2nd trip to Florence
 

We hit all the biggies on our first trip to Florence, anyone have some off-the-beaten-path sites that we shouldn't miss the second time around? We'll be there 2 nights, and want to feel less like tourists, more like travellers.
Any advice is appreciated! Thank you!

Hi dina,

Did you go to Fiesole?

((I))

I assume by "biggies" you mean the Uffizi, Accademia, and Ponte Vecchio. I guess you were in the Boboli Gardens and the Pitti Palace, the Duomo and the Baptistry. Oh, and the Palazzo Vecchio. If you missed any of these, do go back and see them.

Ira already asked about Fiesole, where the Roman amphitheater and the archeology musuem should not be missed. This is also a town with good food, great views, and a steep but worthwhile climb up to the San Francesco complex. There is a lot more in Fiesole to see.

Ok, back in Florence:

The Medici Chapels, the Laurentian Library, the famous staircase, and the reliquaries, all in the Annexes of San Lorenzo.

The indoor San Lorenzo food market. One of the best markets anywhere.

San Marco and the wonderful works of Fra Angelico. Really a great place.

Santa Croce. The entire complex. So great. Amazing monuments, the leather school, the Pazzi chapel and beautiful outdoor area. The piazza is wonderful and there is lots of great food nearby.

Santa Maria Novella. Not the world's most beautiful neighborhood, but once you are inside, and see the Green Cloister, the garden walk and more, you will feel like you're in a different world.

The Brancacci Chapel in the Oltrarno. You'll need reservations.

San Miniato Al Monte. While you're up there, walk to Piazzale Michelangelo.

Gelateria Neri. Goooood.

Dolce e Dolcezzi. Also goood.

Eat at Pallontino near Santa Croce. good and cheap(ish) with few tourists. The pappa al pomodoro is great and will mark you as "in the know"

That is everything I can think of off hand, but I might come up with more.

More from me. I wrote the following:

FIESOLE

http://florencevillas.com/newsletter/newsletter_27.html

SAN MARCO:

http://florencevillas.com/newsletter/newsletter_28.html

FLORENCE OFF THE BEATEN PATH:

http://florencevillas.com/newsletter/newsletter_34.html

I would recommend the Bargello, Santa Croce as above, and also the Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella on Via della Scala, 16. Pretty interesting perfume, soap, lotions, etc., shop that has been in business for a LONG time. Beautiful place and great scents. My wife and some other ladies that have gone with us loved it.

Good thread for me, thanks.

I haven't done the following yet myself, plan to do it when I return next spring

At a time in his life when Michelangelo was in hiding for a few days, he made some wall drawings in his hiding place. The drawings are in a small room under the Medici Chapel in Florence.This is called the Sotterraneo. It is not advertised, but when you buy your tickets for the Chapel tell the person at the booth you would like to see the room with Michelangelo's drawings. It costs a little extra. The entry is timed and is only on the hours, from 9 to noon. A guide will go in with the small group.

Thanks elaine. I mentioned this to my wife and she had recently read that in Irving Stone's book. He hid when the Medici's went into hiding, when they were overthrown. We'll try to see that!

2Italy, ah I love the Bargello. Those are two more great suggestions.

I would also add the Museum of the Cathedral, called The Opera del Duomo.

This is a superb museum, incredibly designed and layed out. Very informative and featuring world famous works of art. You gotta go.

Another non-touristy but not at all fancy place to eat is Trattoria Alfredo between Palazzo Vecchio and the Duomo. Really good and good prices, with lots of Florence residents eating there, for such a heavily touristed location.

Thanks for all the great info, everyone. I've taken notes!

tuscanlifeedit: We have not been to Fiesole or many of the places you mentioned. Thanks for your detailed response.
And.. I LOVE the articles you wrote in those newsletters. Very interesting and helpful!

Thanks, dina4. I work hard at it, and I am glad to know that they help or are enjoyable. I feel so lucky to have the job writing for that company. They are nice people, and getting to explore Tuscany in depth is the greatest!

If you go to Farmacia Di Santa Maria Novella on Della Scala, plan to go at lunch and eat right next door at Tira Baralla. No on spoke a word of English, so it was truly a neighborhood trattoria. Everything we ate was the best we had on the trip. They also bottle their house wine which was excellent in half bottles, and we bought some bottles (not enough!) to bring home.

Marty- thanks for the restaurant tip. We went to the Farmacia Di Santa Maria Novella last time (and loved it!), but we're always looking for good places to eat.

Tuscanlifeedit-- You have a dream job.... I envy you. Thanks, again.