www.parcheggiovillacostanza.it/en/
You can then take the tram into Florence, avoiding the possible ZTLs.
Posted by
879 posts
I think it’s very doable. Since you’re driving you’re not beholden to any transportation schedules, but earlier start the better. Reserve your tickets/entrance times for Uffizi and Accademia ASAP and plan around them. The Accedemia does not take much time to see, skip the other art inside if you’re seeing Uffizi. So, I’d probably try to do Accademia later in the day.
Other than that, the walk is whatever you want to make it. There’s some great, quick stops in there as well. Orsanmichelle and Medici Chapel come to mind. Bargello was more than we bargained for, I thought it would be smaller. You might want to save that for next time.
The 2nd floor of Mercato Centrale grabs the headlines, but there’s good authentic eateries downstairs as well. Grab a porchetta sandwich for me!
Posted by
72 posts
we did the Academia and loved it but I didnt know about that Market what a pity, next time.
Posted by
OP
Ottawa, Canada
44 posts
Thanks everybody for your input.
The advice about the new parking is great and the order to do things in is also great, thanks.
Conclusion: We will arrive at the Santa Maria train station, walk over to the Uffizi early morning. See the Ponte Vecchio Then, do the Renaissance walk in reverse, see the Duomo, have lunch at the Mercato centrale ( Porchetta sandwich and vino), and work our way to the Accademia for the end of the day. Jump on the tram to go back to the parked car. Big day, but I know we can do it.
Thanks again!
Evelyne
Posted by
Albany
161 posts
The Academia is a priority here, either early or late (get tickets ahead of time.) But also a priority should be strolling on the streets on the other side of the Arno, where the Boboli Gardens are. There are paper making stores (a traditional art), and the most wonderful restaurants, such as:
Trattoria Mamma Gina, Borgo San Jacopo 37R
Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco (white boar), Borgo San Iacopo 43R
Posted by
OP
Ottawa, Canada
44 posts
Thanks Laurel for the tips!!
Posted by
Ohio
1481 posts
Your amended plan looks good to me. However, knowing what I know now, I would stop in to the Bargello for 30 minutes. You won't be able to see everything, but that is enough time to see Donatello's David and the baptistery door pieces.
We can't completely predict how we will react to art, and I fell in love with The David, but my current favorite piece of art is Donatello's David.
Enjoy your trip, it will be fabulous whatever you see.