Suggest an itinerary for spending a week in and around Florence, Italy

It would be very helpful, and you would get more useful replies, if you could add a little focus. What did you do/see in Florence on your previous trip that you do or don't want to repeat? What are your interests......museums, churches, food and wine, hiking/biking, going to a beach? All of these are options while staying in Florence. What is your idea of a "relaxed vacation"? There are many excellent guidebooks, Including Rick's Florence and Tuscany book, that would give you a large array of possibilities that you could winnow down. Also web research is an invaluable place to start. Google "what to do in Florence, Italy" and you'll find even more great information. If Forum participants answer your broad request for "suggestions about what we can do", you may get dozens of ideas that don't interest you at all unless you help us focus your request. That's just my 2 cents worth of advice.

Relaxing is difficult in Florence have u thought about Tuscany as an option that is relaxing? Perhaps stay at an agriturismo.
Florence is noisy and crowded. I have beenthere many times and that has been my experience.

Stay in Bologna instead. Relaxing, great food, lots of day trip possibilities.

Relaxing is NOT difficult in Florence. It just depends on the time of year. Certainly, June through September--especially with the main attractions as a big part of your itinerary--will be somewhat tourist-y, if that's your opposite idea of relaxing. That time of year, I'd be staying south of the Arno River, maybe even a little outside the Oltrarno district. Only problem there is that everything is not really walking distance anymore.

And even the shoulder seasons--April-May, October-November--have plenty of tourists, especially on the weekend. But when you really think about it, relaxing is more a state of mind than anything else. When we were there two years ago early March, we relaxed by watching out our 2nd floor apartment window at all the goings-on on the Piazza Santa Maria Novella below. It was like a TV show.

Enjoy your planning!

We are currently in our 5th month in the Florence Tuscan areas. Love the countryside, even in the dead of winter. Spend a night or two in Florence, then visit the magnificent southern villages. Pienza is gorgeous, Montepulciano-close to Pienza is wonderful. Cortona also a little bit larger with places open. Just driving through Chianti villages and taking in the sleeping vineyards and villas is such a treat. Try obscure little restaurants .This is our longest time here, and it's going to be tough going home in May, but miss grandkids like crazy. We will leave here stress free.

Relaxing in Florence can be done by taking the time to do so. There are an abundance of gardens and quiet places away from the crowds. The big ticket sights are often crowded so visit one then go a short-way off the beat track and take in one of the myriad 'hidden' gems of the city.

Stay in a hotel/b&b with a rooftop view like La Scaletta or Villa la Vedetta so you can relax with a glass of wine while you watch the sunset.

Watch the sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo or San Miniato. Sit on the Santa Trinita bridge and watch the golden sunset over the Ponte Vecchio.

Soak in the Florence views with a lunch at the top of the Boboli Gardens.

Enjoy delightful cannelloni at Mama Gina's on Borgo San Jacopo.

Visit all of the Dante or Michelangelo sights.

Enjoy apertivo time every day at different piazzas AND wake early to walk the streets when the owners are sweeping their stoops and getting ready for their day

Thank you so much for all the wonderful suggestions. My wife and I have spent four days in Florence with our kids about 5 years ago. We have seen some of the museums and have made side trips to Sienna and San Gimignano. This time around we would like to spend more time exploring the Tuscan country side and visit the small towns in the region especially since we are without our kids :). Some of the suggestions above therefore are extremely helpful. We are visiting in the first week of March and are expecting it to be cold and wet?
...The agriturismo suggestion sounds fascinating. Does anyone have any experience with one of the farms in the tuscany region?

We haven't stayed at the Cretaiole yet, but everyone here raves about them.

We loved Borgo Argenina - Elena has delicious homemade breakfasts on the terrace overlooking the vineyard and she plans a night to cook with her guests. Then we all sit down at her huge table and enjoy the meal !