Nightlife
Description:
Florence has an active nightlife for such a small town. There are beautiful bars populated by beautiful people. If clubbing and dancing are your idea of a vacation then Florence will not disappoint. Another great evening activity is to enjoy an aperitivo at any of the many bars that offer one. With the purchase of just one drink you have access to a limitless buffet. Be sure to pace yourself, Italian bartenders pour more liberally than their US colleagues.
Author: Jennifer
Day 1 - Florence
On this first day you will want to get acquainted with Florence. Avoid the temptation to see all of it in one day. Spend more time visiting the sites individually instead of seeing all of them for 5 minutes each day. Florence is very small and one can easily traverse the historic center on foot in about 30 minutes. Today you should check out the spiritual center of Florence, the Duomo. You can visit the Battistero, the Duomo and then climb either to the top of the Duomo or the Campanile. For the afternoon head over to Palazzo Pitti by way of the Ponte Vecchio and visit the Giardino di Boboli. Before dinner head to Capocaccia for an aperitivo. At a bar that offers an aperitivo, ordering a cocktail allows you to pillage the buffet as much as your sense of propriety will allow. If you still have room left for dinner head to Danny Rock.
1
Piazza del Duomo
Location:
view in google mapspiazza del Duomo
50122 Florence, Italy
Phone:
+39 055 2 33202
Beccofino
Location:
view in google mapsPiazza degli Scarlatti
50125 Florence, Italy
Phone:
39 55 29 00762
Moyo
Location:
view in google mapsVia de' Benci 23/r
50122 Florence, Italy
Phone:
39 55 247 37382
Baldovino
Location:
view in google mapsVia San Giuseppe 22r
50121 Florence, Italy
Phone:
+39 055 2417732
Campanile di Giotto
Location:
view in google mapsPiazza Duomo
50122 Florence, Italy
Phone:
+39 55 230 28853
Battistero
Location:
view in google mapsPiazza San Giovanni
50129 Florence, Italy
Phone:
+39 55 230 28854
Giardino di Boboli
Location:
view in google mapsPiazza Pitti, 1
50125 Florence, Italy
Phone:
+39 55 265 18385
Capocaccia
Location:
view in google mapsLungarno Corsini, 12r
50123 Florence, Italy
Phone:
39 55 21 0751 / 39 55 21 07526
Danny Rock
Location:
view in google mapsVia Pandolfini, 13
50122 Florence, Italy
Phone:
+39 55 234 03077
Gallery Hotel Art
Location:
view in google mapsVicolo dell Oro 5
Ponte Vecchio
50123 Florence, Italy
Phone:
39 0 55 2726 6987Day 2 - Florence
Every Tuesday morning there is an enormous market at the Parco delle Cascine along the Arno River. Walking through the market along the river is a great way to see another side of Florence away from the Duomo and the Palazzo della Signoria. You can get an early start on buying gifts or souvenirs for friends and relatives. You can also have a snack at many of the vendors along the way. A traditional Florentine tripe (trippa) sandwich is a must. If you can’t stomach tripe then try the porchetta sandwich. After the market head up to Piazzale Michelangelo for a great view of Florence and then continue on up to San Miniato al Monte. To descend to Florence take the long stairs from Piazzale Michelangelo near the café/bar. On your way back to the hotel before dinner stop and sit at the Loggia dei Lanzi in Piazza della Signoria. Head to Elliot Braun for dinner and then finish the evening at Dolce Vita. Don’t stay out too late because you have an early train to catch in the morning.
1
Parco delle Cascine
Location:
view in google mapsPiazza Vittorio Veneto
50123 Florence, Italy
2
Piazzale Michelangelo
Location:
view in google mapsPiazzale Michelangelo
50125 Florence, Italy
3
San Miniato al Monte
Location:
view in google mapsVia del Monte alle Croci 34
Via del Monte alle Croci/Viale Galileo Galilei (behind Piazzale Michelangiolo)
50125 Florence, Italy
Phone:
055-234-27314
Loggia dei Lanzi
Location:
view in google mapspiazza della Signoria
50122 Florence, Italy
5
Elliot Braun
Location:
view in google mapsVia Ponte alle Mosse, 117r
50145 Florence, Italy
Phone:
39 55 35 23526
Dolce Vita
Location:
view in google mapsPiazza del Carmine, 6r
50125 Florence, Italy
Phone:
39 55 28 4595Day 3 - Rome, Florence
For a day trip to Rome from Florence you have to be well rested and prepared to work. Take an early train to Roma Termini. The Eurostar trains will get you to Rome in about 1.5 hours. The commuter trains fill up quickly so advanced booking is advised. Upon arrival at Termini take the Metro to Piazza di Spagna. From here work your way over to the Fontana di Trevi. On your way to the Pantheon stop by the Sant’Ignazio di Loyola to experience the masterful faux painting of the inside of a dome that adorns the ceiling. Whenever I am near this church, I always run in to see this. It is fun to look at. From the Pantheon to Piazza Navona stop by San Luigi dei Francesi to see a Caravaggio. Piazza Navona is my favorite piazza in all of Italy. For me it is what every piazza aspires to be. From here make your way to the Piazza del Campidoglio: a space designed by Michelangelo himself. Now you are within site of the Coliseum but first you must take a minute to see Piazza Venezia and the Roman Forum. From the Coliseum head along the Tiber to San Pietro. When you have finished visiting San Pietro take the Metro back to Roma Termini and catch your Eurostar back to Florence. After you have recuperated at your hotel go to the Cantina Barbagiani for dinner and then to the Jazz Club. There is a membership fee for the Jazz Club that you can avoid if you let the owner know that you are just vacationing in Italy. There is live music every evening starting at around 10:00. I suggest getting there by 9:00 or 9:30 to get a good table.
1
Piazza di Spagna
Location:
view in google mapspiazza di Spagna
00187 Rome, Italy
Phone:
+39 6 48 8991 (Tourist Information)2
Trevi Fountain (Fontana dei Trevi)
Location:
view in google mapspiazza di Trevi
Piazza di Trevi
00187 Rome, Italy
Phone:
+39 06 060 608(Tourist Information)3
Sant'Ignazio di Loyola
Location:
view in google maps8a Via del Caravita
00186 Rome, Italy
Phone:
+39 6 679 44064
The Pantheon
Location:
view in google mapspiazza della Rotonda
Piazza della Rotonda
00186 Rome, Italy
Phone:
+39 6 6830 02305
San Luigi dei Francesi
Location:
view in google mapsVia Santa Giovanna d'Arco 5
00186 Rome, Italy
Phone:
+39 6 68 82716
Piazza Navona
Location:
view in google mapspiazza Navona
00186 Rome, Italy
Phone:
+39 06 060 608(Tourist Information)7
Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi
Location:
view in google mapspiazza Navona
00186 Rome, Italy
Phone:
+39 06 060 608(Tourist Information)8
Piazza del Campidoglio
Location:
view in google mapspiazza del Campidoglio
00186 Rome, Italy
Phone:
+39 06 060 608(Tourist Information)9
Piazza Venezia
Location:
view in google mapspiazza Venezia
00187 Rome, Italy
10
Roman Forum
Location:
view in google mapsVia Romolo Artioli
00186 Rome, Italy
Phone:
+39 06 3996 770011
Arco di Costantino
Location:
view in google mapsvia San Gregorio
Piazza del Colosseo
00184 Rome, Italy
Phone:
+39 6 48 8991 (Tourist Information)12
The Colosseum (Colosseo)
Location:
view in google mapsPiazza del Colosseo
Piazzale del Colosseo, Via dei Fori Imperiali
00184 Rome, Italy
Phone:
+39 6 700 4261 / +39 6 700 546913
Piazza San Pietro
Location:
view in google mapspiazza San Pietro
00193 Rome, Italy
Phone:
+39 6 48 8991 (Tourist Information)14
Basilica di San Pietro (St. Peter's Basilica)
Location:
view in google mapspiazza San Pietro
Piazza San Pietro
00193 Rome, Italy
Phone:
+39 (0)6 48 8991 (Tourist Information)15
Cantina Barbagianni
Location:
view in google mapsVia Sant'Egidio, 13r
50123 Florence, Italy
Phone:
+39 055 248050816
Jazz Club
Location:
view in google mapsVia Nuova de' Caccini, 3
50121 Florence, Italy
Phone:
39 55 247 9700Day 4 - Florence
Start your day off by heading up to Fiesole. There is a city bus (ATAF) that runs from the train station to Fiesole. Once back in Florence find out what the Cinema Odeon is offering for a matinee. The Odeon often offers movies in original sound and this could be a nice break from seeing the sights. After the movie head to Enoteca Pinchiorri for dinner. After dinner head to Kikuya and find a comfortable spot on one of the couches. Before dancing at Meccano’ go to Carabe’ for some gelato or granita. I met the owners when they first started this shop in the early nineties. It has become a huge success and once you taste their gelato you will understand why. Finish your evening, or early morning, at Meccano’.
2
Odeon CineHall
Location:
view in google mapsPiazza Strozzi
50122 Florence, Italy
Phone:
39 55 29 50513
Enoteca Pinchiorri
Location:
view in google mapsVia Ghibellina, 87
50122 Florence, Italy
Phone:
+39 055 242757 & +39 055 2427774
Kikuya
Location:
view in google mapsVia Dei Benci 43r
50125 Florence, Italy
5
Meccanò
Location:
view in google mapsViale degli Olmi - Parco delle Cascine
Parco delle Cascine
50100 Florence, Italy
Phone:
39 55 33 1371Day 5 - Florence
It is your final day in Florence and during what little time you have left between packing and shopping be sure to visit the Santa Maria Novella church as well as the Santa Croce church and Piazza D’Azeglio. If you have time before you leave go to Zoe for a great aperitivo buffet.
1
Santa Maria Novella
Location:
view in google mapspiazza Santa Maria Novella
Piazza Santa Maria Novella
50123 Florence, Italy
Phone:
055-215-9182
Natalino
Location:
view in google mapsBorgo degli Albizi, 17r
50121 Florence, Italy
Phone:
39 55 28 94043
Santa Croce Church
Location:
view in google mapsPiazza Santa Croce 16
Piazza Santa Croce
50122 Florence, Italy
Phone:
+39 055 244 6194
Piazza D'Azeglio
Location:
view in google mapsPiazza D'Azeglio
50121 Florence, Italy
5
Zoe
Location:
view in google mapsVia dei Renai 13r
Piazza Demidoff
50125 Florence, Italy
Phone:
+39 055 243111