Unusual activities in Florence italy

Hi there Tilly -
It might be helpful if you'd share what "basics" you already have on your list before suggesting others? What sorts of attractions/activities do you enjoy? As well, how many nights are you in Florence? I guess I'm trying to weigh if you're there for 3 full days or 2 full days + whatever arrival day hours you have? Will you be arriving from the US - so jet lag might be a concern - or from another European city?

Also clarifying what you consider "unusual" would be helpful. Not knowing your definition, here is at least one source: https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/florence-italy

Fiesole-decades ego we ate at Le Lancia restaurant which had a wonderful view down into Florence and I think that restaurant has reopened.

Go see the middle finger from the right hand of Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei. It is a secular relic in the Museo Galileo collection in Florence, Italy. The finger was removed from his body after his death, and is encased in a gilded glass egg.

I second going up to Fiesole; we took a very easy bus ride up to the top for a day trip. We found the directions to the bus stop and bus number in the Rick Steves guidebook.

Santa Trinita, Sassetti Chapel (see the Ghirlandaio frescoes)

Bardini museum and gardens

Museo degli Innocenti

Flower market Thursday mornings Piazza della Repubblica

Forte di Belvedere

Museo Archeologico

Museo dell’Opera del Duomo

Museo Horne

Museo Opificio delle Pietra Dure

Museo Stibbert and garden

Palazzo Medici-Riccardi (see the Gozzoli chapel)

San Lorenzo

San Miniato al Monte and cemetery

Santa Felícita (see the Pontormo)

Ospedale degli Innocenti

Santa Maria Novella pharmacy

Laurentian library

Bus to see the Museo dei Ferri Taglienti (cutting tools)

Bus to take the tour of the former factory of La Marzocco espresso machines at the Accademia del Caffè Espresso

Find the flood markers from 1966 and earlier floods

Take an art history class at the British Institute and/or attend a Wednesday evening lecture in its library

Thank you to all for your suggestions, some very good ideas ! And many that I haven’t heard of before. Sorry for my vagueness about what I was interested in, but all of you still came through. Many thanks again !

Either I missed Galileo's finger, or it didn't make a sufficient impression on me to remember it after 10 years, but the Museo Galileo collection is wonderful if you love science and technology. Beautiful antique scientific instruments and the like.