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Weekend in Florence

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Florence is a huge amount of history packed into a small area. Luckily, this means you can easily get from incredible landmark to incredible restaurant to incredible landmark with ease. You just might have to roll instead of walk, though, because the food here is just that good.

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Author: JennyMM

Day 1 - Florence

J.K. Place Hotel is perfectly located within easy walking distance of all of the sights. The hotel maintains a small, quaint, non-chain feel but is also chic and luxurious, and provides better service than anyone could ask for. Have a classic Italian dinner at Sabatini, full of old-style charm.

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Sabatini

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Location:

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Via Panzani, 9a
50123 Florence, Italy

Phone:

39 55 21 1559

J.K. Place Hotel

Location:

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Piazza Santa Maria Novella
50123 Florence, Italy

Phone:

39 0553000000

Day 2 - Florence

Discover where great Italian cooking begins at Mercato Centrale, an open-air market where you can buy any kind of food or drink that you could possibly think of. Visit the Piazza Indipendenza, then stop into Trattoria Mario for lunch, where authentic really means authentic. The steak is particularly good. In the afternoon, explore the center of the city. The Santa Maria Novella monastery is full of Florentine art and architecture. Stroll through the Piazza del Duomo, on which stands the third largest cathedral in the world. The Museo dell'Opera del Duomo is lesser-known and less busy than other museums in the area, but has incredible works by the masters such as Michelangelo and Donatello, and you won't have to wait in line. There is a lovely cloister and incredible Umbrian fresco hidden inside the Santa Maria Maddalena de' Pazzi. Enjoy an exceptional Italian dinner with international influence in the plush Renaissance decor of Enoteca Pinchiorri.

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Mercato Centrale

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Location:

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Piazza del Mercato Centrale
50123 Florence, Italy

Piazza Indipendenza

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Piazza Indipendenza
Florence, Italy

Trattoria Mario

Location:

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Via Rosina 2/r angolo Piazza del Mercato Centrale
Florence, Italy

Phone:

39 55218550

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

Piazza del Duomo

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Location:

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piazza del Duomo
50122 Florence, Italy

Phone:

+39 055 2 3320

Museo dell'Opera del Duomo (Duomo Works Museum)

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Location:

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Piazza del Duomo 9
Directly behind the dome end of the cathedral
50122 Florence, Italy

Phone:

+39 055 230 2885

Santa Maria Maddalena de' Pazzi

Location:

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Borgo Pinti, 58
50121 Florence, Italy

Enoteca Pinchiorri

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Location:

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Via Ghibellina, 87
50122 Florence, Italy

Phone:

+39 055 242757 & +39 055 242777

Day 3 - Florence

Journey across the river in the morning to the Piazzale Michelangelo, which offers breathtaking views of the entire city and of the Tuscan hills. Walk through the Medici family's gardens and fountains in the Giardino di Boboli for an hour or so, then continue on to visit the Santa Maria del Carmine, which houses some of the world's most magnificent Renaissance frescoes. Head back across the river to Trattoria Marione for lunch, full of locals, which has reasonable yet unusual and delicious trattoria fare. In the afternoon, take on Florence's most famous sights, with a visit to Ponte Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery. Ponte Vecchio is probably the city's most photographed spot, with shops in the arcades on either side of the bridge. Make reservations well in advance for tickets to the Uffizi to avoid the serious lines, but this is a can't-miss as it is one of the world's best art collections. It has many of Italy's most magnificent Renaissance pieces, including those by Michelangelo, Botticelli, da Vinci, and others. Bring your own guide or download an audio guide podcast ahead of time. Sit outside for dinner at Osteria del Caffe Italiano, where the pasta, pizza, and wine are everything you could hope for as your last meal in Florence.

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