Top 5 Things to Do in Florence, Italy

You must have heard of Florence -the capital of the Italian culture- somehow. If you know Carlo Collodi, Dante Alighieri, Donatello, Enrico Fermi, Francesco I Sforza, Giovanni Boccaccio, Leonardo da Vinci or Michelangelo, then you have heard of Florence.

The city is incredible in many ways. Imagine that the families that were rich in 1427 are still the richest in the city until now. The museums are still as incredible as they were. The city is considered as one of the world centers of culture and art. Here are some of the things that you should do during your visit to Florence.

1. Renaissance beauty: Have you heard of the Uffizi. If you didn’t, let me tell you that it is the world’s greatest treasure trove of Renaissance art. You need to get up very early to enjoy it in addition to the possibility of getting Botticelli’s ‘Birth of Venus’.
2. Ogle gorgeous skyline: If you want to soak up the whole amazing sweep of Florence at one time, you should visit the Pizzale Michelangelo. There are three places where you can take a lot of great pictures which are the old city wall in the west to the Duomo, the Arnolfo Tower of the Palazzo Vecchio and the Uffizi across the river.
3. The Duomo: While your visit, you should climb the Duomo and it is better if you climbed it twice. Until 1881, the massive dome of The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower which is known as Il Duomo di Firenze was the largest in the world. The climbing is kind of exhausting so if you are okay with the tiny spaces and 463 steps, climb up. You will get an amazing view from the lantern that is located at the very top which is the highest place in the central Florence. If you are not okay with the tiny spaces and the many steps, the adjacent Giotto’s Campanile which is known as bell tower will offer you an amazing view on the Duomo.
4. The Italian old styles of shopping and eating: We discussed that some things in this city never change and that can be applied to the food and the shopping as many stores and restaurants. There are two famous, old places that you should visit; Da Nerbone which is running since 1872 where you can have an affordable and authentic Tuscan lunch of tripe rolls in the Mercato Centrale and Caffé Gilli which is running since 1733 where you can have coffee and pastries in a classic setting.
5. St John the Baptist celebrations: Florence -as the most of the Italian towns- celebrates the patron saint’s day loudly. On June 24, the city will have celebrations that consist of parades in historic dress, medieval football matches, boat races, bonfires and a night marathon, and of course a fireworks display over the river.
   
   These are just 5 things of what you can do in Florence. Before going there, read every guide you can find about the city and know what you will do there as there are countless things to do in the capital of culture and art; Florence.