Romantic 48 Hours in Florence Italy: Renaissance Arts and Tuscany Food

Most of the visiting sites are within walkable limits, but to mention, there is good public transportation system to make use as well. All of these non-negotiable highlights can be relished within two days by right planning based on the location of attractions, visiting time and guidance list of things to do in Florence.

Wake up early and get ready to have a light healthy breakfast, a good sandwich, Italian style, called Panini. Florence’s Panini is famous because the Italians give importance to quality over quantity philosophy when they make sandwiches. Each element is judiciously chosen to guarantee a moving Panini experience right from the freshly made bread and unique ingredients to the ingenious filling combinations. At the city center, you will be presented with numerous options of shops with “Paninerie e Vinaini” (sandwich and wine shops) that serve Panini at evenhanded prices and being spoilt for selection. Once there, the breakfast of Panini is undisputable to be one of the things to do in Florence, Italy.

Post breakfast of Panini, the next on the list of things to do in Florence is to start visiting the planned locations starting with Duomo also known as Piazza del Duomo. It has short trekking of 414 steps to reach the top called the bell tower from where you can have the wonderful unhindered view of the city skyline. Piazza del Duomo contains the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore which is the third-largest church in the world after St. Peter's in Rome and St. Paul's in London. Piazza San Giovanni is a city square in Florence housing the Baptistery at its center with its renowned doors. The three famous doors are in gold-plated bronze, including the famed ‘Doors of Paradise’. Opposite to the Baptistery is the church dedicated to Santa Reparata that is considered one of the earliest church in the city. Nearby is the Column of St. Zanobus that rises up near the north door and Giotto's 85-meter Belltower that are masterpieces of architecture themselves with strong historical values.

Café Rivoire at Piazza Della Signoria provides an option for a good lunch along with other good quality hotels. In front of the Palazzo Vecchio in the Piazza Della Signoria, a square with an L-shape housing the Florence City Hall, Fountain of Neptune and the museum. It lies at the southern end of Via Calzaiuoli which is Florence’s political power hub maintaining its reputation. Along with its imposing town hall and Benvenuto Cellini’s Perseus, shown flaunting the severed head of Medusa under the Loggia dei Lanzi it is mesmerizing. After the Signoria of Florence, it was originally called the Palazzo della Signoria, the ruling body of the Republic of Florence. But it was also known by different names like Palazzo dei Priori, Palazzo Ducale, and Palazzo del Popolo during its long historical standing and usage by rulers. Finishing this one more item from things to do in Florence gets ticked which is not to be missed.

Moving on from Piazza della Signoria, the shopping options are aplenty if you intend to buy or do plain window-shopping. One of the major showstoppers is the dazzling items, gold jewelries. The shops are located near the ancient bridge which is a medieval stone closed-spandrel segmental arch bridge built in 1345 over Arno River that serves as a hub for small jewelry shops. This bridge was created during Roman times, is the most ancient and most photographed bridge in Florence. This bridge is characterized by three arches and two wide arcades on either side that houses the famous and unfamiliar "botteghe" or shops. Numerous art dealers and souvenir sellers are also found in good number apart from the jewelry shops. Ponte Vecchio is also a romantic location with its amazing scenic views of the river and the bridge. Another important and amazing fact about this bridge is that it is the only one that survived World War II in Florence. There is an ancient sundial supported by a marble pillar on one of the shops overlooking the square at the center of the bridge.

Now it is the time for having a break with an Italian special cappuccino and soak into the melting taste. Having it on the terrace of Café Rivoire is a blissful experience that puts back energy, one of the best cafe in Florence. Opened in 1872, Café Rivoire, the bittersweet blend of chocolates had been handmade on the café since its inception. Having a cappuccino break at Café Rivoire is a sure thing to be included in things to do in Florence. It was opened by Enrico Rivoire who was from Turin and the personal chocolate maker to the royal house of Savoy. Caffè Rivoire is located at the corner of the Palazzo delle Assicurazioni Generali, the last building erected in Piazza della Signoria in 1871. During winter smooth and rich cioccolate in tazza is served and in a warmer climate, it serves as a popular spot for coffee or cocktail over its front terrace. Waiters who are smartly dressed are courteous in serving their cappuccino loving patrons.

As the sunset and body tired, it’s time for looking for good food before retiring to bed. One of the not to miss item things to do in Florence is to have dinner at Zaza. Stefano Bond opened it in 1977. Coming with a great variety on of Italian-Mediterranean menu with wonderful choices including 14 varieties of pizza. The bar has good amount of global wines and average draft beers selections. Some of the popular items on the menu are creamy lobster polenta, Baby lamb chops, eggplant rollatini, bruschetta Romana, calamari fritti, Gnocchi pesto, and linguine Mediterraneo bianco to name a few. The hallmark is the freshness of the served food and the service by friendly staff. The pizzas are typically great and outstanding, the appetizers were equally exceptional, and the meat dishes were over the extraordinary in taste.

Built by Giorgio Vasari and dating back to 1560, Admiration Galleria Degli Uffizi was built to house the administrative and legal offices (Uffizi in ancient Italian) of Florence. It also is known by the name Uffizi is the most famous museum in Florence with 2,235,328 visitors reported in the year 2018. In the nineteenth century, the gallery at Uffizi was enhanced with statues of famous people made by the likes of Giovanni Dupré. During the twentieth century, the Uffizi was seen more like a gallery of paintings as many of the sculptures were taken to other museums in Florence and many paintings were brought in that belonged to churches. Housing 101 rooms and hosting in chronological order some of the world-famous and important paintings in history including works from greats like da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli and Giotto; it is surely an authentic artistic expedition through time. This visit to the museum surely should be a part of things to do in Florence list.

Gelato is a famous frozen dessert course originating from Italy and one of the must-have to be included as one of the things to do in Florence list. Gelato is credited to the Italian chef Francesco Procopio dei Coltelli who in the late 1600s introduced this dessert. The earlier traditional flavors of gelato consisted of pistachio, vanilla, custard, chocolate, stracciatella and hazelnut, and the modern fruity flavors now consist of pineapple, apple, raspberry, strawberry, and lemon. Mercato Centrale is also the Central Market located between via dell'Ariento, via Sant'Antonino, via Panicale and Piazza del Mercato Centrale. It houses vendors who sell Tuscan cuisine ingredients, seafood, fruits, vegetables, nuts, spices and a food court with different types of foodstuffs. Getting to have Gelato at the crowded and pocket-friendly Mercato Ventrale with various options is a unique experience. Most of the ingredients are obtained locally to the extent. Best suggestions are to go for the cheesecake berries and Bonci pastry or pear and chocolate for an autumnal twist. Other option includes stracciatell, cremilla and venchi with the best gelato combination.

Currently run by fourth-generation Gozzi brothers, Andrea and Alessandro, Trattoria Gozzi, known by locals simply as ‘Da Sergio,' has been serving traditional Tuscan lunchtime only hours since 1915. In addition, Trattoria Sergio Gozzi has been awarded the Slow Food label consistently since 1997. Have a mouthwatering traditional Tuscan lunch at Trattoria Sergio Gozzi, a two-room trattoria, placed between leather shops near Mercato Centrale. Trattoria Sergio Gozzi is the kind of no-frills trattoria where time appears to be still since 1915. This place typically is full of tourists but many locals to make regular visits. Ingredients are fresh and seasonal that makes to the menu that gets printed on a daily basis. There are a variety of pasta and soups like alla carrettiera, ribollita or pici. The main course consists of options like pork, fried polpette, and peposa or trippa alla fiorentina. Overall, the food is genuine home cooking at its best with no frills and cost-effective. A must in things to do in Florence, Italy.

Coming back home from Florence with a souvenir is must in things to do in Florence, Italy as special it may sound. Options for good buy of leather in Florence are plenty ranging from luxury boutiques to street bazaars, private workshops or pavement trinket retailers. Florence has a high reputation for quality leather products for hundreds of years.

A local Florentine by the name Guccio Gucci who was the son of a leather artisan moved off to work at Savoy Hotel in London doing menial jobs that included carrying elegant luggage for wealthy visitors. In 1921, Gucci returned home and redeployed his family business of fine leather luggage and accessories. He brought his leather goods to international fame with a recognized brand name in fashion world Gucci.

The best way to buy a good quality leather product is to buy it directly from the maker. When buying the leather, the following tips will help in selecting the best souvenirs. A good item will smell musky and natural, it should retain the aroma without any chemicals. The leather should flexible, feel smooth and soft. The highest quality natural leather obviously come in tan or brown color revealing the beauty of the material and its natural grain composition. Finally, the stitching should be regular and tight with small stitches darned closer. Florence has two highly active outdoor markets known for their collection of quality leather goods. The San Lorenzo Market has a variety of retail stores and street vendors selling leather products. Another market is the Mercato Nuovo which has existed since the Renaissance with collections of leather goods, restrict your purchases in this market as there are higher chances of getting cheated. Also, take care of your personal belongings as these being crowded places, it is always better to be on the safer side.

San Miniato al Monte or also known as St. Minias on the Mountain is a cathedral in Florence, Italy, on the top of one of the highest points within the city. It is one of the most scenic churches in Italy with finest Romanesque structures dating back to the 11th century. The basilica is a short walk ahead of Piazzale Michelangelo. Watching the sunset from the top of San Miniato, golden beauty is a perfect setting towards the end of the trip in things to do in Florence, Italy. Legend says that Saint Mineas was the first Christian martyr of Florence who was beheaded for this faith. The legend goes on that he picked up his head, placed it back on this neck and climbed to a cave above the city. Sunlight from the western side raids the facade of the Basilica of San Miniato high above Florence. The light that gets reflected from 13th Century windows glitters in contrast to convolutedly patterned floors in the church which is a sight to watch and immerse ourselves. Being one of the highest points in Florence, San Miniato al Monte is a dreamlike spot for observing the sunset

To complete the trip to Florence and to wind up the things to do in Florence, Italy, a fine traditional Italian dinner at Palazzo Tempi shall bring fine memories of the visit. The Palazzo Tempi, also known as Bargagli Petrucci or Palazzo Vettori, is an ancient 18th-century palace in Via dei Bardi in the heart of Florence sited along the Arno River. Palazzo Tempi is located close to the Ponte Vecchio, the noble Pitti Palace, the incredible Vasari Corridor, and the famous Uffizi Gallery. They serve traditional local cuisine, Italian, Pizza, Mediterranean, European and Tuscan dishes and claim to fame with a combination of quality and hospitality. It has spacious interiors with high ceilings with the typical look of ancient and historical places that are furnished with designer intend to make it a long-lasting delightful and elegant evening.

To conclude, the short trip to Florence, Italy is a place to relax, to admire the architectural wonders, the arts and the traditional food with the family or friends. By having the plan in advance, considering the locations to visit, places to stay, search and fix hotels for food, finding the correct timing for entry and getting tickets and finally, with the list of things to do in Florence, Italy you can enjoy the trip to the maximum with no deficiencies. The visit will also bring back sweet memories by the way of souvenirs bought at the various markets, be it the gold jewelry, leather goods or a simple item that traces its root to this wonderful location. In case you have not visited and are on the lookout for a location for your upcoming vacation or short travel, this is an ideal spot with the combination of tradition, art, and culture. Do not hesitate to pack your travel bags, booking hotels and planning the itinerary to have a wonderful and memorable visit to Florence, Italy.