Renaissance Uncovered - Itinerary 2

Valeria - (dramatically.expatic)
Itinerary created by
Valeria
What you’ll do

This itinerary would be perfect to choose as the first one to follow around Florence or to take it on a different day after having already explored the previous itinerary. It also starts near the train station, but goes on exploring a little bit different side of Florence - namely, diving deeper in the Renaissance period, discovering some fantastic places along the way.

1

Santa Maria Novella
Santa Maria Novella
Church with art treasures in Italy
Category
Historic
Est. Price
$

2.6 km (1.6 mi)

8 min

From there, take a little detour - instead of following crowds of people going in the direction of the city centre, turn right, and walk for a few minutes on a narrow street, called Via Della Scala.

2

Officina Profumo - Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella
Officina Profumo - Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella
Luxurious Italian brand with heritage
Category
Culture
Est. Price
$$

144 m (0.1 mi)

3

Museo Novecento
Museo Novecento
Modern Italian art museum in Florence
Category
Museum
Est. Price
$

231 m (0.1 mi)

1 min

As you leave the museum, turn right around the corner to cross Piazza degli Ottaviani and take Via dei Fossi - a narrower and less crowded street that will take you right to the riverside. But first coffee! As you walk down the street, you’ll find numerous amazing places that will make you stop and want to enter or at least admire the shopfronts: it’s lined with small art galleries and artisanal shops. But I’m inviting you to pop by...

4

Todo Modo
Todo Modo
Cozy bookstore cafe in Florence
Category
Restaurant
Est. Price
$$
Restaurant Type
italian

64 m (0 mi)

As you leave Todo Modo and move down the street, you’ll reach Piazza Goldoni - and it will be tempting to come see river Arno. Well, do it! But then, move a bit further away to Piazza Ognissanti, dominated by the luxurious hotel Westin Excelsior (Orvm is their rooftop bar that costs a lot but offers jaw-dropping views!) from one side and the Church of San Salvatore in Ognissanti from the other. And that’s where we’re heading today.

5

Piazza Goldoni
Piazza Goldoni
Busy traffic circle with statue
Category
Sightseeing

1.1 km (0.7 mi)

4 min

6

Piazza Ognissanti
Piazza Ognissanti
Historic square with artistic treasures
Category
Sightseeing

863 m (0.5 mi)

3 min

7

Orvm
Orvm
Cozy Italian restaurant in Florence
Category
Bar
Est. Price
$$$

76 m (0 mi)

8

Chiesa di San Salvatore in Ognissanti
Chiesa di San Salvatore in Ognissanti
Baroque church with famous burials
Category
Historic

1.1 km (0.7 mi)

4 min

Lunch break! It might not always be an easy task to find a good and yet not overpriced place to eat in the centre of Florence. I will provide you with a full list of places I can recommend, but for this specific itinerary, I can’t recommend this place enough - Nerocarbone Bistro Toscano is a truly special place, serving authentic Tuscan food, using locally-sourced products. If you’re visiting in winter and the weather is not ideal, make sure to try their ribollita, a typical tuscan soup made with bread, beans, cabbage and other vegetables. The origins of this dish are very humble, with some historians dating it back to the Middle Ages when servants used to gather bread leftovers after their lords’ banquets and boil them for dinner - but today it’s a perfect winter dish (I wouldn’t attempt eating it when it’s hot outside, as it is pretty heavy - but also very tasty!).

9

Nerocarbone Bistrò Toscano
Nerocarbone Bistrò Toscano
Cozy gem with delicious Italian dishes
Category
Restaurant
Est. Price
$$
Restaurant Type
italian

194 m (0.1 mi)

From there, take the jaw-dropping Lungarno Corsini, a beautiful riverside walk, to get back to the main central area.

10

Lungarno Corsini
Lungarno Corsini
Riverside charm in Florence
Category
Sightseeing

1.5 km (0.9 mi)

7 min

11

Museo Ferragamo
Museo Ferragamo
Fashionable tribute to shoe genius
Category
Museum
Est. Price
$

953 m (0.6 mi)

4 min

12

This one is optional

Strozzi Palace
Strozzi Palace
Vibrant museum with diverse art
Category
Museum
Est. Price
$$

293 m (0.2 mi)

1 min

Whether you stop by for an exhibition or not, after the Strozzi Palace, I’m inviting you to dive back into the Renaissance.

13

Museo di Palazzo Davanzati
Museo di Palazzo Davanzati
Medieval time capsule in Florence
Category
Museum
Est. Price
$

375 m (0.2 mi)

2 min

14

Cattedrale dell'Immagine
Cattedrale dell'Immagine
Innovative art experiences in Florence
Category
Museum
Est. Price
$$

1.8 km (1.1 mi)

8 min

Last but not least, the best way to end this itinerary is by admiring the iconic Ponte Vecchio.

15

Ponte Vecchio
Ponte Vecchio
Historic bridge with unique shops
Category
Sightseeing

8.6 km (5.3 mi)

19 min

16

Ponte alle Grazie
Ponte alle Grazie
Modern twist on classic bridge
Category
Photospot

And that's it, I hope you enjoyed this itinerary - now let's move on to the next one!

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