I have ~2 1/2 days in Florence...please help with my itinerary?

Sostanza is really good. We also liked the central market for lunch and a general food experience. We moseyed too, but I can't say I have a recommendation for where the locals hang out. There are lots of nice shops, leather markets, gelato. It is a great little city!!!.

Florence is really a city for wandering. You may want to check to see if you would enjoy the San Marco Museum less than a block from Accademia, although I see that you are planning an evening visit to the latter. San Marco was amazing but it is an 8:15 am-1:50 pm place through the week. Uffizi is huge but worthwhile, and the Bargello is definitely enjoyable.

Re Duomo complex: I heeded Rick Steves advice and didn't spend time waiting in the huge security line for getting into the Duomo, but spent plenty of time admiring the three buildings from every angle on the outside. I loved the Baptistry and also the museum that houses real sculptures and doors from the Duomo that have been replaced with replicas at the Duomo itself. If you have purchased a tour though, that will point out where you want to spend more time.

For food, definitely go to the central market at lunchtime, or my favorite was happy hour time. I loved the Cibreo cafe; they also have a fancier restaurant, and these are by a great market more for the locals.

Here's the deal about going where the locals go: tourists out-number locals so much in the summer that it's more of a giant international mingle. If you go to Piazza Michelangelo you'll absorb some local flavor though.

Don't miss the Museo dell' Opera del Duomo, just behind the Duomo. It's newly renovated, and just outstanding. Donatello's wooden statue of a penitent Mary Magdalene is worth the price of admission. And San Marco with the Fra Angelico frescoes is a "don't miss" for me.

Photography is my main stay so I’m always in search of interesting POV’s. With that in mind and your desire to explore I think you’d really enjoy the Bardini Villa and Gardens. The climb to the top and the view from there of Florence is outstanding. It’s been years since I’ve been there but the memory of my early morning climb remains. You’ll need to Google directions and opening times.

As far as food and discovering a neighborhood market make your way to Sant’Ambrogio Market. About a 10 minute walk from the Bargello.

Worth the trek is the Stibbert Museum. Rather unique and different. 45 minutes from the Duomo. You get to see neighborhoods enroute.

The Academia to see David, the Bargello, Piazza Della Signorina, the Uffizi Museum and of course Ponte Vecchio. Elaine

do the big things. See Daivid early in the morning to avoid the lines. See the Dumo. The Uffzi (? spelling) is a world class museum. Get lost, talk to locals and ask them for a place they would eat, step into a small restaurant off the main streets and have lunch or dinner make sure the menu is in Italian and full of locals and not tourist, and have a gelato that says they make Artisanal gelato. Enjoy!