Florence

Being in Florence, you will realize very soon, that such an abundance of cultural treasures can be located only here, at the birthplace of the great Dante Alighieri.

To be able to cover the historical scale of this epic city and to avoid dizziness from the impressions (which is still pleasant), I think, you have to allocate for Florence at least 2-3 days.

You can get to Florence by train from Pisa (1 hour) and from Milan or Rome (3 hours) or by direct Aeroflot flight from Moscow. I usually buy train or bus tickets at www.GoEuro.com

If you are interested in a professional photo shoot in Florence, you can check the details regarding the price of the professional photographer’s services on this page.

If you are here only for a day and you are wondering, from where to start and what to see in Florence, then go to Piazza Santa Croce to see the Majestic Basilica. It is a 15-minute walk from Firenze Campo di Marte Station and it is a convenient starting point for your tour around the city. 

But in case you arrived at Santa Maria Novella Railway station, it is better to start with Basilica of Santa Maria Novella.

But in any case, all major landmarks of Florence are quite close to each other.

Basilica of Santa Croce

Here you can admire the frescoes of Giotto, the multicolored stained glass windows and see the 16 chapels that make up the basilica. One of the largest and most beautiful is the Pazzi Chapel, built by Brunelleschi.

Inside the basilica, there is the Pantheon with Galileo, Michelangelo, Macchiavelli, Niccolini and Rossini tombs.

Santa Croce's opening hours are from Monday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., the entrance fee is € 8 for adults, € 6 for children from 11 to 17 y/o, and free for kids up to 11 y/o. Not to stand in a queue, you can book and pay a ticket online on this site.

On the left side of the basilica, you will see the monument to Dante Alighieri, since this great poet lived and worked in Florence.

Dante Alighieri House Museum

The house of Dante in Florence (Museo Casa di Dante) is located on Via Santa Margherita, 1. Nowadays, it has an exhibition dedicated to his life and work.

The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the ticket price is €4 for adults and €2 for children.

The Church of Dante and Beatrice

A modest church on Via Santa Margherita is called the Church of Dante. According to legend, it was here that Dante first saw his beloved Beatrice, the muse of all his creations. 

This church is considered to be a symbol of their love, and lovers from all over the world leave letters and messages to Beatrice in a basket near the tombstone every day.

The church is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The Magical Gardens of Bardini

This quiet and peaceful world inside the city center promises you an unforgettable moment, when time seems to stop and you are immersed in the deep fragrance of roses in summer or blooming camellias in April. Besides that, it has magnificent panoramic views of Florence, Florentine palaces and villas.

Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens

You can spend few hours in Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens. If you enter through the gardens, you can skip the queue to the Palace. Another option is to come in the morning to the opening, when there are very few tourists in the Palace and you can easily walk through its luxurious halls and royal chambers, admiring the works of Botticelli, Raphael, Ribera, Titian and even Brulov. Here, you can also see the works of Florentine jewelers and contemporary artists.

Michelangelo Square and the Rose Garden

Michelangelo Square is the best panoramic platform in Florence. There are always musicians playing here and the place, itself, especially during the sunset, becomes incredibly colorful and vibrant.

Next to the square, on the hillside, there is the Rose Garden with equally gorgeous view, where you can sit under a bush of blooming mimosa in spring or among fragrant roses in summer.

Cathedral of Santa Maria Del Fiore

Santa Maria Del Fiore is so huge, that you really get fascinated with its majesty! This cathedral is the third largest church in the world (after St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome and St. Paul's Cathedral in London). The name of the cathedral means the flower of St. Mary, namely the lily, which is the symbol of the city of Florence.

The different styles that can be recognized in the architecture of the building, indicate a change of tastes over the time from the foundation of the cathedral to the moment, when it was completed.

The first stone of the facade, designed by Arnolfo di Cambio, was laid in September 8, 1296 and the construction was finished only in the 15th century.

Duomo, Florence Cathedral

The famous cathedral dome seems to dominate the entire horizon of Florence. Eight white edges of the dome are highlighted by the background of the magnificent terracotta tiles. The frescoes with the plot of the "Last Judgment", made by Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari, decorate the inner shell of the dome.

The entrance ticket to the Cathedral costs € 20 and you can also buy it on the website to avoid the queue for the tickets. But it will not help to avoid the queue at the entrance. In summer, the queue stretches around the entire building. 

The ticket allows you to visit the Cathedral, Duomo and Bell Tower during 72 hours, starting from the first entrance in any order you like, except that the time of visiting the Dome must be booked immediately during the purchase.

The magnificent Uffizi Gallery

One of the best art museums in the world, the Uffizi Gallery, has some of the most prominent works of the Renaissance, including works by Leonardo da Vinci, Giotto, Botticelli and Michelangelo. The gallery displays a large collection of Greek and Roman sculptures.

Accademia Gallery

At the Accademia, you can see Michelangelo's David, one of the most recognizable statues in the world. Inside, you will also see unfinished and majestic works of Michelangelo as well as works by Perugino, Giambologna, Botticelli and Alessandro Allori.

The Ponte Vecchio or Old Bridge

Looking for the opportunity to take a perfect photo?  Or, maybe, purchase the most amazing gold coin to take home as a souvenir from Florence? Ponte Vecchio is the best place to get both! This bridge is an eternal symbol of Florence, the demonstration of its endurance in the face of all natural disasters.

The place, where you should definitely drop in to memorize the authentic atmosphere of Florence, is La Prosciutteria Firenze on Via dei Neri, 54, open from 11:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

This colorful, delicious and affordable cafe offers meat, duck, cheeses, wine and desserts! Price range (from € 5- € 10) depends on the size of the wooden tray, on which you will cut everything that you choose.