The Trip Tips-Firenze 1 day trip

Firenze- 1 day

2 possibilities:

* 1st possibility-

Piazza del Duomo- Situated in the center of the city and there you can see the cathedral, campanile and the

Battistero. The Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore is one of the biggest cathedrals in

Europe. It's building begun in 1296 and inaugurated in 1436. The cathedral is built

in the Florentine version of the Gothic style. The front of the church is magnificent

and decorated with marble musaic. There are two big domes with a joint center.

Inside, on the dome there is a huge fresco that describes the doomsday. It's

possible to go up to the gallery and see the church from above and the frescoes

near by. It is possible also to climb to the peak of the dome in which there is a

wonderful observation on the city. In order to go up you have to climb 464 steps.

Hours: The Cathedral: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10.00-17.00. Thursday 10.00-15.30.

Saturday 10.00-16.45. Sunday 13.30-16.45. (First Saturday of the month 10.00-15.30). Free.

The Dome: Sunday-Friday 8.30-19.00. Saturday 8.30-17.40.(First Saturday of the month 10.00-16.00).

Entrance by payment.

Campanile- A 82 m' height tower which was built in the 14th century in a Gothic style. The reliefs in the base of the

tower are copies of the original that are situated in the museum of the cathedral. It's possible to climb 414 steps to

the head of the tower in which there is an observation on the city.

Hours: 8.30-19.30. Entrance by payment.

Battistero- An octagon shape building, coated with white and green marble. It has a beautiful, engraved bronze

made door. The Battistero was built in the 8th and 9th centuries. The eastern door which turns to the cathedral was

named by Michelangelo as worth to be "The gate to paradise".

Hours: Monday-Saturday 12.00-19.00, Sunday 8.30-14.00. Entrance by payment.

Museo dell'Opera del Duemo- In the museum there are items that were removed from the external walls of the

Cathedral, the Campanile and the Battistero, in order to protect them from the weather. In the museum there is

a most important collection of sculptures.

Hours: Monday-Saturday 9.00-19.30, Sunday 9.00-13.40. Entrance by payment.

Transportation: 1, 6, 7, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 23.

For information about update opening hours and more it's possible to see in the website of the Duomo.

Exit the square toward Via Roma, walk until you arrive to Piazza della Repubblica-

The square situated in the same place of the former Roman forum that was the center of

the ancient settlement. *At this place situated Flower & Plant Market-

see Firenze shopping.

Today it's a noisy square with cafes, restaurants and pubs. From the square exit streets with many shops of

clothes, shoes and more. look at Firenze shopping.

Transportation: 6, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 23, 31, 32, 36, 37.

Exit the square to Via Calimala and go until Via Porta Rossa *In this place situated Mercato Nuovo

turn right and go until Via di Calzaiuoli, turn right and arrive to see Firenze shopping.

Piazza della Signoria- the most beautiful squre in Firenze. There are a lot of sculptures :

Cosimo 1 riding a horse, a fountain of Neptune, copy of "David" and copy of "the

lion of Firenze".

Around the square situated : Palazzo Vecchio, Loggia dei Lanzi and Museo Uffizi.

Palazzo Vecchio- was built during the years 1299-1314. Above it stands the 94 m' Campanile. During hundreds of

years it was the center of the Florentine authority, and today it houses the municipality offices.

In the first floor there are the magnificent hall "Salone dei Cinquecento" decorated with frescoes that describe the

history of Firenze, and the "studiolo"- the grandiose work room of Francesco de Medici. In the second floor there are

the grandiose living rooms and work rooms.

Hours: Monday-Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 9.00-19.00.

Thursday, Saturday 9.00-14.00.

Loggia dei Lanzi- an open arcade which was built at the end of the 14th century as a hall of assemblies and

afterwards the headquarters of the "Lanzi "- Infantry- of Cosimo 1. Nowadays it's filled with sculptures from the

ancient time and from the period of the renaissance.

Galleria degli Uffizi Museum of art- one of the most beautiful in the world. There is the biggest collection of Italian

Florentine art. It was built in the 16th century as an office building. The drawings

are exhibited in the chronological way in the 45 rooms of the museum, so it's

possible to follow the development of the drawing in Italy and in Firenze.

Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 8.15-18.50. Monday is closed.

It's possible and recommended to order tickets in advance on tel. 39-055294883.

More details you can see in the website of the museum.

Exit Piazza della Signoria in the side of Palazzo Vecchio to Via Proconsolo . At number 4 situated Palazzo e

Museo Nazionale del Bargello. The palace was built in the 13th century. Initially served as the house of the mayor

and afterwards served as the headquarters of the police. Today it houses the national museum of sculptures and

decorative art with special department that exhibits Renaissance Italian and Florentine sculpture.

Hours:. 8.15-18.00. close on Mondays the 2nd and 4th of the month.

From Piazza della Signoria turn into Via Vaccherccia pedstrian street. Walk until Via Por Santa Maria pedestrian

street and turn left. Walk until you arrive to Ponte Vecchio bridge. This is the most

ancient bridge in Firenze, over the Arno river, that connects the two sides of the

city. In the past it was ruined and built newly several times. The bridge is filled with

jewelry and goldsmith shops.

After crossing the bridge arrive to Via Guicciardini, in which many shops. Continue until arriving to

Piazza Pitti and Palazo Pitti- a 15th century palace that was built for the banker Lucca Pitti in order to compete

the Medici family. After building the palace he went bankrupt and sold it to the Medici family.

In the palace 3 floors in which 4 museums :

In the ground floor situated the silver museum Museo degli Argenti in which are exhibited treasures of the Medici

family like silverware, crystal, furniture etc.

Hours: June-August 8.15-19.30.

September, October, April, May 8.15-18.30.

October (when moving back to winter time) 8.15-15.30.

November-February 8.15-16.30.

closed on the last Monday of the month.

In the first floor situated the Galleria Palatina and the Appartamenti Reali. In the gallery situated a spectacular- one

of the biggest in Europe- collection of art creations from the 16th-18th centuries. Creations of Titian, Raphael,

Rubens, Botticelli and more. The collection is a Medici collection, and the creations are exhibited as they use to, in

that period of time- from the ceiling to floor in magnificent rooms with heavy curtains.

Next to the gallery situated the magnificent Royal Appartments.

Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 8.30-18.50. Monday is closed.

In the second floor situated The Gallery of modern art Galleria dell Moderna in which are exhibited mainly Tuscan

creations from the 19th and 20th centuries. In the gallery there is also a collection of creations of the Macchiaioli

school.

Hours: 8.15-18.00. closed on Sundays the 1st., 3rd, 5th of the month, Mondays the 2nd, 4th every month.

In the second floor situated Galleria del Costume in which are exhibited Italian costumes from the 18th century

until today.

Hours: 8.15-13.50. closed on Sundays the 2nd, 3rd of the month, Mondays the 1st., 3rd, 5th every month.

Behind the palace situated Giardino Di Boboli- They were created in 1550. The garden is terraced, full of vegetation,

trees, pools, fountains, caves, hidden sculptures, a lake in which fish and ducks.

In the top of the hill is situated Porte di Balvedere- a fortress that destined to

defend the city in time of blockade.

From this place there is a spectacular observation on Firenze and the

surroundings. It's possible to do a picnic on the grass.

Next to the fortress, inside a little booth from the 17th century, situated the Museo

delle Porcellane in which a display of porcelain items from the 18th and 19th

centures .

Hours: June-August 8.15-19.30.

(gardens and museum).

September, October, April, May 8.15-18.30.

October (when moving back to winter time) 8.15-15.30.

November-February 8.15-16.30.

Closed on the last Monday of the month.

Entrance until 1 hour before the shutdown,

More details you can see in the website of the palace.

* 2nd possibility-

Staring the day at Galleria dell Accademia.

The gallery is known mainly for the sculptures of Michelangelo that the famous

of them is "David" which placed in the edge of the round hall.

In addition to the sculptures there are pictures of Tuscan artists from the

13th-15th centuries including 2 pictures of Botticelli.

Hours:Tuesday-Sunday 8.15-18.50.Monday closed.

It's possible to order tickets in advance on the tel. 39-055-294-883.

Return in Via Ricasoli until Via Guelfa turn right. Walk until arriving to mercato di san lorenzo-many stands of

clothing, leather products, straw and more. The market extends over several streets.

The opening hours of the the market: Monday-Saturday 7.00-14.00. Sunday closed.

And to Mercato Centrale - a roofed market in which it's possible to buy meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, pastas and

more products of food. In the upper floor it's possible to buy also flowers.

The opening hours of the the market: Monday-Friday 7.00-14.00. Saturday and Sunday closed.

Exit the market toward the nearby church -San Lorenzo. It's possible to enter, depending the timetable.

The church was designed by the architect Brunelleschi and was built in the 15th century.

The Medici family used to pray in this church and most of the family members

were buried in it. Donatello designed the 2 pulpits in bronze, and the decoration in

the holy objects old room.

Hours: 7.00-12.00, 15.30-18.30.

Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana- In the library there is a collection of ancient

handwritings that were purchased by Cosimo the father and the great Lorenzo. The

entrance to the library is on the left side of the church by a magnificent staircase

that was built according to Michelangelo designed.

Hours: Monday-Saturday 9.00-13.00.

Nearby situated Piazza del Duomo- Continuation of the trip is like in possibility 1 until Palazo Pitti and

Giardino Di Boboli.

Most likely that the timetable will not enable visit inside Galleria degli Uffizi.