Article about Florence

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Ruslan Minasian

41 y.o, Russia, Moscow

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1. The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, or simply the Duomo, is one of the symbols of Florence. It does not look like cathedrals in other cities: the Duomo dome is so huge that tourists freeze at the sight of it.
Entrance to the cathedral is free. To climb the dome, you need to buy a ticket in advance on the website
for 18 €⁣, they are not sold on the spot. The ticket allows you to visit other buildings on the square, such as the baptistery, the bell tower and the museum.

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Walking route through the main attractions of the city from Murad and Natalia Osmann

What to see in Florence in one day

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guide to Florence

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A new guide to Florence by travel bloggers Murad and Natalia Osmann

Top sights in Florence for one day

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Souvenirs. Instead of magnets, I recommend bringing some local products: ricarelli or cantucci macaroons for 5€⁣, Tuscan wine for 10€, half a liter of olive oil for 5€⁣. It is better to buy everything in an ordinary supermarket: the quality of products is higher than in souvenir shops, and prices are 1.5-2 times lower.

Leisure. Florence has a lot of authentic entertainment. Tourists learn how to cook Tuscan cuisine, taste wine and olive oil in the Chianti Valley, learn how to create frescoes or drive a Fiate 500 out of town. On average, such entertainment costs from 25 €⁣ to 150 €⁣ per person.

Food. I advise you to try lampredotto in Florence - a sandwich with pieces of boiled cow's stomach for 3 €⁣, sliced Tuscan sausages for 10 €⁣, Tuscan soups pappa al pomodoro and ribollita for 10 €⁣. A typical Tuscan pici pasta and gnocchi potato dumplings cost €10⁣. You can dine at the Mercato Central market.
In Florence, delicious ice cream is gelato. But you should not try it in the city center: the prices there are often overpriced, and the quality is dubious. The acceptable price of ice cream is 2 €⁣ for a cone with two flavors. Two gelaterias are popular among locals: Santa Trinita and La Carraia.

Season. Florence has the least number of tourists in February and November. I advise you to come here in the second half of April, when wisteria begins to bloom. Even in Florence it is good in October: it is warm, but there are not so many tourists anymore. In summer, the stone city gets very hot - walking around it is uncomfortable.

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4. On Piazza della Signoria is the Palazzo Vecchio. During the Florentine Republic, the government met there. If you look closely, you can find an image of a man on the wall of the palace. According to legend, this drawing was made by Michelangelo himself. The artist watched the execution in the square and carved the face of the criminal on the wall.

In front of the Palazzo Vecchio are sculptures, such as a copy of Michelangelo's David. Previously, the original stood in this place, but then it was transferred to the gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts.

On Piazza della Signoria you can see works of modern art. Once a sculpture by the Swiss artist Urs Fischer was installed here - a 12-meter shapeless piece of clay. Do not be surprised if a strange art object is displayed on the square during your visit, which is mercilessly scolded by the locals.

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6. Ponte Vecchio is the oldest bridge in Florence. He is over 670 years old. Until the 16th century, meat was sold on it, and then the bridge was “given away” to jewelers: the butcher shops were too fetid. Then it began to be called the Golden Bridge. The Ponte Vecchio still sells gold and diamonds.

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7. Piazza Michelangelo. From Ponte Vecchio to the square - 20 minutes on foot, about a third of the way you need to climb the mountain. It's worth doing for the impressive view of the city. People have picnics here with wine and pizza, watch the sunset and listen to street musicians.

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3. Fountain of Porcellino. Previously, a fountain in the form of a boar supplied water to merchants of expensive fabrics. Now a line of tourists is lining up here to make a wish and toss a coin.
Near the fountain there is a leather goods market. Once I bought a men's leather bag here. I was offered to pay 70 €⁣ for it, in the end they bargained for up to 50 €⁣. The quality of the bag is average, but I wanted to buy something from local products.

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2. Piazza della Repubblica is the square with the Arc de Triomphe and the Column of Plenty. During the Roman Empire, this was the center of the city. Now street musicians play on the square, and children and adults ride the carousel. The square is also famous for its historic bars. For example, the Gilli bar has been operating for over 280 years. It has a vintage interior and a large selection of desserts, but the prices are above average: a croissant at Gilli costs 3€⁣, and at a regular bar it costs 1€⁣.
There is a Rinascente shopping center on Republic Square. On the top floor there is a bar with a panoramic view. The prices here are also high: usually a coffee costs 1 €⁣, and on the roof of the Rinascente it costs 3 €⁣. But the view of the city is amazing. I advise you to go up to the bar if you have not been to the Duomo dome.

5. The Uffizi Gallery exhibited masterpieces by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, Caravaggio. In my opinion, they need at least two hours to see them. Tickets can be purchased on the gallery's website. It costs 12⁠—⁠20 €⁣ depending on the season. In order not to stand in line, it is better to book a visit time on the site. Every first Sunday of the month, the gallery is free to enter.