Florence in a day

Brimming with history, art and culture, Florence is a city that is very difficult to do justice in one day. A visit to the Uffizi alone could easily eat one or two days in any itinerary.

If you're lucky, Florence for the first time, but have the misfortune of having only one day to enjoy the delights of this city, be sure to have a plan.

To allow your leader for the day and will take you on a whistle stop tour ofSites and sounds of Florence. I can not promise, the Uffizi Gallery in one day, but hopefully at the end of the tour you will see how he feels, is best seen from the city. Their only problem is deciding when to come back for more!

The first thing you need before you start your tour will be a city map. The center of Florence is very compact so that the best way to see it, one thing is not even walk. If you do not have a map or a guide and you're not the type who likes aimlesslyHiking, make your first stop on the first day of the tourist board, where you can pick up a free map of Florence.

Starting from the main square, you can easily see the famous cathedral, with its magnificent terracotta colored dome. If you do it early enough to avoid the crowds and hear the 463 steps, I recommend a trip to climb the dome for a spectacular view over the city face. The cathedral is probably the most striking feature of the skyline of Florenceis the result of years of work spanning six centuries.

Once you have been in the view, catch your breath with a quiet ride through the streets around the cathedral, and then stroll to the nearby Piazza della Signoria. Here you will find a rich gallery of outdoor sculptures, including Neptune Fountain and a copy of the famous statue of David. Here is the Palazzo Vecchio (Old Palace) here. This was in the early 14th Century was built and is still used for itsoriginal function of City Hall.

Palace is located right next to the Uffizi Gallery with its unparalleled collection of Renaissance art. If you're an art lover, then do not want to miss the Uffizi, but it is not something that can easily visit in a short two hours will be covered!

In addition to the Uffizi at the Arno River, with its many bridges. If you will turn right leads to the Ponte Vecchio, the famous bridge, is home to a multitude of goldsmiths and jewelry shops,with its medieval workshops overhanging the bridge. The same bridge was built in 1345, is the only bridge over the Arno that was not destroyed during the Second World War.

After crossing the bridge, will be called in the Oltrarno, which literally means "arrival of the Arno. Here is the Palazzo Pitti - a large building from the 16th Century. The building was originally the residence of the Medici family that ruled Florence almost continuously 1434-1743 and currently hosts some importantMuseums and galleries.

It is advisable to end the day relaxing in the Boboli Gardens, which is accessed by a walk in the Palazzo Pitti. These gardens were laid in 1550 for the Medici a year after they bought the Palazzo Pitti and were open to the public in 1766. Many parts of the gardens offer a breathtaking view of Florence and unwind after a day walking through the city.

If you have time, it is worth returning to the Ponte Vecchio, with a viewSunset on a walk along the bridge after it was dark when the lights are reflected on the bridge over the River Arno and everything seems almost magical.

Forgot Finally, do not take a break from sightseeing take - stop for lunch or a drink at a sidewalk cafe for some time, enjoy the atmosphere and do some 'people watching.