Florence - A Fleeting Visit

One day in Florence, the capital of Tuscany, is such a tease. Just enough time to catch a fleeting glimpse of the city that pays homage to the Renaissance. A living showcase of art, history and architecture...

24-hours in Florence was all I had before taking the train to the Chianti area of Tuscany for a taste of rural Italian life and some Chianti Classico vineyards. Afterwards that I planned to spend time in Pisa before heading home.

I was determined to make the most of my one day in Florence but there's a lot to pack in. Florence is an extremely walkable city with all the main sights not more than 30 minutes from each other. These are my top tips on how to get the best of 24-hours in Florence.

Church of Santa Maria Novella

Santa Maria Novella is the only one of Florence's major churches to possess an original facade.  The square in front was used by Cosimo I for an annual chariot race - The Palio dei Cocchi.  Two obelisks, which each sit on four bronze tortoises, marked the start and the finish of the race. This is just one of many fun facts about Florence.

You might like to read Two Days in Florence

Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore

The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, also known as the Duomo, is the city’s main focal point and the dome is symbolic of Florence.  The duomo is the perfect reference point when sightseeing and the top is open to the public for views of the city - an alternative is Giotto's Bell Tower if you're happy to climb the 414 steps. 

Even the pavement art in Florence is special...

Piazza della Signoria

Piazza della Signoria is pretty much an outdoor sculpture gallery and here, amongst the cafes and street life, there're replicas of the original statues which now reside behind the doors of Florence's museums.  Michelangelo's Statue of David is housed in the city’s Galleria dell’Accademia, but there's a replica outside Palazzo Vecchio in the Piazza if you're short on time.

In front of Ammannati's Neptune fountain is where, in the 1490s, Savonarola held his Bonfire of the Vanities. Here the Florentines burned their wigs, mirrors, paintings and symbols of decadence, however,  his puritanical endeavours lasted only a few years before he was hanged and burned on the very same spot.

The River Arno

A few minutes walk from Piazza della Signoria runs the River Arno, the second most important river in central Italy.  

Florence's rowing club The Canottieri has raced on the Arno for over 100 years and I watched some rowers power by as they trained in the warm Spring weather. 

Ponte Vecchio

In the distance Ponti Vecchio, 'The Bridge of Gold' straddles the river.  Dating back to the 900s it's lined with small shops; goldsmiths, jewellers and souvenir sellers.  Above the shops runs the Corridoio Vasariano, a passage which was used by the Medici family to travel in privacy from the Uffizi to the Palazzo Pitti on the other side of the Arno river.

The Best View of Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo

If, like me, you're a sucker for a city view then cross over the river and head over to Piazzale Michelangelo to watch the sun set over panoramic Florence. 

It'll take a bit of legwork up some winding, narrow lanes and two flights of steps, but it's worth the effort for the best view of Florence you'll ever see. 

Stay awhile and maybe reward yourself with a gelato as the sun sets and the lights of Florence reflect on the River Arno.

After watching the sun slip away and the lights gradually illuminate the city I headed back down the hill and walked along the south side of the river.  Ponte Vecchio was quiet, the shops shut and the shutters closed.  I found myself a little pizzeria in a side road before heading back to the B&B. 

I'd spent one perfect day in Florence but one that had me aching to return.

_{I stayed in Florence at the delightful  Johanna I B&B and my thanks to them and to Luca for his tips on what not to miss in Florence.}