We are heading to Florence. Our very 1st time there ever. We will be in Florence itself for 2 days. One of it is Saturday 31march. Predictions says there will be lots of rain. Whats the best places to visit in 2days and which ones is best to do when it rains?
Thank you
It will be showery not steady rain. Bring a collapsible umbrella and go to all the places you've been reading about.
Agreed with Mike. It's rain, not snow. You'll be fine. Trust me, after experiencing Florence's random shutdowns on snow days earlier this month, rain is no big deal. The only activity that shuts in the rain is climbing the tower and walking the battlements at Palazzo Vecchio.
Visiting the churches on rainy days are ideal. Personal favorite is Santa Croce. Museo dell'Opera del Duomo is another good place to visit on rainy days.
Pack that umbrella, and you'll be set. I hope you have a splendid time in Florence!
Two things come to mind right off the bat.
One, the (indoor) Mercato Centrale, specifically the bottom floor with the cheese & prosciutto shops, then the Nerbone stand for a great boiled beef with pesto or lampredotto sandwich. Should not be missed. Also, a rainy day at the Uffizi Gallery probably would be close to heaven for me.
Oh, if you're on via Tornabuoni near the Arno river, stop in (for free) at Chiesa Santa Trinita to see the Sassetti Chapel. Bring a couple Euro coins to illuminate the frescoes. The ones done by Ghirlandaio in the late 15th century are fabulous, better than any photograph.
Indoor museums and churches are in no short supply in Florence: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/italy/florence. If you get tired of art, you can switch to science at the Galileo Museum.
Also a rainy day in March is a great excuse to duck into a caffe/bar for some cioccolata calda--hot chocolate or vino! We enjoy dining outdoors in Italy during the warm months but have also loved the coziness and quaintness of indoor dining on fall visits when the weather is cooler. Florence is one of my favorite cities! Buon Viaggio!
Museums, Palaces, Cathedrals all have roofs.
Restaurants, cafes, bars, are mostly covered.
Also what do people in the Pacific Northwest do when it rains? Life doesn’t stop with rain.
And don’t worry about forgetting the umbrella in your suitcase or in the hotel room. As soon the first rain drops arrive, hundreds of African vendors will appear from nowhere selling all kind of rain gear to tourists in the street. Bargain hard. 1 or 2€ will get you a portable umbrella if you are a persistent low baller.
You will have no problem filling 2 days in Florence with museums, churches, etc. but if you find yourself with time and are in the neighborhood--On the upper floor of Mercato Centrale, which is near the Church of San Lorenzo, is the "Piano Superiore" which opened about 4 years ago. Is a fun place to check out with lots of places to eat and drink, open 365 days a year till midnight. There is even a cooking school and a small branch of the Eataly store (the main store on Via de Martelli, not far from the Duomo). The Florence Eataly is way smaller than the one in Rome but still fun to check out.
There's been lots of excellent suggestions. I agree, an excuse to spend at least part of the day in the Uffizi would be heaven.
I also suggest taking or buying a lightweight raincoat, an umbrella and a large Baggie for your camera. Florence is magical in the rain when the streets are wet, especially early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the lights are on. You can take some gorgeous photos!
Buy a good light/packable breathable waterproof jacket (Columbia, North Face, etc.). Ditch the umbrella, and you can just pull out the jacket and put it on when the rain starts. You will be fine to tour as normal in anything other than a torrential downpour. If you buy a size larger than you need, you can tuck a bag or camera under the jacket and it will be protected as well.
I have toured in Italy through several downpours without a pause doing this.
Edited to add: Don't skimp out on the jacket by getting one that isn't both waterproof AND breathable. The breathable part is very important! It will cost more, but that is what will make it comfortable to tour in instead of being as wet from sweating as you would have been without the raincoat.
Santa Maria Novella complex is quite large and good to stay out of rain. Pitti Palace is huge and a good haven on a rainy day.
