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First Time in Florence

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There is so much to see and do in this Renaissance city that you'll find it hard to pick and choose. Try to experience a little bit of everything, including museums, churches, landmarks, restaurants, and wine country.

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Author: JennyMM

Day 1 - Florence

Start out walking around the city center, and head toward the Piazza del Duomo, surrounded by historic sights. The Battistero, one of Florence's oldest buildings, is here, along with the Duomo Cathedral and the Campanile di Giotto, a belltower that can be climbed for a panoramic view of the city. Have a light lunch at Grom, and then continue your pedestrian trip with a visit to the Museo di Palazzo Davanzati, an amazingly preserved example of life in Florence in the 14th century. Finish off your day with a tour of the Uffizi Gallery, Florence's most famous museum, full of works from some of history's premier artists. Book tickets ahead of time to avoid lines here. At dinner at Osteria del Caffe Italiano, check out the wine cellar and try their incredible pizzas. Situated on the Arno river and in the middle of the galleries and landmarks, the Westin Excelsior is impossible to beat as the perfect place for your first trip. Everything about this hotel is impeccable, and the staff are very knowledgeable about the city.

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Piazza del Duomo

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Location:

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piazza del Duomo
50122 Florence, Italy

Phone:

+39 055 2 3320

Campanile di Giotto

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Location:

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Piazza Duomo
50122 Florence, Italy

Phone:

+39 55 230 2885

Battistero

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Location:

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Piazza San Giovanni
50129 Florence, Italy

Phone:

+39 55 230 2885

Grom

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Location:

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Via del Campanile angolo via delle Oche
Florence, Italy

Museo di Palazzo Davanzati

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Location:

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Via Porta Rossa, 13
50123 Florence, Italy

Phone:

+39 055 238 8610

Gallerie degli Uffizi (Uffizi Galleries)

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Piazzale degli Uffizi 6
Off Piazza della Signoria
50122 Florence, Italy

Phone:

055-238-8651

Osteria del Caffè Italiano

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Location:

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Via Isola delle Stinche, 11r
50122 Florence, Italy

Phone:

39 55 28 9368

Westin Excelsior (The)

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Location:

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piazza d'Ognissanti 3
50123 Florence, Italy

Phone:

39 0 55 2 7151

Day 2 - Florence

Visit the Museo di San Marco to observe the religious fresco and painting collection in its original intended housing, in a monastery. Also stop in to view the masterfully painted interiors of the Santa Maria Maddalena de' Pazzi convent and the frescoes in the Ognissanti church. Try an early lunch at Il Latini for a a lively and fun experience, where they'll sit you down at a long table with other diners and plunk a huge bottle of chianti in the middle. After lunch, take the half-day tour of Pisa, west of Florence on the coast, to see the famous leaning tower. When you get back into the city, opt for a late dinner in the hotel at the elegant Mediterranean restaurant ORVM.

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Museo di San Marco

Location:

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piazza San Marco 3
50121 Florence, Italy

Phone:

+39 55 238 8608 / +39 55 238 8704

Santa Maria Maddalena de' Pazzi

Location:

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Borgo Pinti, 58
50121 Florence, Italy

Chiese di Ognissanti

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Piazza d'Ognissanti
Piazza Ognissanti
50123 Florence, Italy

Phone:

055-239-8700

Pisa and the Leaning Tower Half-Day Trip from Florence

Location:

Florence, Italy

Day 3 - Florence

Take another day to just walk around the city, enjoying its many sights. Cross the Arno, and start at the Museo degli Argenti, the Medici summer residence, now home to the Medici jewels and other artifacts. Climb to the Piazzale Michelangelo, from which you can see the entire city and surrounding areas from the overlook. Head back across the Arno on the Ponte Vecchio bridge, a famous landmark, and check out the shops in the arcades along the bridge. Break for lunch at Capocaccia, an upscale bistro near the water. Next, visit the Palazzo Vecchio, a Medici home and Florentine town hall, which has incredible painted interiors and more Renaissance art. Also stop to tour the Santa Croce and Santa Maria Novella churches, full of rich art and history, and stop into the pharmacy around the corner from the Santa Maria Novella. Finish your day with dinner at I Quattro Amici, the best seafood restaurant in Florence.

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Museo degli Argenti

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Piazza Pitti, 1
50125 Florence, Italy

Phone:

+39 55 238 8710

Piazzale Michelangelo

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Piazzale Michelangelo
50125 Florence, Italy

Ponte Vecchio

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Ponte Vecchio
50125 Florence, Italy

Noir

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Lungarno Corsini, 12r
50123 Florence, Italy

Phone:

39 55 21 0751 / 39 55 21 0752

Palazzo Vecchio (Museo)

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Piazza della Signoria
50122 Florence, Italy

Phone:

+39 55 276 8224

Santa Croce Church

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Piazza Santa Croce 16
Piazza Santa Croce
50122 Florence, Italy

Phone:

+39 055 244 619

Santa Maria Novella

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Location:

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piazza Santa Maria Novella
Piazza Santa Maria Novella
50123 Florence, Italy

Phone:

055-215-918

I Quattro Amici

Location:

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Via Orti Oriccellari, 29
50125 Florence, Italy

Phone:

39 55 21 5413

Day 4 - Florence

Take a tour of one of Europe's premiere wine regions with a tasting around the Chianti countryside. There are dozens of delightful restaurants, cafes, wineries, wine shops, and vineyards scattered all over in and between the quaint little towns south of the city. Make the most of your trip with a private tour.

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Private Tour: Chianti Region Wine Tasting

Location:

Florence, Italy

Day 5 - Florence

In the morning, visit the Medici Chapel, which includes the Michelangelo-designed Laurentian Library. Have lunch after at Da Mario, a sweet little restaurant with an ever-changing menu that features pastas, soups, and meat dishes. After, explore the Palazzo Medici Riccardi, built for the Medici family, that has incredible rooms, gardens, and courtyards hidden behind its stone walls. Spend the rest of your afternoon experiencing the many masterpieces housed in the Galleria dell'Accademia. Finish the day with an elegant and traditional Tuscan dinner at Al Lume di Candela.

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