First time to Florence, Italy
 

Will be going to Florence, Italy at end of Sept. Is there anything any of you feel I just shouldn't miss? That could be musuems, food or anything?

Definitely go the Accademia and the Uffizi Gallery. If you email the concierge at your hotel now, she/he will be able to reserve tickets for you. Definitely do this (although the end of September will be less crowded than during the summer).

Also, be sure to see the cathedral (and, if possible, read "Brunelleschi's Dome" before you do).

If you can find a PBS documentary on the Medici family (at Blockbuster or the equivalent) before you leave, that will add to your appreciation of Florence.

If you need any specific help, shoot me an email!

David

Wear comfortable shoes (the cobblestones are hard on the feet). Its a good city to explore on foot. It's difficult to get a bad meal, (unless you go to McDonalds) but it's best to not go to the places with big ads about their fixed price tourist menus. Get a couple blocks further away from the main tourist attractions and pick any small trattoria.

I went to one of the best restaurants around near Firenza when I was there not too long ago. I will see if I can find the name of it and post it here. It is about 30 minutes from city center, so having a car or willing to hire a taxi will be needed. If you are not interested in doing that let me know.

It is a short walk around the main areas of town, where some beautiful buildings are and there is a boar with locks down there that is neat and also the bridge is interesting. Walking out on the bridge is a must, putting a lock on there for your s/o is optional.

You will be shocked at the makeup of the city. More Americans than anyone else.

Art: Uffizi, Convento di San Marco, Santa Croce, Cappella Brancacci in Chiesa del Carmine, Cappella dei Magi in Palazzo Medici Ricciardi, Cappellone degli Spagnoli in the cloisters of Santa Maria Novella.

If the art becomes too much and the weather is fine you can stroll in the Giardini di Boboli

Vivoli (near Santa Croce) for the best icecream in Florence.
Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco in Borgo San Jacopo (Oltrarno, sort of the Rive Gauche of the river) for fabulous food (get the concierge to book a table or call yourself, they're always packed)

If your hotel doesn't have a concierge, or you want to buy your own tickets to the Uffizi or Accademia, you can buy them from the US on line http://selectitaly.com/museums.php?ref=yahoo. I would also suggest (depending upon how long you'll be there) a couple of quick side daytrips that can be easily done via bus to : Sienna, Chianti region, Pisa, Lecca, Fisole etc. The buses are frequent & cheap (as an example: to Greve in Chianti it's e2.90 each way--takes about an hour and you ride through the beautiful Tuscan countryside ^ http://www.greve-in-chianti.com/ ).

Vivoli! aaaahhhhhh Vivoli, Hands down the absolute best cioccolata gilato ever. DO NOT MISS THIS!!!!! Even if you don't like ice cream, DON'T MISS THIS!!!

I can't remember the name of the restaurant but it was a villa in the medici hills.

I am so tickled at all the great suggestions. I won the trip at Conde Nast Traveler. But we are staying an extra week and renting a car to drive through Tuscany. Keep the suggestions coming.

Congratulations on winning the trip! In addition to the sites, restaurants and gelateria mentioned by the other posters, I would also recommend you visit the Pitti Palace, the Duomo Museum, the Baptistry (across from the Duomo) and make your way over to Piazzale Michelangelo for great views of the old city. I really enjoyed a walking tour given by Walking Tours of Florence (http://www.italy.artviva.com/italytr..._florence_walk) called the "Original Florence" walk (25 Euro). It really helps put the amazing art and architecture in its historical context. Since you're going in late September, you'll be in Tuscany during part of the grape harvest, so there should be alot of activity in the countryside -- there are hundreds of small wineries you can visit in the area around Montalcino or the area around Montepulciano (Montalcino is a little closer to Florence). There's a nice wine shop inside the walls of the Fortezza in Montalcino where you can, for a price, taste a number of different wines from the region. I'd also highly recommend you visit Siena and, while you're there, walk through the Civic Museum (which is located on one side of Il Campo - the main piazza) and Santa Maria della Scala (opposite the entrance to the Duomo). Have a great trip.

Following up what Gargoyle mentioned, beware of menus in the front that are in 3 or 4 languages. (IMO) Keep walking. If the menu has pictures of the food........run.

McDonalds comes in very handy for "you know what" stops, and the expresso is very good for €1 or less.

I'll also vouch for the walking tours mentioned by LosAngeleno, (The evening walk through Oltrarno was a nice one also), and a trip to Siena and probably Lucca. Pisa is a ½ day trip.

Take the #7 bus to the top at Fiesole to watch a spectacular sunset.

To get a quick survey of the town, and where you might want to return to and walk thru, ride the little electric A, B, C, and D busses thru the city. (Maps at the ATAF web site http://www.ataf.net)

All good suggestions so far.

I can recommend pretty much anywhere in Florence to eat. If it looks like its not touristy than its probably excellent. Even some touristy places are fantastic. I really haven't had too many bad meals in Italy.

If you can swing it, climb the Duomo or Bell tower. 300+ steps.

Definitely recommend getting lost in Boboli Gardens. Its nice to do even in August (at least for me).

Also recommend taking ChgBob's suggestion of Bus 7 up to Fiesole to watch a sunset. As well as from Piazza De Michaelangelo -- great photo ops actually.

I would recommend NOT getting gelato in Piazza della Signoria. Its a rip off and not as good, but very popular due to convenience. Walk around any corner for gelato half the price and imo better tasting.

I definately recommend this as well. To bad my apartment wasn't closer so I could get it more often, but at least there are plenty of good places to get gelato in Florence.

The first thing we have put on our list is Vivoli. Hertz is holding a Peugot 107 for us. Looks small, is it doable?

I'll second this one. The view is breathtaking. Definitely do this if you can. ^