See The Ultimate Renaissance Art! See Florence Italy!
What can you say about the city of Florence? Bellisimo!! I love this incredible city! Whether you’re an art lover or not… the culture, history, architecture and classic sculptured art are everywhere to remind you that this is the birthplace of the Renaissance. You need to save a spot on your bucket list to see Florence!
What’s To See…
Take a walk through the enclosed Ponte Vecchia (Old Bridge) with it’s many jewelry shops which have been in existence since the 13th century! This is more for the cultural aspects than a shopping excursion, as you need to be real careful about buying jewelry here. The pricing is on the high side (many of the same items can be purchased in the city for less) and most of the shops have a no return policy. Buyer beware! Nevertheless, stop to admire the view from the center of the bridge over the River Arno, it’s especially great at sunset!
Visit Harry’s Bar overlooking the water. It’s a little pricey, but has outside seating and a great view over the river! Look around for street artists making amazingly intricate chalk drawings that will soon be washed away. I can’t believe the time put into these temporary creations!
Street Artists with Chalk in Florence
You’ll also find many a street performer in the city. Keep an eye on some of them throughout the day. It seems to me that many of them put in a full day and make a decent living. Need a few bucks? Get a can of gold spray paint!
Street Performer In Florence, Italy
There’s nothing like sitting on the streets of the Piazza del Duomo, gazing at Florence’s Cathedral, the terra-cotta topped Il Duomo di Firenze. Amazingly, the construction of the Duomo began in 1296 and the structure was completed in 1436! Wow… that’s a whole lot of generations of tradesmen. On a side note, how great was that sky?!
You’ll see horse drawn carriages of tourists passing by, a myriad of charicature artists sketching away, and groups of school children learning the mysteries of the Duomo and the city surrounding it. Get a glass of wine or an OMG gelato and sit a spell to take it all in. Florence continues to have outdoor seating throughout their winter season, as the average low temperature is 45 degrees.
The Piazza della Signoria has some amazing statues, including the replica of David by Michelangelo which has been in this spot since 1910 when the original piece was moved to the Galleria dell’Accademia museum. I was amazed to find out the Michelangelo was only 26 when he was commissioned to sculpt the statue! The Nettuno by Ammannati, as well as many others are all in this piazza. There’s so much more to see… you can visit several nearby museums including the Uffizi, the Bargello and the Accademia.
Replica of ‘David’
The original ‘David’
Know Before You Go!
Be on the lookout for the ‘hawkers’. In this city of art, selling is an artform and it’s not always pretty. I would love to have had the time to browse, especially at the Leather Market, but I refuse to because they try to sell you so feverishly its uncomfortable. It’s not like shopping, it’s more like arguing. One jacket was 225 euro at one kiosk and 175 euro next door! No wonder they don’t want you to shop around!
Hidden behind the Leather Market you’ll find Central Market. A great place to pick up some fresh food!
We enjoyed a seafood lunch there. On the menu, the wine is listed first and the same price as water! Gotta love the Italians! They only have one question for you. Red or white?
Even in the food market you have to watch the sales push. We asked for 4 biscotti (yum), the smiling and friendly counter girl pushed 7 cookies in the bag before she weighed them and charged us. Out on the street a vendor changed the price on a toy train for my littlest grandson three times before I told him to keep it. Sorry Max… Unfortunately, even we seasoned travelers got robbed by the cash exchange. I expected the service charge of $10 but I didn’t realize that they would charge a 19.9% fee in addition! Can you imagine? There ought to be a law! Don’t make this mistake. Take the time to look for a cash machine if you’re out of euros. In addition, before you leave for your trip find out which of your credit/banking cards charge the least for conversion and use that if necessary.
While we’re on the money subject, the cost for gas, tolls and parking is quite high. Try to use public transportation. The trains are great for getting from place to place. Other than that you’ll find most things reasonable unless you’re in the big cities.
Spectacular!
Be street smart and have a great time!
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