I could spend the rest of my life writing what to see in our beautiful Fiorenza (that’s the medieval name)…but I am sure you will understand if I limit myself to give you just few information!!!
In case you want to have more info: write me in private or…please, read the lonely planet guide! 😉
About the museums, please visit the page: http://personalconciergeflorence.wordpress.com/museums/
In town, of course you don’t have to miss:
The Duomo
Santa Maria del Fiore Church and Museo dell’opera del Duomo
http://www.museumflorence.com/ and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Cathedral
Piazza della Signoria
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazza_della_Signoria
Ponte Vecchio
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponte_Vecchio
Piazza Pitti
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palazzo_Pitti
San Lorenzo Church
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_San_Lorenzo,_Florence
San Lorenzo Leather and food Market
The market is pretty famous for the leather. In the truth I don’t like the quality of these products. In the past the market’s stands were all Italians, now you can find cheap leather but you will not be sure the leather is genuine Italian.
Something nice I have to say about the food market, open every day from Monday to Saturday from 8,00 a.m. to 1,00 p.m. There you can find very good and fresh products: cheese, meat, vegetables and bread…They have also solutions for small Italian presents to bring back home, but also if you would like to have lunch, there are a couple of places you can really enjoy (http://personalconciergeflorence.wordpress.com/food/fast-food-and-bars).
Piazza Santa Maria Novella and Basilica
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_Santa_Maria_Novella
Little Pig Market
Just as I said about the san Lorenzo leather market, the goods are not always Italian genuine leather, but you can of course find cheap solutions and, especially with Arabians, you can negotiate on the prices.
Basilica of Santa Croce
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_Santa_Croce,_Florence
Via Tornabuoni and surrounding areas
It’s the road with the main shopping brands. If you cannot afford the expenses, you can at least look at the shop windows!
Piazza Santo Spirito & Santo Spirito Church
This is a very lively area! During the evening Florentines and tourists meet there to have aperitifs, eat, and in summer play music
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Spirito,_Florence
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If you like the countryside and will be searching for a little bit of fresh air during the hot summer months, or maybe you will be just searching for a place outside town, you can visit Piazzale Michelangelo and/or Fiesole.
PIAZZALE MCHELANGELO and SAN MINIATO AL MONTE
Piazzale Michelangelo is the balcony from which you can have a stunning view of the town.
The medieval Sanctuary: San Miniato al Monte is a very beautiful example of medieval church. Once a week the Mass is still celebrated in Gregorian. It’s and experience I definitely suggest you to do! http://www.sanminiatoalmonte.it/
To get to Piazzale Michelangelo, you just have to go to the train station and take bus number 12 or 13. Once you are on the top of the hill you can easily descend, make your visit, have a nice aperitif or ice-cream and then come back with the same busses number 12 or 13 until you will reach the train station, or walk back through the beautiful staircase will keep you at the San Niccolò district, from which in 15 minutes maybe less, walking along the river, you will be back to the Ponte Vecchio. http://www.personalconciergeflorence.com/?p=222
FIESOLE
To get to Fiesole, you can take the bus number 7 from piazza San Marco. The last stop will be yours!
Fiesole is a very nice village at the top of a hill. Its history is very ancient and in addition to the beautiful view you can still find Roman ruins and an early Romanic Monastery dedicated to san Francesco. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiesole
Other sites of interest are
Basilica di San Marco
The Fra Angelico’s frescoes worth to be visited…http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Marco,_Florence#Works
Santissima Annunziata Church
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santissima_Annunziata,_Florence
Santa Felicita Church
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Felicita,_Florence
Orsanmichele Church
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orsanmichele
Any further suggestion will be welcome!!!!