Suggestions for Florence

Hi Bob. What kind of recommendations do you want - what to see and do, where to eat, a possible daytrip, etc.?

Hi, Bob. I spotted your post because we have a similar schedule, but in June. So, I'm interested to see what folks recommend Nevertheless, as soon as I had my apartment lined up, I got reservations for the Artvia Tour recommended by Steves. www.artviva.com and on recommendations from fellow posters to get reservations fast expecially during high season. We picked the "one glorious day" tour for our family so we're sure to get a city walking tour when we arrive and tour into the Uffizi and Accademia. If you've done that already and are looking for more, I'm eager to hear what others suggest. :)

Yes Sarah...exactly do see eat
thanks

I'm biased toward art so I'll give you the "Best of Florence According to Art Historians" tour. Florence is the city of Renaissance art and architecture, so there's the Uffizi, Accademia, and Pitti Palace museums; the San Marco Monastery museum with frescoes by Fra Angelico, a 15th-century artist monk; the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo; the Bargello; and that's all I can think of off the top of my head right now. There's the Duomo, or Santa Maria del Fiore, and the baptistry. You can climb to the top of the dome or the campanile. Santa Croce has frecoes by Giotto and also lots of gravestones, some dating back to the Middle Ages, in the floor. There's also San Lorenzo with Medici tombs, and Santo Spirito. The Palazzo Vecchio is medieval but a must-see if you like architecture. Other stuff to do - there's the big mercato (market) near San Lorenzo; the Ponte Vecchio; Dante's house; the Piazza Signorina and the Loggia dei Lanzi, with sculptures, next to Palazzo Vecchio; the Laurentian Library designed by Michelangelo; lots of shopping, including leather stores; and don't forget gelato!

Am I confused? Have you got your itinerary and hotel set but have not thought what you will do, eat, or see? Why have you picked Florence? ?? Which guidebooks have you studied?