Old Moaner Travel
I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list
Central Italy
Florence
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Getting There
Florence Airport is located 2½ miles (4km) from the city and is connected to the city via a regular shuttle bus, operating every half hour and taking around 20 minutes to reach the city centre. A single ticket will set you back €6 with a return costing €10.
A taxi into the city is fixed price ranging between €22 and €25.30 depending on the time of day.
The City
Mention Florence and most people, rightly, think culture (or maybe The Magic Roundabout it they are a certain age).
If you want an art fix, then The Uffizi has to be high on your list. A treasure trove of Renaissance art the building itself is also a masterpiece ….. give yourself a few hours to take in all it has to offer and try to arrive early to beat the worse of the crowds.
Booking in advance is highly recommended and tickets are sold for allocated time slots. The cost of an advanced ticket with a guaranteed time is €24. Tickets may be available on the day but you will be relying on all the pre-booked tickets not being sold or no shows – the on the day tickets will involve a lot of queuing and waiting with no guarantees and these tickets cost €20. Off season (Nov – Feb) tickets are €16 / €12 each.
One of the iconic sights in Florence is the Dome of the Duomo, or the Cathedral Of St Mary of the Flower.
463 steps at times in a very tight spiral, lead to the top of the dome but the breathlessness of the climb will give way to breath-taking views across the city, from what is the highest point in central Florence.
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After all the culture and sightseeing it will be time for something to eat and where better than the Mercato Centrale. Set over two floors the ground floor is a conventional market – why does fruit and veg look so much more attractive in European markets? The first floor has a food court with a wide variety of choices and, shock horror, the prices are not extortionate.
Time for another iconic landmark and the Ponto Vecchio or Old Bridge – lined on both sides by shops (goldsmiths and jewellery stores following a decree by Ferdinand I in 1593) the bridge is a very popular attraction and can get very crowded. I’m told it is also very pretty at night, although I have not seen that for myself.
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To discover how the locals live, away from the tourists visit the Oltrano district and, in particular, the Piazza Santo Spirito. This bohemian area has a authentic street market, frequented by the locals. There are bars and restaurants and plenty of places to just sit and people watch.
If you like visiting gardens then the Boboli Gardens at the Piti Palace are a must see. Classic Italian gardens with terraces, obelisks and sculptures. There are also secluded grottos if you prefer some peace and quiet.
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