Amazing Destinations Magazine Autumn 2021

48HRS
DAY 1
08:00 - Set your alarm to be up bright and early, and head
straight for Florence’s star attraction: Brunelleschi’s dome.
You can’t start the 463-step climb until it opens at half past,
but get in the queue at 8am and you’ll be one of the first in,
meaning you’ll be able to walk right to the top with relative
ease (later in the day you’ll
often have to queue up through the tiny passageways
inside). There is a ticket office on Piazza San Giovanni, but
save time and book yours before you leave home (it’s valid
for six days). Pause on the way up to admire the frescoes on
the inside of the dome, which depict the Last Judgement.
Once at the top, the city unfolds before you, a mass of
terracotta rooftops and monochrome churches.
10:00 - Back at ground level, pop inside the cathedral,
check out the stunning bronze doors of the
Baptistery, then head around the back to the museum,
where you’ll find a fantastic collection of statues, reliefs
and paintings from the medieval, baroque and Renaissance
periods.
12:00 - It’ll take you less than 15 minutes to amble to
the next stop: the Basilica di Santa Croce. This imposing
church dominates the Piazza di Santa Croce (the site of
the annual Calcio Storico) – find a bench and spend a few
minutes resting your legs and admiring its striking marble
façade. Inside, seek out the Bardi and Peruzzi chapels, both
of which are decorated with frescoes by Giotto, who also
painted the scenes inside the dome.
13:00 - Lunchtime! Wander down the Borgo Santa Croce
and onto the Via dei Neri and in five minutes or so you’ll
reach All’Antico Vinaio, famous for producing some of the
best panino in Florence. Five euros will buy you a giant
hunk of bread, stuffed full of delicious fillings – salami,
artichokes, cheeses, prosciutto… whatever you fancy. On
one side of the street is the takeaway outlet (expect queues);
on the other, an eat-in café. One panino is usually enough
to share, but go for a plastic glass of wine too – you’re in
Italy!
48HRS IN FLORENCE
art-filled halls; if you need a pick-me-up afterwards, there
are plenty of cafes lining the nearby Piazza della Signoria
where you can get a cold drink.
19:30 - As sunset approaches, there’s only one place to be:
Piazzale Michelangelo, one of our favourite places to take
photos in Florence. Crowds flock to this viewpoint each
evening to watch the sun sink over the Arno, bathing the
city in a golden light. You can walk up, but it’s a bit of a
hill, so if you’re not up to it you can catch the number 12 or
13 bus. There’s usually a lively atmosphere up here, with
live music and people toasting their trip with a glass of
Prosecco – why not pick up a bottle and some plastic glasses
on your way and join them?
21:00 - For dinner, wander back down the hill to the trendy
Oltrarno neighbourhood, where you’ll find plenty of
eateries and bars for post-dinner drinks.
DAY 2
09:00 - After breakfast, head across the Arno to the Pitti
Palace. This 15th-century palace is home to a collection of
fantastic museums and galleries, including the Silver
Museum (which displays the treasures of the Medici
family) and the colourful Costume Gallery. Explore the
interior, then head outside for a stroll around the adjoining
Boboli Gardens.
12:00 - Stroll up Via de’ Guicciardini to the famous Ponte
Vecchio. The first bridge to be built across the Arno, the
Ponte Vecchio was once lined with butchers’ shops;
nowadays, the little boutiques are high-end jewellers. Have
a nose at their glittering window displays as you cross.
13:00 - Fifteen minutes’ walk north will take you to the
Mercato Centrale, a great spot for lunch. Head up to the
first floor and you’ll find a gourmet food court, with stalls
selling delicious cheeses, pasta, pastries – and, of course,
wine. Just outside is San Lorenzo Market, famous for its
leather goods – ideal for a few souvenirs.
15:00 - Just east of the market is the Galleria dell
Accademia, another brilliant art gallery. If you’ve had your
fill of art, you’ve also got two lovely churches close by you
could pop into: Basilica di San Lorenzo and Basilica di
Santa Maria Novella. The latter sits in a green piazza that’s
a nice place to sit down with a gelato.
18:00 - Colle Bereto is one of our favourite aperitivo spots.
If the weather’s on your side, take a seat on the terrace
and order an Aperol spritz. The prices are steep, but they
include the delicious buffet inside load up your plate with
pasta salads, breads and antipasti and enjoy the atmosphere.
20:00 - Not many people realise, but the Palazzo Vecchio is
open until midnight. Pop in to admire its beautiful frescoes
and artworks without the daytime crowds. Last admission
to the tower is 8.30pm, so if you want to go up then make
sure you do that first.
21:30 - Time for your final dinner in Florence. Try
Ristorante Enoteco Pane e Vino, around 15 minutes’ walk
away across the river. It was Florence’s first wine bar and
boasts a cellar with over 1,000 bottles (closed on Sundays).
How we went: British Airways from London City Airport.
www.britishairways.co.uk
Where we stayed: The Westin Excelsior Florence, Piazza
Ognissanti, 3, 50123 Firenze, Italy.
www.westinflorence.com
14:30 - All fuelled up? Now’s the time to tackle the Uffizi.
Make sure you book your tickets before you go to avoid the
queues – you just need to collect them 15 minutes before
your allotted time. Spend a few hours exploring the
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