How to visit Florence in 1 day
Florence has everything you ever wanted to see or know about the Renaissance. But that doesn’t mean it’s old-fashioned. It’s got a buzzing street life and style that’s captured the world’s attention.
Uffizi Gallery
The Uffizi Gallery is among one of the most famous art galleries not only in Italy and in the world.
The Uffizi was designed and constructed by the famous architect and painter Giorgio Vasari, Cosimo I de’Medici’s favorite artist. This structure was intended to hose the offices – Uffici, or “Uffizi” in Florentine dialect – of the magistrates of the city, and Cosimo I wanted to display the Medici Family’s art collection on the main floor. Soon after, this became a place where more works from the most famous artists including Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo were displayed, but the museum was not officially opened until 1765.
Today, the Uffizi – known above all else for its renowned collection of Renaissance paintings – is one of the most celebrated destinations for travelers and art lovers from all over the globe.
There are special sections dedicated to German, Dutch and Flemish art, and the works of artists including Giotto, Simone Martini, Piero della Francesca, Botticelli, Mantegna, Leonardo da Vinci, Raffaello, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Dürer, Rembrandt and Rubens are just a few of the amazing pieces that you can marvel at in this extraordinary museum.
Admire the eight new rooms dedicated to Caravaggio, where you’ll find the Medusa, Bacchus, the Sacrifice of Isaac, and other masterpieces; as well as paintings by other great 17th century artists such as Artemisia Gentileschi, Velazquez, Rembrandt, Van Dyck and Rubens.
Boboli Gardens, Porcelain Museum and Bardini Garden
Good Weather? Visit Florence and his gardens!
Palazzo Pitti
The Palace was built by the rich Florentine banker Luca Pitti and is a Grand Renaissance building that dates back to 1458. The building is made of a rustic stone that gives it an austere but powerful look that is further reinforced by a series of arch-headed apertures, similar to ancient Roman aqueducts. Cosimo I de Medici’s wife bought the building and had artist and architect Giorgio Vasari enlarge the structure to fit the family’s taste, doubling it in size.
Porcelain Museum
Found at the top of the Boboli Gardens in a separate building called the ‘Palazzina del Cavaliere’, the Porcelain Museum holds the most beautiful work of Porcelain in Europe.
Boboli Gardens and Bardini Garden
The Boboli Gardens found behind Palazzo Pitti were the first example of Italian gardens that would later become so popular throughout Europe. Statues, fountains and grottoes are spread across the vast gardens, giving you the feeling that you are in an open-air museum. The nearby Bardini Garden is less famous, but unique and romantic in its arrangement as well.
You don’t want to skip the museums in Palazzo Pitti during your stay in Florence. In the old residence of the Medici family, you can visit different museums and gain access to the famous Boboli gardens. Reserve your ticket
Dark Heart of Florence
Discover the dark heart of Florence with a walking tour by night offered by our best partners.
Listen to the stories that make Florence one of Italy’s most captivating cities. Tales of tragic love and of gruesome Medici family feuds, you will learn about the city’s historical faces. You will visit some of the famous sites, such as Piazza Signoria and Ponte Vecchio and when the darkness takes over the night you will hear the stories and legends they do not share on other tours.
This tour reveals sordid tales of the true Florence of the Medieval Ages. When business was cutthroat and protecting your home from intruders meant always having a cauldron of boiling water ready for use. It was a time when streets deemed “too dark” were closed as a matter of public safety and traitors were burned and their bodies hung out in public as a warning to all. Hear about the series of events that led to the attempted assassination of the Medici heirs (in a church no less) and the love stories that set medieval Florentine tongues wagging.
Your expert, English-speaking guide will lead you around the city uncovering the history hidden behind these stonewalls. You will see Palazzo di Bianca Cappello, a palace built by the Grand Duke for his mistress discovering the cause of their mysterious deaths…Which was only recently brought to light through the use of modern technology. With Piazza Signoria and Ponte Vecchio on route, you will see some of the most famous sites of Florence! The stories that your guide will share with you are ones less known to the public. It is not all treachery and treason though. Your tour will end on a sweet note with a stop at one of Florence’s best gelaterias for a gelato of your choice! Reserve your ticket
