Day One

Florentines are not big on breakfast, so grab a pastry and a cappuccino and hit the streets. Start your day in the heart of Florence, the Piazza del Duomo. The Duomo (Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore) is Florence’s defining piece of architecture. The cathedral was the largest in Europe at the time of its completion in 1436. The history says the reason is because financially successful Florence wanted to surpass its rivals, Pisa and Siena, with a larger and more magnificent structure. You can climb the ribbed dome for a breathtaking view of the city. Next door to the Duomo is Giotto’s Bell Tower (Campanile), which can also be scaled for a magnificent view.

 

While you are on the square, visit the Baptistery (Battistero San Giovanni). It is believed to be Florence’s oldest building. The basilica is octagonal in shape and most famous for its bronze doors designed by Lorenzo Ghiberti. The bronze reliefs depict scenes from the New Testament, and they were considered so beautiful Michelangelo himself referred to them as the Gates of Paradise, a moniker that stands today.

 

Grab some lunch, perhaps on one of the busy piazzas, and enjoy the people watching while you rest up for your afternoon of gazing at some of the world’s best artwork.

 

After lunch, head to the Uffizi Gallery (Galleria degli Uffizi). The gallery holds Italy’s finest collection of art, though it was originally designed to house the Medici family’s uffizi (administrative offices). The family began installing artwork in later years, eventually creating Europe’s first modern museum, which was open to the public in 1591.

 

The gallery is divided into periods, allowing visitors to view the progression of Italian art. The Botticelli rooms contain The Birth of Venus, among many of his finest pieces. Leonardo da Vinci’s Annunciation hangs in the salon. Also on display are Michelangelo’s Holy Family, Raphael’s Madonna of the Goldfinch, Rembrandt’s Self-Portrait as an Old Man, and Fra Filippo Lippi’s Madonna and Child with Two Angels. True art aficionados will want to purchase a guide to the collections, available at bookshops and newsstands, so as not to miss any of the glorious pieces.

 

After such an exhaustive day of sightseeing, you will be ready for a wonderful Tuscan dinner. For a great example of authentic Florentine dining, try Il Latini near Piazza Santa Trinita. Dining is typically family style, offering traditional favorites such as ribollita, pappa al pomodoro and penne strascicat.