Mistakes to Avoid while Exploring Florence, Italy
City of Florence offers a variety of top attraction sites for tourists. The city is always filled with foreigners. If you are also visiting this historic center for the first time, here are some tips, which makes your trip more enjoyable and memorable.
Florence is best explored on Foot
Florence is a beautiful small city in Italy which is considered as the historic center. The city is compact enough that you can reach to each attraction just in 20 or 25 minutes. During the time when i was in Florence, I never visited any site on the bus. I only use bus to heading outside the city. Visiting Piazzale Michelangelo is an exception, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t visit it without bus. It takes me 15 minutes to reach there from Duomo.
Florence isn’t Expensive
Florence is not that expensive as people think, the only thing is that you have to take care of something. Although the accommodation prices are not cheap but you will surely get your food at affordable prices if you avoid eating next to Ponte Vecchio or Piazza del Duomo. The things to do in Florence costs only 6 to 10 Euros or even free sometimes. Don’t spend so much time on expensive gelato .
Pre-book your visits to the museum
Florence is the city of renaissance where most of the world famous artists lived and create their work in the ancient time. Uffizi gallery and Accademia Gallery is two of the most famous art museums are housed. As the museums are busy all the time, the number of people visited this museum is limited. The World famous statue of David is housed in the Accademia Gallery of Florence. I would suggest you to go for an advance ticket booking to avoid the long ticket lines, especially in summer and spring.
Go inside the Duomo to Escape from crowds
The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore or Duomo is amazing from outside, it is quite plan from inside. The arts that were housed in the interior of the Duomo were moved to Duomo museum after the flood of 1966.
It is a great place to hide yourself from the heat in the month of summer.
Don’t miss to see the panoramic and breathtaking views of the city from the top of Duomo. It offers 360 degree views over the Florence.
Shopping in Florence is great if you know when to go
Different regions of Italy are famous for different things. When we talk about the specialty of Florence, it means leather. You can buy a good quality leather shoes and other products from the local market of dell’Ariento, Nazionale and Piazza San Lorenzo. There is another local leather market near Duomo. The tourists are easily trapped by the shopkeepers, so be careful with fakes. Always remember that the prices are negotiable. One thing to keep in mind is that, you can only pay in cash.
Take a day trip from Florence to Tuscany
The region of Tuscany is full of beautiful small towns, great scenery and impressive wineries. You can visit the famous leaning tower of Pisa from the Florence. I personally think that if you have visited Pisa before then go for an alternative this time because there is not enough charm in Pisa. I will recommend you to visit Assisi, Perugia or Val d’ Orcia from Florence.
Cross the river
Most of the people that come to Florence stay on the northern side where the Duomo is located. But you should know that the other side of the river makes you feel more local.
Cobblestone streets is a major attraction site in Florence with traditional Italian coffee shops, dotted flower pot. Piazzas is also a beautiful place on the other side of the river where young locals hanging out in the summer.
Italians eat dinner late
The people of Italy usually have their dinner around 10:00–11:00. Most of the restaurants are also remains open at this time. Before dinner, the Italians go for an aperitivo or wine. Many bar offers cured meats and cheese with your cocktail. Snack buffet is complimentary.
Follow these tips for a memorable trip to Florence.
