Our time in Florence was a whirlwind of art, architecture, secret passageways, and world-class gelato—with sunset views sprinkled in for good measure. We dove straight into the city’s Renaissance heart, wandering the halls of the Museo Galileo, where we saw antique telescopes, ancient maps, and yes—three of Galileo’s fingers. That night, we took a private “Inferno” tour through the Palazzo Vecchio, exploring hidden chambers, rafters above the Hall of the Five Hundred, and even the secret room where Medici spies once eavesdropped on political dealings. Day two was packed with masterpieces, starting with Michelangelo’s David at the Accademia, followed by close-up encounters with sculptures by Michelangelo and Donatello at the Bargello. We wandered the Boboli Gardens, stepped inside the Buontalenti Grotto (yes, the same one from Inferno), crossed the iconic Ponte Vecchio, and stood in awe at the Uffizi Gallery, face-to-face with Botticelli’s Birth of Venus—a moment that felt like stepping directly into the heart of the Renaissance. We capped it all with sunset views from Piazzale Michelangelo, gelato in hand from the Gelato Festival, including the best gelato we’ve ever tasted. Florence wasn’t just a city—it was an open-air museum, a thriller novel, and a full-on love letter to the Renaissance.
Itinerary
This itinerary is based on the Florence visit of our 2016 Italy trip from August 31 – September 1.
🏛️ Day 1 – Florence Museo Galileo & Palazzo Vecchio
- 🚆 1:12 PM – 2:00 PM: Train from Pisa to Florence (Santa Maria Novella – main station)
- 🏨 Check-in to B4 Astoria Firenze
- 🍨 Afternoon gelato
- 🔭 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM: Museo Galileo (fascinating clocks, telescopes, maps, and 3 of Galileo’s fingers)
- 🏛️ 6:00 PM – 7:15 PM: Palazzo Vecchio Tour (🎟️ Pre-purchase recommended)
- We did the “Dan Brown’s Inferno” tour, which ended up being a private tour as we were the only two to sign up. It offered an incredible behind-the-scenes look at the palace! This tour is no longer offered, but they have plenty of standard tours every day of the week in English.
- 🌅 7:52 PM: Sunset from Palazzo Vecchio Tower
- 🍽️ Dinner (Rick Steves’ picks)
- 🚶♂️🎧 1-hr Rick Steves’ Renaissance Walk
🎨 Day 2 – Florence Art Museums & Gelato
- 🗿 8:15 AM – 10:00 AM: Accademia Gallery (see Michaelangelo’s David, 🎟️ Pre-purchase recommended)
- 🍨 10:00 AM: Gelato at Carabe
- 🗿 Bargello Museum (Michaelangelo and Donatello statues, no reservations required)
- 🍝 Lunch (Rick Steves’ picks)
- 🏰 Pitti Palace & Boboli Gardens (8:15 AM – 6:30 PM, closed Monday, 🎟️ Pre-purchase combo ticket that includes Uffizi, Pitti Palace, & Boboli Gardens)
- 🎨 4:30 PM – 6:15 PM: Uffizi Gallery (Renaissance art featuring works by Botticelli, Titian, Michelangelo and da Vinci)
- 🌉 Walk across Ponte Vecchio through Rose Garden up to Piazzale Michelangelo
- 🍨 Gelato Festival World Tour Finale at Piazzale Michelangelo
- 🌅 7:50 PM: Sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo
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