Things to do in Florence
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Museums:
Because the cultural aspects of Florence are so important and if you are a historic traveler or history buff, we highly recommend that you include lots of museums in your travel itinerary while visiting Florence.
Uffizi Gallery: The Uffizi Gallery is one of the oldest and most famous art museums of the Western world. It's housed in the Palazzo degli Uffizi, a palazzo in Florence. The museum is located in various rooms on the third floor of the building that display, in chronological order, paintings, ranging from the 13th to the 18th centuries.
Accademia delle Arti del Disegno:Academy of the Arts of Drawing of Florence promotes the the works of art in Italy. Founded in 1563, it was the first academy of drawing established in Europe. Over time, the Gallery has become one of the main museums in town, also thanks to the acquisition of some extraordinary masterpieces, such as the "Pieta" by Giovanni da Milano and the "Annunciation" by Lorenzo Monaco.
Museo Nazionale del Bargello: The National Museum is set in one of the oldest buildings in Florence dating back to 1255. Today, the museum displays works of sculpture, mainly from the grand ducal collections and from the 'iminor'' Gothic decorative arts.
Must See:
Florence Cathedral: The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, is the cathedral church of Florence. The three buildings are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site covering the historic center of Florence. They are a major attraction to tourists visiting the region of Tuscany. The basilica is one of Italy's largest churches, and until the modern era, the dome was the largest in the world.
Palazzo Vecchio: Palazzo Vecchio is a massive, Romanesque, fortress-palace, and is among the most impressive town halls of Tuscany. Overlooking the Piazza della Signoria with its copy of Michelangelo's David statue, as well the gallery of statues in the adjacent Loggia dei Lanzi, Palazzo Vecchio is one of the most significant public venues in Italy.
Boboli Gardens: The Gardens, behind the Pitti Palace, the main seat of the Medici grand dukes of Tuscany at Florence, are some of the first and most familiar formal sixteenth century Italian gardens; home to a distinguished collection of sculptures dating from the sixteenth through the eighteenth centuries, with some Roman antiquities.
Where to Stay in Florence:
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Hotels in Florence
Florence is a very popular destination and with cheap hotels or 4-Star Hotels Under $99, the options are endless. To ensure you get the best hotel deal, we urge you to book at least 21-days in advance while planning a vacation in Florence.
Santa Maria Novella: The area is offers some grand 4 and 5 star hotels. Many of the city's hotels are in this centrally-located district. The area is also close to the train station and many tourist attractions. The area near Panzani and Nazionale have a wide variety of reasonably priced hotels and Bed and Breakfast, many of which are family run establishments, housed in historic palazzi.
Novoli: The Novoli area of Florence is a suitable choice for business travelers. If you are coming to Florence for business rather than pleasure, you might find it easier to stay in a hotel near the airport or the main motorways. The area offers a variety of accommodation to suit all budgets and cater to business traveler’s needs.
Passport & Visa Requirements
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For US Citizens:
Italy is a part of the Schengen Agreement. U.S. citizens may enter Florence for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes without a visa.
* If you are traveling for any other purpose, you may need to obtain a visa.
* Your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the period of stay.
* The 90-day period begins when you enter any of the Schengen group of countries.
For Canadian Citizens:
A tourist visa is not required for stays of less than 90 days within a 6-month period.
* A Canadian passport is required for Canadians intending to visit the Florence.
* The passport must be valid for at least three months beyond the date of the expected departure from the country.
This requirement applies to all travelers, regardless of age, including children.
We recommend you check out the latest travel alerts, various airlines baggage policies and travel safety tips, before planning your visit.
*Kindly note that we take the utmost care in providing you with correct information at all times. However, the passport and visa regulations are subject to change and we strongly urge you to check the requirements directly with the US passport office and, or the Canadian Passport Office before traveling.
When to visit Florence
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Florence is an interesting place to visit any time, as most attractions are open year round and are indoors. The best time to visit Florence is during the spring, March through May.
However, summer is from June through August and is considered the high season, drawing the biggest crowds.
Budget travelers might want to consider visiting Florence during the winter, mid November through February, as it is the least crowded time of the year. Though, Christmas, New Years and Easter are busier periods and can be pricier.
Planning your Visit:
High season: (July - mid-October)
Low season: (April - June)
Florence Weather
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Florence enjoys a humid, subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and little rainfall. Winters are cool and damp.
* Being surrounded by hills in a river valley, Florence can be hot and humid from June to August.
* During the winter, rainfall and occasional snow with cooler temperatures is the norm.
Currency and Language:
Currency:
* Euros or € is the official currency in Florence.
* Traveler’s cheques, cheques and foreign money can be changed at banks, railway stations and airports and very often at major hotels.
Languages:
* Italian is spoken as a first language by almost the entire population.
* Being a premier travel destination, people do speak English. However, knowing a few phrases in Italian to breeze through your vacation in Florence is a well worth learning.
Currency
The Euro (€) is the official currency of Florence
1 Euro = 1.4277 US$
Travel Phrases to Get Around:
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Hello |
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Buon giorno |
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My name is... |
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Mi chiamo... |
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Thank you
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Mille grazie |
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Do you speak English? |
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Parla inglese?
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Where is... |
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Dov'è... |
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I don't speak Italian
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Non parlo italiano |
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How much is it cost? |
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Quanto costa? |
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What is this? |
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Che cos’è questo? |
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I'd like to pay by credit Card |
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Vorrei pagare con la carta di credito. |
