What to do in Florence, Italy

What was the city like, and what stands out most, after more than three years have passed?

The vibe - Florence was different than Rome. Florence felt a lot smaller, and the history of the area was less focused on the Ancient Romans or Greeks, and more on the Renaissance period. I’m no art historian or history buff, but I did feel that if someone were to give a lecture on the Medici family, Michelangelo, or how the Italian Renaissance began, it would make a lot more sense when surrounded by the architecture and the artistic vibes of the city.

I liked the focus on art in Florence. I distinctly remember the painters who sat by the Arno River and painted right there in front of you, and you could buy a piece of their work for a few euros. Art is a huge part of the city’s culture. Standing in the famous Piazza del Duomo outside the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore was nothing less than breathtaking. I felt so small in comparison to how large the church was! You see it a lot in photos or in TV shows (La casa de papel fans, anyone?) or films, but physically being in the piazza staring up at the buildings was something entirely different. They were simply enormous, and I don’t know how someone could even dream of building a church on that scale, in the 1400s. Mind blown. My only regret is not exploring the inside of the church.  

Views from near the Ponte Vecchio, or old bridge:

Piazzale Michelangelo – All I remember was that it was close to sunset time and my friends that I traveled to Florence with were like, we have to go to this place - without naming or describing the place. So we just kept on walking really fast, and it kept getting steeper and steeper, until the road finally plateaued out. I looked up, and I remember the absolutely stunning view of the city sprawling below us, the guitarist playing in the square, taking lots and lots of photos on my canon and my iphone, and just really happy to have made it to such a nice spot to see the entire city. The hike was worth it – I just wish I knew where we were going ahead of time! 

What would you recommend people to check out?

Definitely the Ponte Vecchio, or any of the bridges, really. Bridges are usually where lots of people and street artists gather, and are usually historic places.

Check out the Piazza del Duomo for the epic architecture. 

Go check out the sculpture of David by Michelangelo and admire his physique. Haha – he truly is a masterpiece.

If you could go again, what would you do differently?

Stay at an Airbnb there and do a 2 or 3 day trip rather than a much faster-paced day trip. Explore inside the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo di Firenze). Maybe climb up the dome. Go back to Piazzale Michelangelo and have a panoramic view of the city. People watch more in the piazzas. Listen to the musicians in the piazzas (one of the things I look forward to most when I’m traveling). Watch the artists paint. Linger longer and savor the little things instead of trying to see all the important things in one day (I’m looking at you, Duomo and Michelangelo’s David). Maybe buy a leather good at one of the reputed leather shops. Dine by the bridge or in one of the piazzas. 

Apparently this is a thing - writing your name and date on a lock, and locking it to the bridge! And maybe tossing the key in the river?? 

Piazza della Repubblica: 

Street musicians are the best part of traveling anywhere:

The famous Duomo di Firenze (I'm kind of proud of how this photo reminds me of that one scene from La Casa de Papel - fans know what I'm talking about!)

I’m curious to know – have you ever visited Florence? What did you think of the city? How did it compare to other places you’ve been to in Italy? How did it compare to what you knew about the city prior to visiting? What would you do if you could go back?