Are you planning the vacation of your lifetime to Italy? One thing is for certain, you are going to have a fabulous time if you include all of the major cities in the country. Apart from Rome and Venice, one city that should not be avoided is Florence (known as Firenze by the locals). Florence is a gorgeous little town full of amazing architecture in the beautiful Renaissance style (Leonardo Da Vinci would be so proud!) as well as incredible museums like the Galleria de Accademia where you will have the privilege of bearing witness to “the David”. This small town is packed with luxury shops (can you say Ferragamo shoes?), delicious trattorias and gorgeous walkways over beautiful bridges (don’t miss the Ponte Vecchio!). Florence is just a short 2 hour train ride from Rome but it seems a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of the busy city. A trip to Florence is an absolute must when you are planning your Italy vacation.
It doesn’t seem quite fair to only give Florence one afternoon. There is just too much to see and it would be a travesty to have to miss out of the bevy of things to see and do in this gorgeous little town. If you are basing your vacation using Rome as your “hub” city, leave your suitcases at your hotel and pack a small overnight bag for your time in Florence. Hop of the train in Rome (Eurostar is the cleanest and the only non-stop train service available) and get ready to be transported into renaissance times. You will get off the train and will find yourself directly inside of Rome, so there will be no need for a taxi. The city is relatively small, and with a good tourist map, you will be able to find your way around this city quite easily. There are a few places that you simply must not miss. The most important one is the one that will catch your eye the most and that is the Duomo. This incredible and awe inspiring piece of architecture is the most famous symbol of Florence. The delicate pieces so intricately carved are truly jaw dropping. Pictures just won’t do it justice.
Be sure to bring a fair amount of spending money on your trip to Florence. While shopping in Rome will bring you many tourist-type souvenirs like tee shirts, snow globes and aprons with the body of “the David” on the front (ahem), on your Italy vacation to Florence, you will find classy, beautiful, and yes, pricey items. This city has numerous brand name designer stores such as Gucci and Prada. It is also the home of Salvatore Ferragamo who has made designer shoes for celebrities and the rich and famous for decades. You will also find many jewelry shops. Be careful that you getting your money’s worth and not being swindled. If you have the money to spend, make sure you do it in Florence!
Tags: bearing witness, delicate pieces, ferragamo shoes, hub city, italy vacation, leonardo da vinci, luxury shops, ponte vecchio florence, renaissance style, renaissance times