I will be in Florence for 2.5 days this July, from midday Friday through Sunday.
I was disappointed to learn that that Sunday is a "First Sunday" and the majority of sites are either closed, free to all, or free to locals (I made a list below based on I what found).
I understand that the big sites like Uffizi and Accademia will be very crowded and not really worth trying to see that day.
But, what about less major sites like Bargello?
Would there normally be much wait for the Boboli and/or Bardini gardens on these summer first Sundays?
Also, how bad are the sites that are free to locals, but not all visitors, like the Duomo Museum, Palazzo Vecchio, Medici Riccardi Palace? I can imagine these not being as bad since they are not free to everyone, but I've seen some comments that they can still be much busier than normal. Is it bad enough that I should not really plan to go to them? I'd prefer to avoid very long lines.
In terms of sites highlighted by RS, it looks like only the Duomo tower & dome, Galileo Science Museum, and Santa Croce are in the "open, but not First-Sunday-free" category.
Am I missing anything of note?
Are there any recommendations for what to do on 1st Sundays that are not too crowded?
Thanks!
CLOSED SUNDAY
- Mercato Centrale
- Duomo
- Basilica San Lorenzo
- Museum of San Marco (1st Sun)
- Palazzo Davanzati (1st Sun)
FREE TO ALL 1ST SUNDAY
- Uffizi
- Accademia
- Pitti Palace
- Bargello
- Medici chapel
- Boboli gardens
- Medici Villa
- Garden of the Villa Medicea di Castello
- Florence National Archaeological Museum
- Last Supper by Andrea del Sarto in San Salvi
FREE TO LOCALS 1ST SUNDAY
- Palazzo Vecchio, incl. tower
- Medici Riccardi Palace
- Brancacci Chapel (reduced hours)
- Santa Maria Novella
- Duomo museum
- Duomo baptistry
- Santa Reparata
- Museo Novecento
- Stefano Bardini Museum
OPEN, NOT 1ST-SUNDAY-FREE
- Duomo tower/campanile
- Duomo dome (reduced hours)
- Santa Croce church (reduced hours)
- Galileo Science Musuem
- San Minato church (always free, mass at diff. times)