bookmarking

Some examples of things to do in florence that are not "must-sees" (a term I hate, glad you didn't use it) and are involved with something you did not mention at all, namely eating:

Sitting at a table outside a Gilli's Bar (pronounced Jilly's) and having an admittedly expensive morning break of cappuchino and pastry and watching the Italians cutting their bella figura style. Gilli's is in the Piazza della Republica.

Wandering around the Mercato Centrale near San Lorenzo and gawking at the food stalls.

Wallking down the Via della Vigna Vecchia from the exit of the Bargello about 3 blocks to the tiny little piazza at Via de Stinche and buying gelato from Vivoli's.

P.S. You mention the Ponte Vecchio Bridge. Ponte means bridge so you don't need to say it twice. (Vecchio means old) And it will be so jammed with tourists you may not eve be able to cross it!! Really!! And getting to the rail to see the sunset may not be possible either. Better to go to the next bridge downstream and look up the river at the Ponte Vecchio reflecting the evening sun.

Ok, after spending some time trying to figure this out, I have a completely new and different plan. :) I realized that there was no way I could really how long I would need/want to spend in each place (it is surprising how much it varies from person to person), so...

I drew up a list of things I want to see, made notes as to when things are open and grouped them by area, and otherwise threw out the schedule! (Other than the Uffizi and Accademia, which will be booked ahead). I will get to what I get to. :)

The day trip, if it happens at all, has been moved to Wednesday, and since I won't know until the night before (or possibly the morning of) if I am doing it, Lucca/Pisa is out, Siena is in. (As I understand it, The Leaning Tower more or less requires booking ahead, and since I don't if I am going, I don't really want to pay for it ahead of time.)

Thanks for all the advice. Particularly useful were the tips on Ponte Vecchio (along with the Italian vocabulary lesson :) ), a good place to buy gelato, and the mention of a couple place I overlooked somehow: S. Miniato al Monte and the Gozzoli chapel at Palazzo Medici-Riccardi...

Oh, almost forgot. 33 days and counting!

"4:15 – 6:00 Guided walk through Old City (free)"

Would you mind sharing who provides this? Or where to find them online?

InFlorence--the OP already said this guided walk is a free podcast--see Feb 17 post