Florence sites

Hi Jules,
What is FC? First choice? I’m going to spend 6 nights in Florence next April so I will be interested in the responses from our forum friends.
3 days but what days of the week? You have listed hours for everything you might want to see, only a few are open till 7 pm. I assume you know you need to buy advance tickets to the Uffizi and the Accademia and I believe for the climb to the top of the Duomo. I have been to Florence on a RS tour, but for only 2 nights. Definitely not enough time!
My advice is to choose the top 3 sites and then go from there, adding in others.
I’m sure others will have better ideas. Enjoy!

Jules, it's difficult to tell someone else what they should keep and what they should axe from a wish list so all I can give you is my own 2 cents? I don't think you can stuff all of this into 2 days + part of another but you can probably do most of it. We had almost 5 full days and had to be selective but we also may have spent more time on some of the attractions than you plan to, and we did some which are not on your list.

RS Renaissance Walk: I don't think this needs to be an individual thing, if that makes sense? You will be either visiting a lot of what's on the map or passing by from one attraction to another so just mark those info on those attractions or route as being included in the walk material.

Duomo, museum, baptistry, dome, campanile: we skipped the dome and the museum was closed for renovation so we didn't get to see it but definitely would have otherwise. Your ticket will cover ALL parts of the complex and is good for 72 hours from first entry so is a very good deal but you would have to make a prior reservation for the dome...which could end up being at an inopportune time. As you're already going to need to make timed-entry reservations for the Uffizi and probably the Accademia, I don't know if I'd want to be to nailed yet another entry. Also, the ticket doesn't provide priority entry to the church - everyone stands in the same entry queue - and that can eat time. Personally? We found the exterior of the duomo much more impressive than the interior - and especially when lit up at night - and could have given it a skip if time was of the essence.

Pitti, Boboli (and/or Bardini Gardens) Ponte Vecchio, Oltrarno District, Piazzale Michelangelo: all of this should be combined, and it will easily eat an entire day. Use Ponte Vecchio to get across the river, The Pitti is immense - Palatine Gallery and Royal Apartments: 28 and 14 rooms, respectively - as are the gardens, which are long on clipped shrubs/ hedges, trees, lawns and water features and short on flowers. Quite a few posters have preferred the less sprawling, more flower-y Bardini Gardens nearby; I believe your ticket Boboli ticket covers that as well. Anyway, end the day at Piazzella Michelangelo for the view: that's what we chose for our bird's-eye spot versus towers or the cupola: less confining. If you get there early enough, climb up a little further to lovely San Miniato al Monte: highly recommended!

https://www.visitflorence.com/florence-churches/san-miniato.html

A note on Ponte Vecchio? Our least favorite place to appreciate the bridge was ON the thing. It's more interesting seen from the outside and without the mob.

Medici Chapels: the thing we wish we would have skipped. It's an ostentatious thing for sure but underwhelming compared to many other attractions we chose to see in Florence, and has my least faves of Michelangelo's carvings.

We didn't do Palazzo Vecchio but Piazza della Signoria can be walked at any time - it's especially atmospheric at night - and the small sculpture collection at open-air Loggia dei Lanzi is free and well worth a look:

https://www.visitflorence.com/florence-monuments/piazza-della-signoria.html

Combine a walk-through of Plaza S.S. Annunziata with the Accademia as it's nearby. I'd love to tell you to see Museo San Marco as it's right there too and we really enjoyed that one - I'd sure choose it over the Medici Chapels - but I know you can't do it all....

With less than 3 full days, I don't think you'll be able to visit all your FC (first choice) sights and enjoy the city as well. I would reserve tickets for the Accademia on your short day, reserve tickets for the Uffizi on one of your full days and visit the Duomo sights on the other full day. That takes care of your top 4 sights. I'd then fill in other FC sights around those as time allows. One bit of good news is that items 11-15 are always open and can be visited early morning or evening. You could also visit a few when you're right there. For example, Piazza SS Annunziata is very close to the Accademia and the Ponte Vecchio is very close to the Uffizi. I haven't cllimbed the dome, so I can't help you with that part of your question. I did enjoy my campanile climb though, but avoid passing the bells on the quarter hours.

@ Judy, FC = Firenze card. I am not in Florence on a Monday, which is for the most part, is what matters for us. Yes, even with the Firenze card, with a handful, you still need a reservation time, which costs more

Kathy and Frank, great thoughts, Thanks! As I go forward in my trip planning, I will think about dropping Medici chapel and probably won't do the dome. There are some things, for me the Eiffel tower is one, I like my city views WITH the Eiffel tower not from, I'm thinking the dome may be similar. If we get into the Duomo line at say, 9:30, might that help, or later in the day? I'd hate to drop the Academia, but I'm slightly less excited about it than other items on the list. I know what you are saying about the walk. When I copied/pasted, it would have made more sense to leave those last items off, but, yet, I do appreciate the comments I got regarding them.

I've checked, and I'm pretty sure Italy doesn't end Daylight savings time until after we've been in Florence which helps.

EDITED TO ADD, the good news for me is that we plan a return to pick up the rural areas of Siena and Umbria so we could add another couple days in Florence, then.

We climbed the Duomo and also the Palazzo Vecchio tower and enjoyed both. We did enjoy seeing the 'herringbone' patterns in the dome but we also liked seeing the city view. From Palazzo Vecchio it was nice to see the Duomo from that vantage point. And we took the 75 minute Secret Passages tour that we loved, but we enjoy palaces and hearing about the history. But if time is short might need to choose which of the climbs is more of interest.

We really enjoyed the view from Piazzale Michelangelo, and started at San Miniato just above. A lovely smaller church, also with a great view, and when we were there it was less crowded than the lower viewing point. I did underestimate how long it would take for us to get there. Went to the bus stop our hotel told us to go to, a bit of a walk, waited awhile for the correct bus, and the bus took longer than I expected so not sure we did it right. Probably should have walked up, might have gone quicker. We did walk back down. Luckily I had decided not to try and fit something else we wanted to do for that afternoon and we just enjoyed the experience.

I so hate to say to skip things or to say that a certain amount of time is "enough," but then I've had the luxury of 6 weeks in Florence and that was not enough to see everything I wanted to see. I would live in Florence if I could. Except in the summer. But if I had to prioritize for a much shorter visit like yours, here goes:

1. Accademia….. ½ hour is enough. I was not as thrilled as many people are.
2. Uffizi ….. Yes, go very early or very late. 3 hours is a good estimate
3. Duomo Museum ….. I THINK there is a good view of the dome from an upper floor or roof terrace --- I hope someone corrects me. I just remember thinking somewhere "Oh yay, I don't need to climb any crowded stairs to see the dome up close."
4. Duomo …. I would skip or hurry through the inside.
5. Medici Chapels ….. I would skip on this trip.
6. Palazzo Vecchio …. I would skip on this trip.
7. Santa Croce Church
8. Pitti Palace and gardens …..I would skip. Tiring and way too gilded and ornate for me.
9. Campanile …..Probably very cool, but I didn't do the climb.
10. Baptistry …..Loved this, but it won't take a whole hour
11. Ponte Vecchio ….. walk on it once, but look at it from other bridges or the shore
12. Piazza S.S. Annunziata
13. RS Renaissance Walk ……just weave this in as you walk from place to place
14. Oltrarno District—crafters, steak restaurant here
15. Michelangelo viewpoint…… Yes, but continue uphill to San Miniato which, unlike Piazzale Michelangelo, is a beautiful and peaceful place to be.

Some of my recommendations can be explained by my preference for medieval and early Renaissance art and architecture. Just so you can evaluate what I'm saying!

If I could ADD three things to your list? The Brancacci Chapel in the Oltrarno, the Palazzo Davanzati (medieval and very homey), and the Benozzo Gozzoli chapel.

You must make a return visit if you can! But you know that.

If we get into the Duomo line at say, 9:30, might that help, or later in the day?

I was there in mid-April, and the line was still an hour long even getting in line at 930. Personally, I found the interior completely underwhelming and was annoyed I had wasted an hour in line. The crypt was somewhat interesting but of all the churches I visited on my trip to Italy, the interior of Florence's Duomo might have been the least appealing. Alternately, I LOVED Siena's Duomo and did a tour and climb of that one which I thought well worth it. I didn't climb any of the towers but got my city views from Piazzale Michelangelo, which were quite lovely.

My views generally align with Kathy's comments, but I'll add that I'm in the minority of humanity and found the Uffizi a bit boring after an hour or two - you really have to love Renaissance art to spend several hours there, and I learned that I do not. I think I made it about 2 hours before I had had enough. There are some nice views from the cafe though. I did love the Accademia, though I don't imagine you would spend more than a half hour or so there, unless you are really interested in the rest of the art and the instruments.

Definitely spend some time in Oltrarno, and while the Pitti Palace is ornate, it's a nice visit. There are some nice views of Ponte Vecchio from that side of the river, too.

Good luck narrowing it down; whatever you see and do will still make for a great trip, and whatever you don't see and do gives you a reason to come back!

Edited to add - you should also check out the Central Market, maybe at lunch time so you can eat there and also see a sight at the same time.

I love markets, I think I did see there was one fairly close to our inn.

Now, I'm leaning towards the Firenze card, I think I will lose money on it, but it does give one the ability to go into something briefly and then move on to something else. I love art, but less so Renaissance. Sometimes I find (like the Louvre) that I get as much enjoyment out of the physical building itself as I do the artwork.

Any more opinions on Pitti and Bobboli?

I have been doing a lot of "homework". I love the planning and take travel pretty seriously. Even then, first hand info is so helpful!

Thanks to you all and since my trip is a long ways off, I am open to further thoughts. Also, any restaurant suggestions? Anyone done Teatro del Sale? Antico Ristoro Di’Cambi?

Oh, well then add the Mercato Centrale to your list!

I love art, but less so Renaissance. Sometimes I find (like the
Louvre) that I get as much enjoyment out of the physical building
itself as I do the artwork.

I hear you there, and also about preferring tall monuments as part of the scenery versus being ON them. :O)

The one difference regarding the art is that your experience with Renaissance art so far has only been in non-Florentine museums right? It can take on another dimension when you can see some of it where it was originally painted - in situ - many centuries ago, such as the Sassetti chapel in Santa Trinita, the cloister of Santissima Annunziata (on that piazza of the same name) or the monk's cells in Museo San Marco. It's different than viewing it in a vacuum, if that makes sense?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sassetti_Chapel

http://www.museumsinflorence.com/musei/Santissima-Annunziata.html
(use only for info and pictures: hours may not be right)

https://www.visitflorence.com/florence-museums/san-marco.html
http://www.polomusealetoscana.beniculturali.it/index.php?it/190/museo-di-san-marco-firenze

Ah Kathy, you get me! I am looking forward to the art, and no I've never experienced it in situ, never been to Italy. I find as I travel and get a taste of various styles/time periods my horizons expand. It also helps to get an explanation. I love the Burial of Count Orgaz in Toledo. There is so much to it. It helped to read about it before I saw it. never thought of myself as an El Greco person. RS has a DVD about European art that I plan to look at before I go and I've been listen to RS art podcasts. Listened to one on Michelangelo yesterday.

You're going to have a wonderful trip Jules! See what you can, see what appeals to YOU, and don't drive yourself crazy trying to do it ALL. Just get your top choices in and be willing to forego the rest if time runs out. Florence isn't going anywhere so there can be a next time. :O)

Hi,
My family and I just returned from our trip to Italy. We stayed three nights and had two and a half full days. I think you can fit a lot in, but you might tire out. It depends on your travel style. We had the Duomo, Duomo Museum, Climbing Brunelleschi's Dome, the Uffizi as our main priorities. I reserved tickets for climbing the dome (all the way to the top with a guide) as soon as the calendar opened. Note that the reservation comes with access to all the Duomo properties, including the baptistery. So, it might be wise to reserve for a spot early on in your stay in Florence. Then you can use the same ticket to enter the other Duomo related sites. The Duomo Museum is very worthwhile (the real Gates of Paradise are in there). We spent two hours in there, possibly more. The baptistery was nice, and it took all 15 minutes to enjoy. We popped in later in the day, there was no line. As we had a particular interest in Brunelleschi's Dome - my son did a report on it and I read a fascinating book with same title by Ross King - it was the item I was most excited about. It is not too narrow or too hard a climb for us. In fact after all that warning about heights, we felt it was a bit of a let down in terms of how quickly we got to the top. For the Uffizi, you can reserve a time or hire a guide. We hired a guide through Airbnb and she was very good (she did the 9 am timed reservation for us). Valentina's slant was color. She talked to us about the major works through the perspective of color. We skipped the Academia because I didn't make plans for it and I felt that it would be too much for us. But we did do the RS Renaissance Walk, Ponte Vecchio (took no time to walk aross, but lovely to hang out around sunset). The latter two happened very organically. We enjoyed the Micheangelo viewpoint by chance as we were driving into the city (to park; parking attendants took care of ZLT if you have reservations). We spent an afternoon in Oltrarno district. I signed the chidlren up for a paper making and book making class. It was the sort of unique experience I felt would make a difference to them and would be remembered. In terms of timing your trip, don't forget that lunch and dinner can take up quite some time. Breakfast is fast - doesn't take long to down a cappuccino and cornetto. But lunch can be a 90 minute affair. It was for us anyway as we wanted to enjoyt the food too! October should be lovely. Less crowded, I hope. I cannot recommend Brunelleschi's Dome by Ross King enough. Not a thick book, but gives you insight and sometimes funny narrative about the era, the people, Brunelleschi. It really made me appreciate the dome. Ross King wrote Michelangelo and the Pope's Celing too. Relevant if you are heading to Rome too.

I reserved tickets for climbing the dome (all the way to the top with
a guide) as soon as the calendar opened. Note that the reservation
comes with access to all the Duomo properties, including the
baptistery. So, it might be wise to reserve for a spot early on in
your stay in Florence. Then you can use the same ticket to enter the
other Duomo related sites.

A comment on this: Jules intends to buy the Firenzecard, which does not allow one to make advance reservations for the dome prior to arriving in Florence...when all time slots may already be filled. Advance reservations can be made online when buying the Il Grand Museo Del Duomo cumulative ticket but not with the Firenzecard.

https://grandemuseodelduomo.waf.it/en/cumulative-ticket-great-museum-of-the-cathedral-of-florence

Someone said they thought you could view the dome from a terrace in the duomo museum & that is true. I'm not sure how many people notice it and it is a nice view.

To echo most points, you CAN see all of this in 2 days/2 nights, but it might be hard. My wife and I went 2 years ago and were 27 years old, so we were ready for adventure and loved the consistent movement of traveling from one site to the next.

The top of the Duomo was wonderful. Worth the climb if you don't ind getting winded. If you can go early, before the lines get too extreme, then it is worth it.

My only recommendation for Piazzale Michelangelo, is to go later (maybe arrive an hour before sunset). Sit atop the Piazzele and enjoy some wine, a light appetizer (or dinner if the weather is nice), the view, the people, and buckle up for one heck of scene at sunset. This was one of my favorite moments from my entire travels in Italy - but it might not be the same for everyone.