Florence: The City of Art

Florence – the Cradle of the Renaissance – is a city where names like Da Vinci, Michelangelo and Botticelli feel alive in every street. With the Duomo rising above terracotta rooftops, the Ponte Vecchio glittering with gold shops, and masterpieces tucked in every corner, Florence is home to some of the greatest art and architecture in the world.

Arriving in Florence

I landed at Amerigo Vespucci Airport late in the evening and hopped on the T2 Tram outside the terminal.

• Quick Tip: Ride to Redi- 20 minutes, €1.70

Walking to YellowSquare Florence, I was drawn by the warm night air and buzz of travellers, making me want to dive straight into the rooftop pool. I dropped my bags, changed quickly, and went for an evening swim- overlooking the skyline. I made some new friends, and cooked dinner before joining them for an evening drink.

The Uffizi Gallery

The next morning, we walked 35 minutes into the city, passing the River Arno and the iconic Ponte Vecchio.

Uffizi Gallery

• Entry: €40 (5-day combined ticket: Uffizi + Palazzo Pitti + Boboli Gardens)
• Highlights: Botticelli’s Primavera and The Birth of Venus, Caravaggio’s Medusa, Da Vinci’s Annunciation

Standing in front of these masterpieces – works I had only ever seen in books – felt surreal. The corridors pulse with artistic energy, each room unfolding centuries of history and imagination. I could have stayed there all day. 

Stepping outside, we entered Piazza della Signoria, Florence’s open-air museum. With Palazzo Vecchio, Loggia dei Lanzi and sculptures like Cellini’s Perseus, Giambologna’s Abduction of a Sabine Woman, and the Fountain of Neptune, it is a world-class art experience- and completely free.

The Duomo & The Ponte Vecchio

We queued 30 minutes at I’ Girone De’ Ghotti for a traditional Schiacciate sandwich.

• My pick: The Hypocritical- roast ham, tomatoes, olive paste, salad (€6).

Quite possibly the best sandwich I have ever had! 

We ate in front of the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore (the Duomo), its pink, green, and white marble glistening in the sun. 

The Duomo

• Entry: Free

• Famous for: Brunelleschi’s dome – the largest masonry dome in the world 

• Inside: Vasari & Zuccari’s Last Judgement fresco

We cross the Ponte Vecchio, rebuilt in 1345 and lined with jewellery and art shops. It is chaotic, colourful, and unique- a must-visit.

Palazzo Pitti & Boboli Gardens

• Included in the €40 combined ticket

• Highlights: Artworks by Raphael and Titian, Medici apartments 

Behind the palace, the Boboli Gardens open into sweeping views of Florence- a perfect place to slow down and breathe in the city. 

I returned to the hostel for a swim, free pasta, table football, and quiz night with my roommates. YellowSquare evenings have a way of turning strangers into friends.

Michelangelo’s David

The next day, I headed out to see Michelangelo’s David at the Accademia Gallery.

Accademia Gallery

• Entry: €24

• Tip: Book online in advance 

• Highlights: Museum of Musical Instruments, Collection of Plaster Casts by Lorenzo Bartolini, and David, standing seventeen feet tall, carved from a single block of marble

Standing before David felt like stepping into a moment of pure stillness. His intense gaze, posture, and details are a reminder of courage, strength, and the spirit of Florence and the Renaissance. 

For lunch, I stopped at Osteria dei Leoni Firenze with a roommate and tried the traditional Pappardelle al Cinghiale- the wild boar pasta before wandering the Mercato del Porcellino.

Mercato del Porcellino 

• Entry: Free 
• Highlights: Leather markets, Fontana del Porcellino– rub the boar’s snout or run a coin down its tongue for luck

Wine in the Chianti Hills

The next day, I booked a late-afternoon wine tour to the Chianti Hills to explore the Tuscan countryside.

Chianti Wine Tour

• Price: ~£43 

• Includes: Local Wine, cheese, salami, olive oil tastings 

Tuscany looked like a postcard: rolling vineyards, cypress trees, and golden light. I also befriended a wedding singer and her mum from Arizona.

Sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo

Back in Florence, I met friends from a group chat at Piazzale Michelangelo for sunset. The climb is steep, but the panoramic view of Florence glowing gold is worth every step. After dinner at Vini e Vecchi Sapori (I ordered cacio e pepe and tiramisu), we ended the night dancing and singing karaoke back at the hostel.

Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella 

On my last morning, I visited Santa Maria Novella, the oldest pharmacy in the world (founded in 1221). Dried flowers hang from the vaulted chapel ceilings, and the air is filled with the scent of their perfumes. 

• Entry: Free

• My favourite scent: Gelsomino– jasmine, bergamot, tangerine (£165)