Hi K,

Yes, you can.

You should also take the no. 7 bus from the SMN train station up to Fiesole to view the sunset from the terrace of the Blue Bar.

Here is an itinerary so that you can see how easy it will be.

Remember that you must have gelato no less than twice per day.


A DAY IN FLORENCE:

Train to Florence SMN:
The Luggage Office is to your left as you leave the train.

From Piazza d' Stazione, walk up via Nazionale to via d'Ariento and the Mercato Centrale, wander through.

Take any street going NE to Via Degli Alfani and go right to the Accademia for The David.

Take via Ricasoli SE to the Duomo, the Baptistry and the Opera Museum (Originals of the bronzes on the doors)

From the Campanile, take via Calzaiuoli S (do some window shopping) to the Piazza d' Signoria. Look around, take a break.

Continue S to the Uffizi. Visit.

From the Uffizi, walk W along the Arno River to the Ponte Vecchio.

(You can walk up to the Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens if there is time. Great views of Florence from the top of the Gardens)

If you have time, walk E along the S bank of the river to Ponte alle grazie and cross over to visit Santa Croce.

If not, go W along the Arno from Ponte Vecchio to Ponte S. Trinita and go right. Go left on Via d'Spada to via d'Fossi and go right to Santa Maria Novella. Look around.

SMN is across the square from the train station.

If you have time, take the no. 7 bus (you can find it at the SMN train station) up to Fiesole (0:20 hr 1E) to watch the sunset from the terrace of the Bar Bleu.

Be sure to have lots of gelato (in a cup, not a cone), take some wine breaks and a light lunch.

Train schedules, prices and tickets are at http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html
Call center from outside Italy is 39-06-68475475

Bus routes are at http://www.ataf.net/
Buy your ticket before you get on the bus. Stamp it in the yellow box on the bus.

Uffizi and Academia Museum Reservations
You can purchase tickets online at http://www.polomuseale.firenze.it/english/musei/uffizi/
Or call the museum booking line on +39 055 294883, open during Italian hours from 8.15 am to 5.50 pm Tuesday to Sunday for the English-speaking operator.

Have a nice visit.

Make sure you check the hours for Santa Maria Novella. Both my guidebook and hotel had the wrong information. I walked there from Santa Croce just to find it had closed 10 minutes earlier. I went back the next day, though, and it was definitely worth it.

I don't know what a 'realistic view' is for you, but on my first visit to the Uffizi I spent half a day and didn't see everything. If you're not very interested in art, have a plan for the few specific works you want to see (which will likely be in different rooms/galleries on different floors).

http://www.uffizi.org/museum/

FYI, the Uffizi and Accademia are closed on Mondays.

Were you planning to climb the Duomo to the Lantern?

Definitely go inside the Battistery (near Duomo) after looking at the Gates of Paradise doors. It's like walking into a jewel box. Open M-F and a few hours on Saturday; closed Sunday.

If at all possible, add Santa Croce and the Bargello to your list.

See the piazzas after sightseeing when things are closed.

When is this trip?

Answering a few questions:

@Jean- Not too much of an art buff, I plan a researching what I want to see at the Uffizi first. This trip is at the beginning of May. I think it would be cool to climb the Duomo.