One day in Florence: what to visit?

What to do in one day in Florence?

Florence is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and getting to know it in a single day will certainly be a very short visit because you will see only a small part of the treasures hosted in the capital of Tuscany. If your time is short, I suggest a short itinerary where you will visit the most famous monuments plunging into the Florentine atmosphere, and you will promise (a promise is a promise!) that you will return for a deeper visit—you also need to know the secrets of this city! Are you ready to visit Florence in one day? Go to our post: What to do in one day in Florence? Here at Your Travel to Italy with Ana Patricia, you make the trip of your dreams!!! ALSO: see our “Accommodation in Italy – Tips for your holidays!”

This Post was prepared by my Special Guest and Guide to Tuscany ♥ Cristiane ♥
Here we leave our special thanks for this great collaboration for the blog Your Travel to Italy.

Important to know…
If you only have one day in Florence, unfortunately, you won’t be able to visit the Uffizi Gallery, as it’s too time-consuming; the ideal is two days in the city. Florence is home to several museums, including the Uffizi Gallery, which is among the most important in the world and preserves precious paintings by the great Florentine masters. But if your visit is limited to a single day, you will have to give up because the Gallery is a museum with many rooms, and the visit requires and deserves a few hours. So today we’ll postpone our visit to the masterpieces by Giotto, Filippo Lippi, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Tiziano, Caravaggio, and others and concentrate on other attractions. Read also: What to visit in Florence in two days, three days, and four days. If you have more time, then read our post, “WHAT TO DO IN FLORENCE IN TWO DAYS?“.

Ana Patricia in Florence

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Ana Patricia da Silva in Florence

Our Itinerary

The classic itinerary includes a visit to the Historic Center, where we will see the most famous buildings in Florence. It is a path that can be taken on foot because the monuments are not far from each other, and you will still have a good overview of the city. Now, shall we start our tour?

1) What to do in one day in Florence? SANTA MARIA NOVELLA

If you arrive in the city by train at the Santa Maria Novella train station, you can start your tour from the square in front of the famous church of the same name, mentioned in the book Decameron by Boccaccio. The beautiful Dominican church of Santa Maria Novella was started in the mid-1200s and completed about a century later. The beautiful facade of the church, with its geometric shapes in polychrome marble, is the work of the architect Leon Battista Alberti and dates back to the 15th century. Inside the basilica, you can admire the crucifixes by Giotto and Brunelleschi, as well as paintings by Masaccio, Ghirlandaio, and Filippo Lippi, among others.

2) One day in florence: what to visit? PIAZZA DEL DUOMO (CATHEDRAL SQUARE)

Right after the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, our visit heads towards Piazza del Duomo, which is not far away, and here you will be amazed by the magnificence of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (St. Mary of the Flower) with its red dome, Giotto’s Campanile Tower, and the Baptistery of St. John. Unmissable! Be sure to visit the beautiful Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, admire the works of art that are housed inside it, and still be amazed at the bold architecture of the Brunelleschi dome.

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3) One day in Florence: what to visit? BAPTISTERY OF SAN GIOVANNI

And after the cathedral, be sure to admire the beautiful bronze doors of the Baptistery of San Giovanni (St. John). Pay special attention to the Gate of Paradise by Ghibert.

Important Tip

Entrance to the Cathedral is free, but if you want to visit the Baptistery, the Cathedral Museum, and go up to the dome and Giotto’s campanile, the ticket costs 18 Euros (single ticket valid for 24 hours). If you feel strong enough and don’t suffer from panic or dizziness, the challenge is to overcome the 463 narrow steps and stairs and climb the dome (the view is unique). The climb to the summit will allow you to enjoy a view of the city and the surrounding hills.

4) What to do in one day in Florence? PIAZZA DELLA SIGNORIA

From Piazza del Duomo, we will walk through one of the most elegant streets in Florence, Via Calziuoli, and after about 400 meters we will reach Piazza della Signoria (“Lordship Square”). Along the way, make a stop at the church of Orsanmichele, an unusual-looking religious building that is one of the best examples of 14th-century Florentine architecture.

We continue our visit towards Piazza della Signoria, which is dominated by Palazzo Vecchio (“Old Palace”), the current headquarters of the prefecture of Florence and once the home of the Medici. In front of Palazzo Vecchio, you will find several statues, among them a copy of David, by Michelangelo. The original statue can be found at the Galleria dell’Accademia Museum (Accademia Gallery Museum), also in Florence.

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5) What to do in one day in Florence? PONTE VECCHIO (VECCHIO BRIDGE)

Then, it’s time to visit the Ponte Vecchio, located a few tens of meters from Piazza della Signoria, where you can stroll through several jewelry stores. The sunset at Ponte Vecchio is breathtaking!

6) What to do in one day in Florence? BASILICA DI SANTA CROCE

We cannot miss the Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross), the largest Franciscan church in Florence. The entrance to the church is free, but you must visit the tombs of great Italian characters such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Alfieri, and Foscolo, not to mention Machiavelli.

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Buy your tickets now for the Leaning Tower of Pisa, The Uffizi Gallery, and Gallery of the Academy including the Chapel Medici.

7) What to do in one day in Florence? PIAZZALE MICHELANGELO (MICHELANGELO SQUARE)

To say one last goodbye to the city and admire it as a whole, be sure to go to Piazzale Michelangelo. You can go on foot or take bus numbers 12 or 13 at Santa Maria Novella station.

8) What to do in one day in Florence? RETURN TO RAILWAY STATION

And finally, after that wonderful day in Florence, we can only return to the train station!! If you have some time to eat in the middle of this rush, be sure to read our Blog Your Travel to Italy, and our section on Food in Italy. We have great tips on restaurants and how not to waste money on “pranks.”.

Map with the attractions in Florence

What to do in one day in Florence? — Source: Google Maps

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Conclusion

What to do in one day in Florence? We saw in this post that unfortunately, getting to know Florence in one day is very limited, but if we only have this opportunity, we have to take advantage, even if it is just for one day. We also saw that it is possible to make many visits, breathe the air of Florence, and take home a record of this charming city.

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