Best attractions in the Florence and skip the line tickets to the galleries.

Florence is one of the most delightful cities in Italy. So rich in art, architecture, history and it is one of my favorite ones. 

Our trip was really amazing that I can endlessly talk about it. There is so much to see, learn, admire, and explore. 

All the traveling tips are based on my experience. I spent days doing research before a trip, and I am so happy to share my knowledge with you. I really wish travelers to have a smooth,  comfortable, enjoyable and fantastic vacation. 

I hope, my traveling tips will be useful! 

Let’s go! 

Best Attractions in Florence: 

I think to see Florence and visit two wonderful art galleries where visitors can admire outstanding masterpieces will take 2-3 days. But if you want to explore only  the city, see incredible architecture and places, then 1 day will be enough. 

Art Galleries:

In Florence tourists can see an amazing collection of art in two galleries: Galleria dell’Accademia  and Uffizi Galleria. 

If you like Renaissance art, then you’ll perhaps enjoy these galleries. 

Galleria dell’Accademia 

Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze  or Galleria Accademia is a small art gallery, but it contains lots of fine art and sculptures, including an amazing Michelangelo’s David.

David is a magnificent masterpiece  of  Renaissance  sculptures. The marble statue was created between 1501 and 1504 by the Italian artist Michelangelo. At first, the figure was supposed to be positioned along the roofline of the  Florence Cathedral, but instead it was placed in a public square on the Piazza della Signoria. In 1873, the statue was relocated to the Galleria dell’Accademia and replaced by an authentic replica, which looks impressive too. 

The Galleria dell’Accademia  is a home not only to sculpture collections, but also to a rich collection of early Italian painting such as Bellini, Tintoretto, Veronese. In addition, you can see musical instruments that belonged to the Grand Dukes of Tuscany, the Medici and Lorraine. 

I recommend setting aside about 1-2 hours to enjoy art. 

Buy a skip-the-line admission ticket to the Accademia Gallery to save time waiting in a line. 

Regular admission: 16€ 

Attractive alternative 

If you will be unable to visit the Academia Galleria to see Michelangelo’s sculpture of David, then you should go to Piazza della Signoria. At that place you can see a replica of David, other remarkable statues and a lovely fountain. The piazza is absolutely beautiful and impressive. 

Uffizi Galleria 

The Uffizi Gallery or Galleria degli Uffizi is the most visited and most important Italian museums. It holds the largest and most outstanding collections in the world from the period of the Italian Renaissance: paintings, antiques, sculpture, ancient statues, busts from the Medici family and more than 100,000 drawings and prints. 

The collections of artworks from the 14th-century include some absolute masterpieces:Giotto, Simone Martini, Piero della Francesca, Beato Angelico, Filippo Lippi, Mantegna and many precious works by European painters. You can admire the famous incredible paintings like The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli, Doni Madonna by Michelangelo, Madonna del cardellino or Madonna of the Goldfinch by Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci’s The Annunciation, Adoration of the Magi, three remarkable paintings by Caravagio and Self-portrait as a Young Man painted by Rembrandt. 

I heartily recommend to visit Uffizi Galleria, and you will require 2-3 hours to spend there. 

Admission: 24€ 

Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral 

Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral is one of the most significant churches in Italy, located in the historic center of Florence and is a notable tourist attraction. 

The impressive facade of the Basilica is finished with marble panels in various shades of green and pink, bordered by white, and was designed by Italian architect Emilio De Fabris.  

Also, the grand cathedral was constructed in dedication to the Virgin of the Flower and continues to be a significant landmark for local people and tourists. 

In addition, visit The Duomo Terraces where you can enjoy an impressive panoramic view of the city. 

To learn more about the cathedrals and artwork, you could select various passes or guided tours. Please visit the official page to check the prices

Basilica di Santa Croce 

Another amazing Roman Catholic Church is the Basilica di Santa Croce, located on the Piazza di Santa Croce. 
 
The Basilica di Santa Croce, known also as the Temple of the Italian Glories, is the burial place of some of the most famous Italians, like Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei, Machiavelli, the poet Foscolo, the philosopher Gentile and the composer Rossini.   

Ponte Vecchio 

Ponte Vecchio is an iconic medieval stone bridge over the Arno River, in Florence. The charming bridge was designed by architect Taddeo Gaddi, and it was completed in 1345. This day, the Ponte Vecchio is popularly known for its exclusive shops, including jewelers, souvenirs, art and antique boutiques. 

Bikes Booking: Rent Bicycles; Scooter; Motorcycle.

Piazza Michelangelo.  

Do you know where to see the iconic panorama of Florence? Right! It is at the Piazzale Michelangelo. 
 
Michelangelo Square or Piazzale Michelangelo is one of the best viewpoints in Florence. The panorama of the city is absolutely magnificent! 

Michelangelo Square can be reached by taking buses from the city center, by the sightseeing tour bus or just walk a 20-minute from the Basilica of Santa Croce. 

Il Porcellino

Also, there is another popular tourist destination that you definitely should visit. It is a bronze sculpture-fountain of the Boar (Il Porcellino) located on Via Val di Lamona. 

The legend of Il Porcellino said: Every night the boar turns into a young man. On one of his night strolls, he met a girl, and they fell in love. Once, a young man shared his secret with his fiancée and asked her not to tell anyone about it, otherwise he would forever turn into a boar. 

Unluckily, the young man became a boar. 

Now Il Porcellino has become an admired symbol of Florence. Visitors place a coin into the boar’s mouths with the intent to let it fall through the bottom grating for good luck, and they rub the boar’s nose to ensure to return to Florence. 

Mercato Centrale

Mercato Centrale is the popular market. It is very close to the rail station, so it might be a good stop to have a light lunch and wander around to see various retailers selling food, spices, local vegetables, fruits, and nuts. 

Outside of the market is the Mercato di San Lorenzo, which primarily sells leather goods and a perfect place for leather shopping. 

This is a pretty historical building with a great atmosphere and one of the lovely parts of Florence. 

Spritz 

On hot Italian days you definitely should drink Spritz. 
 
This is a refreshing drink and one of the most popular aperitif cocktails in Italy. 
 
A spritz is a wine-based cocktail made with a good mix of Prosecco, Aperol or Campari, and soda water. It has a little bitter flavor with an orange hint. This is a simple drink, but very delicious. 

See you later!

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