Day
From the big sights to the quiet corners of the Oltrarno
Florence has a unique DNA of history and culture and that is why you should plan your trip to start from right here. Just around the corner from the hotel is the Ponte Vecchio, the marvelous bridge symbol of the city which has for centuries hosted the finest jewelers.
From there you will arrive at Piazza della Signoria and the Uffizi Gallery in less than a minute.
If you are not scared off by the long entrance line that might await (though if you check with our reception first we can help you avoid that), it is more than worth it to admire its wonderful rooms of masterpieces by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Mantegna, and Giotto.
Another stroll up the road will bring you to the fantastic facade of the Duomo, the cathedral of Florence, with its truly amazing dome, designed by Brunelleschi.
If you are interested in an alternative itinerary, head in the opposite direction towards the Oltrarno.
This is the area of Florence on our side of the Arno, the south side, and home during the Renaissance to many a noble family.
One such family was the Medicis, who built up the magnificent Pitti Palace which today holds no fewer than 7 museums including the Silver Museum, Costume Museum, Carriage Museum, Gallery of Modern Art and the jewel in its crown, the Palatine Gallery which displays in original form the noble apartments and artworks by Titian, Raphael, Tintoretto, Caravaggio, Botticelli, Perugino, Canova, and Rubens.
Nestled behind the Pitti Palace is its truly wonderful garden, the Boboli Garden, world-famous Italian garden for wandering any time of the year.
Few people know of the other stunning garden next to it, the Bardini Garden (Giardino Bardini) which offers spectacular views over Florence.
But the Oltrarno has so much more to offer. Give yourself time to wander the narrow streets around Santo Spirito, San Niccolò and San Frediano and you will discover unique art galleries, local boutiques, and all sorts of artisans who lend their creativity to the thriving cultural scene in a modern Florence that is rooted in the traditions of the past.