Goodbye Roma for now as I'm here to meet Firenze too. So, after 6 nights in Rome, I took a train towards Florence. I already pre-booked my trip at Italo trains. http://www.italotreno.it/en. There is another company called Trenitalia http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en, I believe it is cheaper than Italo but you cannot reserved your seat unlike at Italo. Also, if you booked a reserved seat (Italo), you do not need to validate it before your board the train.
Above is their departure board, just look out for your train number, destination and platform number so you won't board a wrong train.
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| Italo train |
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| luggage compartment on top of seats, be sure to carry light |
I arrived at Firenze Santa Maria Novella Station after an hour and a half travel time from Rome. Now, its time to find my hotel (Hotel Accademia). As usual, I don't cram last minute searching the best direction to find my way especially I'm on my own (solo trip). I have known from the google maps before I departed that it is only around 10-15 minute walk from the train station. So, I walked and managed to find it without taking a taxi.
If you want to know more about my stay at Hotel Accademia, pls check out this post-> https://itsallaboutfirsttime.blogspot.sg/2017/07/hotel-accademia-at-florence.html
Day 1:
After checking in at my hotel, I stroll around the streets and the nearest is the San Lorenzo market. I took a number of photos to send to my family for any requests they want me to buy. Please check out my post for San Lorenzo Market to give you an idea of what items to buy for your trip here. https://itsallaboutfirsttime.blogspot.sg/2017/07/san-lorenzo-market-mercato-centrale.html
A few more walks and you'll find the famous Duomo of Florence. The Cathedral complex, located in Piazza del Duomo, includes the Baptistery and Giotto's Campanile. These three buildings are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site covering the historic centre of Florence and are a major attraction to tourists visiting Tuscany. The basilica is one of Italy's largest churches, and until development of new structural materials in the modern era, the dome was the largest in the world. It remains the largest brick dome ever constructed. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Cathedral
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| The Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore (Italian pronunciation: [katteˈdraːle di ˈsanta maˈriːa del ˈfjoːre]; in English "Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower") is the main church of Florence, Italy. Il Duomo di Firenze, as it is ordinarily called, was begun in 1296 in the Gothic style with the design of Arnolfo di Cambio and completed structurally in 1436 with the dome engineered by Filippo Brunelleschi.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Cathedral |
After Sunset view, where the street lamps reflecting through the white marbles....
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Loving the cool breeze weather at 20-21C , so, I made a lot of selfie photos again. :)
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| I've seen this fountain of water too in Rome and I also refilled my water bottle here. :) |
Inside the Cathedral...
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| of course, I lit a candle again :) |
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| you can go inside the bell tower, but I did not opt to as an entrance fee is needed |
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| can see that parts are still on patch ups of renovation |
As I walk around the area, my feet really knows my cravings and I stumbled to this famous gelato shop named GROM.
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| best pistaccio gelato!!! |
HAPPY like a child having her first ice cream
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| while seated in front of the Cathedral, with the cool, windy breeze..I had to finish quickly my gelato as it was dripping fast |
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| Carousel |
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| Florentine sweets |
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| Florentine cookies |
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| Apple store, not in glass? |
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| food shops at Piazza del Duomo |
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| vegetarian soaps |
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| fruit soaps |
Day 2:
Piazza della Signoria (Italian pronunciation: [ˈpjattsa della siɲɲoˈriːa]) is an L-shaped square in front of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy. It was named after the Palazzo della Signoria, also called Palazzo Vecchio. It is the main point of the origin and history of the Florentine Republic and still maintains its reputation as the political focus of the city.[1] It is the meeting place of Florentines as well as the numerous tourists, located near Plazzo Vecchio and Piazza del Duomo and gateway to Uffizi Gallery. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazza_della_Signoria
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The Palazzo Vecchio ("Old Palace") is the town hall of the city. This massive, Romanesque, crenellated fortress-palace is among the most impressive town halls of Tuscany.[2] Overlooking the square with its copy of Michelangelo's David statue as well the gallery of statues in the adjacent Loggia dei Lanzi, it is one of the most significant public places in Italy, and it hosts cultural points and museums.
Originally called the Palazzo della Signoria, after the Signoria of Florence, the ruling body of the Republic of Florence, it was also given several other names: Palazzo del Popolo, Palazzo dei Priori, and Palazzo Ducale, in accordance with the varying use of the palace during its long history. The building acquired its current name when the Medici duke's residence was moved across the Arno to the Palazzo Pitti. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazza_della_Signoria
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| police on guard |
The Loggia dei Lanzi consists of wide arches open to the street, three bays wide and one bay deep. The arches rest on clustered pilasters with Corinthian capitals. The wide arches appealed so much to the Florentines, that Michelangelo even proposed that they should be continued all around the Piazza della Signoria[citation needed]. The vivacious construction of the Loggia is in stark contrast with the severe architecture of the Palazzo Vecchio. It is effectively an open-air sculpture gallery of antique and Renaissance art including the Medici lions. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazza_della_Signoria
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| on my walks toward Ponte Vecchio |
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| Arno River |
at Ponte Vecchio
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| view of Arno river at Ponte Vecchio |
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| jewelry shops along the bridge (Ponte Vecchio) too |
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| street artist |
The Palazzo Pitti (Italian pronunciation: [paˈlattso ˈpitti]), in English sometimes called the Pitti Palace, is a vast, mainly Renaissance, palace in Florence, Italy. It is situated on the south side of the River Arno, a short distance from the Ponte Vecchio. The core of the present palazzo dates from 1458 and was originally the town residence of Luca Pitti, an ambitious Florentine banker. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palazzo_Pitti
at Palazzo Pitti, so lucky to be in time for the car exhibit....
The Basilica di Santo Spirito ("Basilica of the Holy Spirit") is a church in Florence, Italy. Usually referred to simply as Santo Spirito, it is located in the Oltrarno quarter, facing the square with the same name. The interior of the building is one of the preeminent examples of Renaissance architecture. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Spirito,_Florence
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| walking around Firenze's streets |
The famous love locks along the bridge...but only a few padlocks to be seen now...
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Legend has it that if you and your loved one attach a padlock to any surface of the famous bridge and then throw away the key into the Arno River below, your love will last forever. Millions of couples have come to the Ponte Vecchio for expressly this reason, to lock in their love and throw away the key for eternity. https://www.firenzealbergo.it/EN/Experience-Florence/romantic-getaway/pages/leggende-amore-ponte-vecchio.aspx
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The padlocks have sadly contributed to some damages on the bridge, and while their removal has probably put a damper on many couples' love lives, you have to agree that the people of Florence should do their best to keep the city's harmonious beauty intact.
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| Arno river |
Chisea di Santa Trinita
Chisea di Ognissanti
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| The chiesa di San Salvatore di Ognissanti or more simply chiesa di Ognissanti (Italian: [ˈkjɛːza di oɲɲisˈsanti]; "Church of All Saints"),[n 1] is a Franciscan church located on the piazza of the same name in central Florence, region of Tuscany, Italy. Founded by the lay order of the Umiliati, the church was dedicated to all the saints and martyrs, known and unknown. |
Santa Maria Novella Church
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| Santa Maria Novella is a church in Florence, Italy, situated just across from the main railway station named after it. Chronologically, it is the first great basilica in Florence, and is the city's principal Dominican church. |
Day 3:
Day trip to a small town called Incisa to visit Loppiano http://www.loppiano.it/
I took Trenitalia, the trip costs 8.80 Euros for return trip tickets. This time as it is not a reserved seating, make sure to validate your tickets before boarding the train.
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| ticket machine |
If you want to know more about my visit at Loppiano, please click this link: https://itsallaboutfirsttime.blogspot.sg/2017/07/a-day-trip-to-loppiano.html
As the Cathedral is just 10 minute walk from my hotel, I can't help to visit it again on my last day in Florence before I head to Venice. Can't get enough of how beautiful this church is, really amazing and truly a UNESCO heritage.
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| off to Venice, on board Italo train |
Day 1: San Lorenzo market, Duomo,
Day 2: Mercato Centrale, Chisea di San Firenze, Basilica di Santo Spirito, Ponte Vecchio, Palazzio Pitti, Chisea di Santa Trinita, Chisea di Ognissanti
Day 3: Incisa, Duomo
Disclaimer:
List of itinerary from days 1 to 3 is not complete as:
**on my walks, there are still a number of piazzas or sites that I stopped by, however I could not recall their names
**places that I visited to shop for food/snacks, souvenirs etc are not mentioned
TIPS:
- do some readings online, watch some videos, blogs, vlogs to help for your planning
- google maps the directions (I used the street view), at least I have familiarized myself or gave me some glimpse of the roads,directions...although during my trip I still got lost! haha
- pre-booked your tours or trains to if needed
- be ready to get lost and find your way again
- bring a pocket wifi and a power bank
- if its Summer, of course you know what to bring to protect yourself from the bright and shiny SUN e.g sunglasses, sunscreen lotion, bottled water
- if you visit churches, be sure to bring something to cover your shoulders and kness
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