The City of Flowers, Firenze

A Nanny-Level Guide: For friends with limited time, I'll mark some spots as alternatives. 😁😁😁 Arrival: - 1.16 PM: Landed at the small Florence airport. Right outside is the light rail T2, which takes you to the city center. I stayed near the train station at a friend's place. Florence is very compact; from this location, no attraction is more than a 25-minute walk away.🤓🤓🤓 Attractions: - Basilica of Santa Croce: The final resting place of Galileo, Rossini, Michelangelo, and over a dozen other luminaries. The exterior is stunning, and the interior is truly awe-inspiring. A must-visit for history buffs, but regular tourists can skip it if pressed for time.😀😀😀 - Piazzale Michelangelo: The ultimate sunset spot! Located on a hill south of the Arno River, it offers a panoramic view of Florence, including the bronze David statue. Highly photogenic (Tip: Check sunset times in advance to catch the afterglow). - Ponte Vecchio: Seen *Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets*? This bridge reminds me of it. One of Florence's oldest medieval stone arch bridges, it's lined with centuries-old, increasingly crowded shops, now mostly jewelers.😍😍😍 - Piazza della Signoria: Includes the Palazzo Vecchio, Neptune Statue, David replica, and Loggia dei Lanzi. The statues up close feel almost lifelike. - Piazza della Repubblica: A somewhat underwhelming square with a large arch monument and a carousel. It's close to Piazza della Signoria, so you can drop by if you're in the area. Dining: - Trattoria Zaza: A tourist-friendly spot near the central market, with a per-person cost of around 20-30 euros. The pasta is delicious and authentic. On the way home: - Santa Maria Novella: Passed by this church on the way home. The facade is quite attractive, and there's a nice square out front for photos. It's relatively less famous and can be skipped. #Florence #Italy #EuropeTravel