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Firenze (Florence)

June 12–15 • 3 Nights

"The Cradle of the Renaissance"

Florence skyline with the Duomo
View of Florence and the Duomo from Piazzale Michelangelo

Day by Day

Our Florence days, hour by hour. ✓ = confirmed. Tap a place name for more on Wikipedia.

FriJune 12 · Arrival Day & Sunset Picnic
Afternoon
Arrive & check in Settle in at B&B Le Stanze del Duomo, Via de' Martelli 8 · unpack · rest
Late aft.
Neighborhood explore Walk to the Duomo, see the Baptistery's bronze doors, find a gelateria, and pick up sandwiches at All'Antico Vinaio for the picnic
5:00 pm
Depart for San Miniato Head south through the centro toward Via dei Neri · stop at All'Antico Vinaio (Via dei Neri 74r) for schiacciata to go · pick up a bottle of Chianti
~6:15 pm
Picnic at San Miniato al Monte Climb past Piazzale Michelangelo to the 11th-century hilltop church · spread out the picnic · sunset at 8:56 pm over Florence · walk back down after dark
Two detailed walking routes for today — the Centro Storico arrival loop and the sunset picnic climb — are in Walking Routes below.
SatJune 13 · Walking Tour & the David
8:30 am
Walking tour begins — Guide: Paola Migliorini Meet Paola at Via de' Martelli 8 for a guided walking tour of Florence
11:00 am
Accademia Gallery — Michelangelo's David ✓ Booked 11:00–11:15 am entry · Via Ricasoli 58–60
~12:30 pm
Lunch — Hosteria Ganino Paola's recommendation near the Accademia (Via dei Cimatori 4r) · allow ~1 hour
4:30 pm
Depart for the Oltrarno Cross the Ponte Vecchio · explore the Palazzo Pitti area · aperitivo on Piazza Santo Spirito
7:30 pm
Dinner — Trattoria La Casalinga ✓ Via dei Michelozzi 9r, Oltrarno · classic Florentine · must leave by 9 pm · +39 055 218624
9:00 pm
Slow walk home Gelato · take the long way back
The evening Oltrarno route is mapped out in Walking Routes below.
SunJune 14 · Uffizi Gallery & Gelato Class
8:30 am
Depart for the Uffizi — Guide: Paola Meet Paola at Via de' Martelli 8 · guided tour begins
9:30 am
Uffizi Gallery entry ✓ Booked 9:30 am · Piazzale degli Uffizi 6 · one of the world's greatest art museums
~12:30 pm
Lunch — local osteria nearby Allow ~1 hour
Afternoon
Free time Explore on your own — Ponte Vecchio, the Oltrarno, the Bargello, or the Dome climb. See Sites & Activities below
4:30–6:00
🍦 Gelato class with Vetulio Bondi ✓ Hands-on at Gelati Del Bondi · Via dell'Isola delle Stinche 7
7:30 pm
Dinner — Il Grande Nuti Trattoria ✓ Borgo San Lorenzo 22r, near the Duomo · +39 055 210145
Bonus — June 14 is the 2nd Sunday: the Bargello and Medici Chapels are open — great free-time options.
MonJune 15 · Drive Day: Florence → Rome
Morning
Pack & check out Allow time for a last Florentine coffee and pastry
8:00 am
DEPART — two vans, 8:00 am SHARP From Via de' Martelli 8 with Paola
Midday
Montepulciano stop Hilltop wine town · walk the main piazza · lunch · Vino Nobile
Mid-aft.
Orvieto stop Stunning clifftop cathedral · underground city optional
~7:30 pm
Arrive Rome Check in near Termini Station · rest
Full detail on Montepulciano & Orvieto is on the Hill Towns page →

🚶 Walking Routes & Free Time

Three relaxed, mostly-flat routes — no tickets, no queues.

Walk 1Arrival Afternoon · Centro Storico Loop

Fri June 12 • 1:00–4:30 pm • ~2 miles, flat

1:00 pm
Depart Via de' Martelli 8 heading south toward the Duomo
1:05 pm
Duomo exterior + Baptistery The "Gates of Paradise" doors are bronze copies; originals are in the Museo dell'Opera. Duomo interior closes 3:45 pm
1:45 pm
Porcellino Market (Loggia del Mercato Nuovo) Rub the bronze boar's nose for good luck — a Florence rite of passage
2:15 pm
L'Antico Trippaio — Piazza dei Cimatori Florence's famous tripe cart: lampredotto for the adventurous, porchetta for everyone else
2:45 pm
Piazza della Signoria Outdoor sculpture gallery · Palazzo Vecchio · the Loggia dei Lanzi · free courtyard
3:20 pm
Lungarno degli Archibusieri First view of the Arno — Ponte Vecchio to the right · grab gelato
3:50 pm
Rivoire — Piazza della Signoria Florence institution since 1872 · famous thick hot chocolate · kids' favorite
4:20 pm
Return to Via de' Martelli Drop bags, freshen up, gather corkscrew & cups · depart 5:00 pm for San Miniato
Walk 2Arrival Evening · Sunset Picnic at San Miniato

Fri June 12 • depart 5:00 pm • sunset 8:56 pm • ~2.5 miles, gentle climb

5:00 pm
Depart Via de' Martelli Bring a corkscrew, cups, napkins & something to sit on · ~15 min on foot
5:15 pm
All'Antico Vinaio Via dei Neri 74r · legendary schiacciata — order to go, one per person plus extras · grab Chianti next door
5:45 pm
Cross the Arno at Ponte alle Grazie One bridge east of Ponte Vecchio — quieter, better approach
6:00 pm
Piazzale Michelangelo The famous panoramic terrace — keep moving up to San Miniato
6:15 pm
San Miniato al Monte 11th-century hilltop church, stunning Romanesque facade, hardly anyone here · spread out the picnic · sunset 8:56 pm
~9:15 pm
Walk back down Through Piazzale and across the Arno
San Miniato was founded in 1018 where St. Minias was martyred; Olivetan monks have tended it since 1373 and still sell their own honey and herbal liqueurs.
Walk 3Evening Oltrarno · Ponte Vecchio to La Casalinga

Sat June 13 • depart 4:30 pm • dinner 7:30 pm • ~1.5 miles, flat

4:30 pm
Depart Via de' Martelli 8 Head south — the Baptistery and Duomo on your left
4:45 pm
Ponte Vecchio Cross into the Oltrarno on the goldsmiths' bridge · late-afternoon light on the Arno
5:10 pm
Palazzo Pitti Stroll past the massive Medici palace · sit on the piazza steps
5:35 pm
Boboli Gardens (exterior) Walk the garden wall toward quieter streets
5:50 pm
Piazza Santo Spirito Heart of the Oltrarno · café terraces · the basilica is free to enter · artisan shops
6:30 pm
Optional regroup — Caffè Gilli On Piazza della Repubblica, 5 min from lodging · or stay in the Oltrarno until dinner
7:30 pm
Dinner — Trattoria La Casalinga ✓ Via dei Michelozzi 9r · must leave by 9 pm
June 14 free time: everyone's on their own from ~1:00 pm until dinner at 7:30 pm. Optional pre-dinner meetup at Caffè Gilli on Piazza della Repubblica at 7:00 pm (5 min from the lodging). See Sites & Activities for ideas.

🎨 Sites, Activities & Things to Do

From the family brochure — tap a site name for more. ★ = booked.

Site / ActivityCostNotes
★ Accademia (David)€16–20 + feeBOOKED via Paola — June 13, 11:00 am entry
★ Uffizi Gallery€20–25 + feeBOOKED via Paola — June 14, 9:30 am entry
Cathedral (Duomo)Free / €18 passBreathtaking exterior; interior requires a ticket · closes 3:45 pm
Giotto's Bell Tower~€18Adjacent to the Duomo · 414 steps · extraordinary views over all of Florence
Brunelleschi's Dome Climb~€18 (or Duomo pass)463 steps · book ahead · the ultimate Florence climb
Piazzale Michelangelo + San MiniatoFreeBest panoramic view · 20 min uphill walk · perfect at sunset
BaptisteryDuomo passFamous bronze "Gates of Paradise" by Ghiberti
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo~€18 (or pass)One of the best museums in Florence · original Ghiberti doors · rarely crowded
Bargello Museum~€10Donatello's bronze David, early Michelangelo · open 2nd Sunday (June 14!)
Medici Chapels~€10Michelangelo's Medici tombs · open 2nd Sunday (June 14!)
Brancacci Chapel~€10Masaccio frescoes that taught Michelangelo · requires booking
Basilica di Santa Croce~€10Michelangelo, Galileo & Machiavelli buried here · Piazza di Santa Croce 16
Vasari CorridorHard to book1565 Medici passage across Ponte Vecchio to the Uffizi
Ponte VecchioFreeFamous gold jewelry bridge · beautiful at sunset
San Lorenzo Leather MarketFree entryOutdoor stalls · leather goods, scarves, gifts · open Sunday
Officina Profumo SMNFree to browseEst. 1200s — oldest pharmacy in the world · Via de' Tornabuoni 71r
Giunti OdeonFreeCool bookstore & theatre · Piazza degli Strozzi
Boboli Gardens~€10Behind Palazzo Pitti · great for kids to run around · open Sunday
Bardini Gardens~€10Less crowded than Boboli · beautiful views · open Sunday
Piazza Santo SpiritoFreeCafé terraces, local atmosphere · Sunday market ends 2 pm
Piazza della SignoriaFreeOutdoor sculpture gallery · Palazzo Vecchio · Loggia dei Lanzi
Mercato CentraleFree entry2-floor food hall · great for a group lunch
Mercato di Sant'AmbrogioFree entrySmaller, more local · Piazza Lorenzo Ghiberti

Swipe the table sideways to see all columns · hungry? See the Food Quick Reference →

🏠 Home Base, Guide & Neighborhoods

🏠
B&B Le Stanze del Duomo — Home base, 3 nights
Via de' Martelli 8, 50122 Florence • +39 055 290012
Each family has their own apartment • steps from the Duomo, Piazza della Repubblica & the Accademia
🎨
Tour Guide — Paola Migliorini (Florence Tour)
Walking tour + Accademia (June 13) & Uffizi (June 14) • also drives our vans to Rome (June 15)
+39 347 657 2611 • info@florencetour.com

Centro Storico

The Duomo, Piazza della Signoria and Uffizi are all here. Dense with tourists but utterly essential — best on foot. (Our home base.)

Oltrarno

Florence's artisan quarter, "beyond the Arno." La Casalinga is here. More authentic, fewer tourists — worth crossing the bridge for.

San Lorenzo

Mercato Centrale and the San Lorenzo leather market — street food, leather goods, and the Medici neighborhood.

📇 Florence Contacts

Paola MiglioriniGuide — walking tour & Accademia (Jun 13), Uffizi (Jun 14)
+39 347 657 2611
B&B Le Stanze del DuomoLodging — Via de' Martelli 8
+39 055 290012
Trattoria La CasalingaDinner — Jun 13, 7:30 pm
+39 055 218624
Il Grande NutiDinner — Jun 14, 7:30 pm
+39 055 210145

Next: Roma →

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