We have an extra day after two days in Florence and would like to spend it Oltrarno. Looking for a slow day of eating, shopping in artisans shops, gardens, churches, maybe Pitti Palace and views. The only reservations for the day are for dinner at Ristorante la Reggia degli Etruschi in Feisole at 8pm.
Does anyone have any recommendations for the day or itinerary maps to follow?
Thank you.
I suggest taking the bus up to Piazzale Michelangelo for some nice views of the city and the Arno. Oltrarno is a neighborhood across the river from the rest of Firenze, you can just walk around on your own there.
Fiesole is a very nice town, you may want to spend some time there before dinner. I think the Roman ruins are open on Sundays (not sure).
If you are traveling in the late spring - early autumn time frame, the (Boboli) garden at the Pitti Palace will be in full bloom. All of the galleries plus the garden at Piiti Palace can take the better part of a day. In my opinion, some of the best food in Venice located in the Oltrarno so your desire for fine dinning should be easily met.
I think the previous poster is talking about food in Firenze, not Venezia.
Do all of the above !
Piazzale Michelangelo
San Miniato
Boboli Gardens
Santo Sprito church
Enjoy a hand packed lunch - we go to the grocery stores and buy cheese and bread and wine - in the Boboli Gardens.
And get up to Fiesole for sunset views before dinner.
You don't need a special map for the oltrarno. Oltrarno means Beyond the Arno (Florence main river) and encompasses 3 districts: Santo Spirito, San Frediano, San Niccolò. It's just across the Ponte Vecchio.
Main things to see:
Palazzo Pitti
Boboli Garden
Santo Spirito church
Cestello church.
Museo Bardini
Also, up the hill, you can enjoy beautiful views from Forte Belvedere (not sure if open nowadays unless there are special exhibits), Piazzale Michelangelo, Bardini Gardens, and also the upper parts of Boboli gardens. Next to Piazzale Michelangelo is the San Miniato al Monte church, the most beautiful in Florence IMAO.
The locations I just mentioned up the hill are still walking distance from Ponte Vecchio, if you don't mind a bit of exercise walking uphill. If you mind the walk, then a taxi to Piazzale Michelangelo would be best.
Oltrarno has so many nice restaurants I would not go clear across Florence and up the far hill to Fiesole to have dinner after planning a day on that side of the river. But then I am not a big fan of Fiesole; it is probably a great place to live, but not much of a place to visit compared to the dozens of other local options.
Fiesole is a great place to live in, if I could only afford to buy property there.
I guess maybe a small place without a view.
Do not miss the Brancacci Chapel in Santa Maria del Carmine church. A gem of a chapel of restored frescoes by Masolino, Masaccio, and Lippi.
