24 Hours in...Florence
Stay… Central stays are popular in this compact city so for an adults-only break I recommend Hotel Gallery Art. If you’re looking to splash out then AdAstra is a great option and is set in the largest private "intra moenia" (between walls) garden in Europe. For a boutique B&B I love SoprArno, boasting 13 individually-designed rooms tucked away in the centre of Florence’s coolest Oltrarno area, just minutes from the Ponte Vecchio and Pitti Palace.
Eat at… Start your evening with a stylish aperitivo at Bulli e Balene, a trendy bar offering creative cocktails and a vibrant atmosphere. Then for a typical Tuscan trattoria dine at Lungarno 23 and enjoy Florentine bistro-style dishes on a veranda that overlooks the picturesque Lungarno Torrigiani. Round the night off with a gelato from Gelateria La Carraia and a passeggiata!
Visit… Florence is packed with renaissance art and architecture so galleries such as Uffizi and Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze, along with churches such as Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo) and Capell Medicee should be high on your list. There are lots of ways to explore – on foot, by bike or on the back of a Vespa! Try your hand at cooking like the locals at an Italian cooking class or head out of Florence to the Chianti region or Siena. TIP: It’s a good idea to purchase your skip the line tickets to Uffizi in advance.
Don’t leave without… Searching for the city’s hidden wine windows, climbing the hill to the Piazza Michelangelo to see the statue and take in the city views and stopping off at the historic Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, the 800 year old perfumery located at 16 Via della Scala.
I tailor-make trips for individuals, couples and families across the world so if you'd like to plan a trip to Italy then get in touch!
zoe.palmer@mytc.com 01962 690006
