I have been to Florence only once before, for about 5 hours. I have from about 10 am Friday until about noon on Saturday. I've been to the David and the Duomo. I had wanted to go to the Uffizi, but I'm afraid it will too time consuming. What are the "can't miss" sights?

I'm sure you'll get a lot of good information from your post!

You mention wanting to see the Uffizi, but are concerned about having enough time. One suggestion would be to take a guided tour of the museum. I have read good things about Walking Tours of Florence (www.italy.artviva.com) and plan to take their Florence in a Day tour (which is really three tours - one of which is a tour of the Uffizi). It only lasts two hours, runs Tues. - Sun. at 1:30 pm, and costs E39 (which includes the E12.50 for admission and museum reservation). You'll see the highlights in a short period of time and then, if you want to see more, you can stick around afterwards.

If you've never seen it, the inside of the Baptistry is incredible. There's no walking around because it's only one room, but the interior is covered in beautiful, fascinating mosaics. It's worth more than a glance but if you're tight for time, an hour would do it. It depends on how much time you feel you can spare to look at the details. It would be helpful if you could read up about it a bit beforehand. The best travel tip I ever got from this board applies here -- take a small pair of opera glasses with you. We found them invaluable throughout our trip but especially in churches where the art is high up.

What a great idea about the opera glasses! I am ordering a pair as I write this! Thanks for the info. I think I really just want to take some time and wander down the streets of Florence and take in all the architecture and atmosphere. My husband has never been there, and we will be celebrating our anniversary between there and in Venice. Any suggestions for restaurants?

heymo, it's important that the opera glasses are small and light-weight or you'll get sick of lugging them around.

Re restaurants in Florence, we liked two places that were recommended here. The restaurant Il Ritrovo (on Via dei Pucci) was charming. We liked the food and the service. It's a family owned and run operation and we met just about everybody. Start with the appetizer called Fantasia. It's a bit of many different dishes and easily enough for two to share.

One of the best things we did in Florence is take the #7 bus from the train station (for 1 Euro) up the hill to Fiesole. You'll step off the bus in front of a restaurant called the Bar Blu which overlooks Florence. You can sit inside or outside. We went late in the day, ordered a bottle of wine (they also brought us fresh strawberries) and sat there while the sun set and the lights came on in Florence below us. Very romantic!

hdm - love the Fiesole suggestion. Anyone have an idea if there is a night it closes? It's so highly recommended, I'd hate to get up there and find it's not open. Thanks!

Sorry, I don't know that. Maybe they have a website or maybe someone else knows. It was Ira (on this board) that recommended it.

hdm- What a lovely idea! I found web site with a description and history of the town and some great pictures, it's http://www.fiesole.com/ Will check and see if they give any details about hours, etc.

heymo,
that's a nice site for Fiesole. There was something on at the theatre the night we were there but we didn't have tickets (or time) for it. We stepped in as far as we could, though, and it was very pretty.
I don't see a website for the Bar Blu, though. If I remember correctly, we just got directions from our hotel. Maybe your hotel could give you the hours, if you e-mail them the question.

I will do just that. What time of year were you there?

I would suggest going to Michael Angelo's Square, it's on the Oltrano (not the Duomo side of the Ponte Vecchio). Go for Sunset, you can see the entire city, it's beautiful, and easier to get to than Fiesole.

I'd also recommend going to The Pitti Palace and wondering through the gardens, they're spectacular.

Restaurants:
La Giostra, very expensive, but amazing, great ambiance. I'd get the pear and pecorni ravioli to start and whatever the suggest for your entree, or the zucchini carpaccio.

Il Latini- I wasn't all that impressed, but it's the #1 tourist restaurant, they love to serve there. Everyone else seems to love it.

Aqua al due- my favorite restaurant in Florence, may be a little to American for some people. Get the pasta sampler, 5 different kinds of pasta. Also, they're known for the blueberry steak.

Hello heymo, walking is so easy in Florence and something I think you both would enjoy. Also, there is a bus (don't know the # of it but your hotel can tell you) that will take you up to the Piazza Michelangelo. You will have the most beautiful view of Florence. Think the bus trip is something like 20 minutes..it is not far. Enjoy your trip!

While I have more than 24 hours, we are trying to find the best way to spend our only full day. We're thinking of doing a Florence walk and the Uffuzi as the major part of a day. We've seen David before and can browse the rest of the sights on our own.

Jrchapma - I found the artviva website to lack any real information, so I didn't inquire with them, perhaps I will (I've tried 5 guides, heard two no's for my date, and haven't heard from the others in 2 days - I feel like I'm striking out!)

heymo,
We were there in late May, early June. LoveItaly is right in saying that Florence is a great walking town -- everything seems to be 10 minutes from everything else. We enjoyed the walk across the Ponte Vecchio to the Oltrano where the Pitti Palace is. Lots of nice shops over there!

LoveItaly, is that bus to the Piazza Michelangelo the one I was mentioning that goes to Fiesole? I don't know the name of the piazza there but it was a gorgeous view.

Hello hdm, the Piazza Michelangelo is across the River Arno, as cjacob said, it is up from the Ponte Vecchio between the next two bridges.

Fiesole is on the same side of the River Arno as the historical center but way out in the N/E section (think it would be considered N/E).

I do not know the number of the bus to Piazza Michelangelo as I have always gone there by auto, but the hotel would know for sure. It is even walking distant but I would not want to walk there, LOL, lazy me!

cjacob,

Did you really enjoy the Boboli Gardens? I had heard it was not worth the time. Thanks for the restaurant suggestions, as well as Michaelangelo's square. Both places sound lovely! I'm grateful for all the suggestions. Loveitaly, I'm with you. While I don't mind walking around the city, I think we'll take a bus to whatever location we go, either Fiesole or Piazza Michaelangelo. I'm trying to research Bar Blu in Fiesole, so far all I have found out is that it is part of Ristorante Aurora, unless this is flawed info!

The view of Florence is quite nice from Piazza Michaelangelo, but it is spectacular from the Kaffeehaus cafe on the grounds of the Boboli Gardens, as it is higher up than P. Michaelangelo.

If you can't get into the Uffizi, an alternative would be the Bargello Museum. Here, you can view Donatello's fey DAVID--a sharp contrast to the more-famous sculpture by Michaelangelo.

If you like perfume and wonderful bath products, Farmacia Santa Maria Novella (16n Via Scala) is a must.

I just love everything about Florence. I just spent 5 months studying there and can say that whatever you do will be amazing. I do enjoy the Boboli Gardens, but if you don't have the time to go into the gardens, you should still go see the outside of the Pitti Palace, it is just a sight to see.

Honestly though, if you only have a day in Florence, and you've seen the David, just wander and get lost in the streets, Florence is a great place for that.

Oh, and for gelato, don't miss Vivoli's, ask your concierge, they'll have the address. On the road Isola Stinche, or something like that. Also, the restuarant next door is great too, Osteria dell'Italiano.

I think ThinGorjus gave some great suggestions - the Bargello Museum contains treasures worthy of a visit and is not as much of a time commitment as the Uffizi. I would add to his mini-itinerary (the other suggestions are perfect as well) a stroll to and over the Ponte Vecchio to Oltrarno, heading to Santo Spirito and maybe even Santa Maria della Carmine to see the fantastic frescoes in the Brancacci Chapel.

Have aperativi at a bar or some wine at a fabulous enoteca (there are plenty of choices), one great dinner, gelato as suggested at Vivoli's or GROM, and on the morning before you depart, cappuccino and pastry, and a quick stroll by the Duomo.

Enjoy Firenze!

By all means, order the previously posted walking tour or preorder tickets to the Uffizi, even if you can only see highlights. The Birth of Venus -- and Primavera -- by Botticelli are worth your going, all by themselves.

The rooftop cafe at the Uffizi had a nice view of the city, including the Duomo.

For something a little different than a museum or a church, go to San Marco, a monastery where Fra Angelico painted frescoes on each cell wall for the monks' private contemplation.

Or, try the Medici Chapel if you like Michaelangelo sculpture.

Ideally you would order your tickets online or reserve through your hotel for either.

As to the Boboli, friends tried to go in August, but there was only one line for all Pitti museums/garden and it was quite long.

Whatever you choose of all these posts, I think you will be very happy with your choice. Enjoy.