FLORENCE IN SPRING
"To see the sun sink down, drowned on his pink and purple and golden floods, and overwhelm Florence with tides of color that make all the sharp lines dim and faint and turn the solid city to a city of dreams, is a sight to stir the coldest nature."
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– Mark Twain
Florence often tops lists of must-visit destinations in respected travel publications year after year and there is a good reason! Florence is a small city packed with an immense history! It is the cradle of the Renaissance, which led to many of the advancements we can credit for modern Western civilization. From the food and wine, to the art and architecture, to the “La Dolce Far Niente” (the sweetness of doing nothing), Florence’s timelessness is sure to intoxicate any visitor whether on their first visit or their 100th.
Why Spring?
Before the hordes of summer tourists descend and the sweltering summer heat hits, spring offers near perfect weather and beautiful scenery for visitors.
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Special events
Spring events in Florence include historical reenactments of Holy Friday, Scoppio del Carro (“explosion of the cart”), and the May Music Festival.
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Must do
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Climb to the top of The Duomo to view the city from this most-famous architectural marvel.
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Overpay for a cappuccino while people watching from one of the outdoor cafes in Piazza della Signoria in the dusk hours.
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Walk across Ponte Vecchio and up to the Piazzale Michelangelo to get the best view of the city next to a replica of the famous David statue by Michelangelo.
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Must see
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Michelangelo’s colossal, “David” statue, carved from a single piece of marble, can be found in the Galleria dell’Accademia.
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Botticelli’s famous works, “Primavera” and “The Birth of Venus” can be found in the Uffizi Gallery among works by other famous Renaissance artists like Leonardo da Vinci.
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Must eat
Florentine or Tuscan cuisine is unique unto itself, as are the other regional cuisines of Italy. The uniquely Tuscan dishes that you must try are:
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Bistecca alla Fiorentina (thick grilled T-bone steak)
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Ribollita (bean and vegetable) & and pappa al pomodoro (tomato, basil, and bread) soups
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Any dish with porcini mushrooms
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And of course, world-famous Tuscan wines like Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.
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Must shop
Florence has long been a city of artisans and merchants. It is a great place to shop! Make sure to browse the shops on Ponte Vecchio and the San Lorenzo and Nuovo (Porcellino) Markets. Florentines are especially world-renowned for:
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Gold jewelry
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Leather goods
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Colorful stationary.
Weather report
April and May in Florence temps are highs of 65 °F/ 74 °F and 45 °F/ 58 °F, respectively.
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Money matters
Italy uses the Euro. We recommend using ATMs in the country for the best exchange rate. Florence is not the most expensive city in Italy, but it’s up there in the top three! You can visit Florence on a wide range of budgets. We typically work with four and fiver star hotels in order to ensure our clients get the best service while traveling – expect to pay $200-300/ night for most of our recommended hotels in Florence.
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Potpourri
Did you know that the purest dialect of the Italian language is the one that Florentines speak? It’ll be a great place for you to practice your Italian and the locals will appreciate your efforts!
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Getting around
Once in the city center, you have no need for transportation as most of the sites are within walking distance. Only residents are allowed to drive in the city center so a rental car isn’t a great option for a city break. Just be sure to wear comfortable shoes! A lot of the streets are cobblestone and uneven.
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Getting there
The local airport (FLR) is not large enough to be a cost-effective option for many people. So, if you can’t fly into FLR, it’s no problem to fly into a larger Italian city like Rome, Milan, or Venice and take a train to get to Florence. Just be sure to check for the not-so-infrequent rail-strike!
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How long do I need?
This is always a hard question to answer, because Florence is a city of so many hidden surprises that one could live there for a year and not see it all. If you don’t like to rush your travel and like to have some breaks here and there, you should allow yourself at least 5 days in Florence. If you would like to get out of the city and experience some of the nearby charms like, San Gimignano, Siena, and Pisa, give yourself at least one week.
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Kiddos (bambini) like…
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Outdoor play at Cascine Park
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Knights in armor on horseback at Museo Stibbert
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The carousel in Piazza della Repubblica
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Gelato, gelato, gelato!
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Buon Viaggio!
