Why Italy - What are some places I should check or things I should do in Florence, Italy?

What are some places I should check or things I should do in Florence, Italy?

I'm visiting my cousin in Florence, Italy next year while she is studying abroad there. What are some places I should DEFINITELY visit while I'm there, which will be for about a week and half in the spring. I love shopping, eating, and visiting places with lots of history.

Public Comments

That is such an easy thing for you because all you have to do is walk and you will stumble upon EVERYTHING! Florence is very contained and there is "history" in every step you take. And the food is delicioso no matter where you eat-even a hole in the wall pizza will have you drooling. And shops are all over the place. The places like the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, piazzas, seeing DAVID at the Accademia is a MUST! There is an outdoor market near the train station to explore. But really, just walk and walk and you will come upon all of Firenze's magic!
If you have never been to Florence then you must visit the Accademia Museum where Michelangelo's David is housed. Also visit the Uffizi Gallery, it houses some the most famous renaissance artwork painted by the likes of DaVinci, Botticelli, etc. Visit the gold jewlery shops on the Ponte Vecchio. See the bronze doors on the duomo's baptistry. View the duomo's dome designed by Brunelleschi, crowning achievement for the time. He studied the dome crowning the Pantheon in Rome for ideas. See the Basilica di Santa Croce. There are funerary monuments to Galileo, Michelangelo, Dante, Machievelli, etc. Lots more to see, these are just a few ideas.
Also visit the palazzo pitti which is across the ponte vechio, it has a very big garden from where you can get a very nice view of Florence, much like the typical view you see on pictures or TV of Il Duomo and the palazzo vechio and the whole historic city, you can also visit the sorrounding cities, Siena, Luca and Pisa. For me Il Duomo was the most impressive and I liked alot Siena and the Santa Maria di Azzunta Church in Siena.
The statue of David, definitely. Also, the dome.
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THINGS TO DO Tourist sites Chiesa di S. Maria Novella Address: Piazza Santa Maria Novella Phone: 055/210113 Duomo Address: Piazza del Duomo Phone: 055/2302885 Battistero Address: Piazza del Duomo Phone: 055/2302885 Chiesa di S. Lorenzo Address: Piazza San Lorenzo Phone: 055/290184 Cappelle Medicee Address: di Madonna degli Aldobrandini, near San Lorenzo Phone: 055/294883 reservations Ponte Vecchio Giardino di Boboli Address: Enter through Palazzo Pitti Phone: 055/294883 Galleria degli Uffizi Address: Piazzale degli Uffizi 6, near Piazza della Signoria Phone: 055/23885 Galleria dell'Accademia Address: Via Ricasoli 60, near San Marco Phone: 055/294883 reservations; 055/2388609 gallery Bargello Address: Via del Proconsolo 4 Phone: 055/2388606 Santa Croce Address: Piazza Santa Croce 16 Phone: 055/2466105 Shopping Camper Address: Via Por Santa Maria 47/R Phone: 055/2670342 Mercato San Lorenzo Prada Address: Via Tornabuoni 51/r-53/R Phone: 055/267471 Prada Outlet Address: Levanella Spacceo, Estrada Statale 69, Montevarchi Phone: 055/91911 Cantina Del Borgo Address: Borgo La Noce 19/R Phone:055 2399665 Enoteca La Dolciaria Address: Via Ginori 24 Phone: 055 214646 Dining Trattoria I Due G Address: Via Cennini Bernardo 6/R Phone: 055/2670342 Antico Noè Address: Volta di San Piero 6 Phone: 055 2340838 Cibrèo Address: Via A. del Verrocchio 8 Phone: 055 2341100 Enoteca Pinchiorri Address: Via Ghibellina 87 Phone: 055/242777 Conti Address: Mercato Centrale Phone: 055/2398501 Enoteca del Boccanegra Address: Via Verdi 27 Phone: 055 2001098 Osteria Antica Mescita San Niccolò Address: Via. S. Niccolo' 63 Phone: 055 2342836 Osteria n. 1 Address: Via del Moro 18 Phone: 055 210004 Fun Jazz Club Address: Via Nuova de' Caccini 3, corner of Borgo Pinti Phone: 055/2479700 Orchestra da Camera Fiorentina Address: Via E. Poggi 6 Phone: 055/783374 Loch Ness Address: Via de' Benci 19/R Teatro della Pergola Address: Via della Pergola 12/R Phone:055/22641 Enoteca La Dolciaria Address: Via Ginori 24 Phone: 055 214646 Religious sites Chiesa cattolica San Lorenzo (italian language) Address:Piazza San Lorenzo Phone: 055/216634 Duomo (english language) Address:Piazza del Duomo Phone: 055/294514 Chiesa cattolica della Santissima Trinità (german language) Address:Piazza Santa Trinità Phone: 055/216912 Chiesa metodista Address:Via dè Benci, 9 Phone: 055/288143 Chiesa ortodossa russa Address: Via Leone X, 8 Phone: 055/490148 Chiesa anglicana Saint Mark Address:Via Maggio, 16 Phone: 055/294764 Chiesa battista Address:Borgo Ognissanti, 4 Phone: 055/210537 Chiesa avventista Address: Via Guelfa, 12 Phone: 055/287340 Sinagoga Address: Via Farini 4 Phone: 055/245252 Moschea Address:Via Baccio Bandinelli, 11 Phone: 055/711648 hope i have been helpful...
These are my faves. I used to live there. PLACES Uffizzi - see Botticelli's paintings Piazzale Michelangelo - awesome view of Firenze Giardino di Boboli - great park Teatro Del Acqua - outdoor disco w/food, across from James Joyce Pub Accademia is great if you absolutely love sculpture. Otherwise, there's a replica of David in Piazza dela Signoria. FOOD Tratoria Anita (by the Uffizzi, only for dinner - closed Sunday - Via Vinegia 16) Pale D'Oro - in Mercato San Lorenzo - where Italians (not tourists) eat lunch Il Giardino di Barbano - where many young Italians eat pizza - Piazza Independenza 3, closed Wednesday, open for dinner - 5pm - have a shot of Limoncello after dinner Il Giardino di Giada and Le Sorgenti - if you feel like Chinese SHOPPING Unless you're loaded, stay away from Via Tournabuoni. Mercato San Lorenzo has many beautiful and less expensive items. I used to sell leather there. Don't insult the merchandise as Italians will not sell to you if you are rude. Bargain. Say you're a student and ask if they can give you a discount. Most will. 30% is the most you'll get unless the guy's prices are insane. Don't hang around the train station or Santo Spirito, especially at night. Do watch your pockets, especially in public transportation. Walking is best though. Florence is a fine city with very little crime. Just keep your money in your pockets and don't wear those touristy looking things around your neck or waist. Have fun!