Florence: Off the Beaten Path?
 

Looking for things off the normal tourist "To Do List", but that would still be fun, interestng, inexpensive and perhaps quick to do. Thought they could be spaced between larger attractions or be done as a change of pace.

The "Cenacoli". There are four or five Last Suppers in the refectories of former convents. I recall ones by Ghirlandaio, Andrea Castagno, Andrea del Sarto.

The Crucifixion by Perugino in the chapter room of Santa Maria Maddalena dei Pazzi.

Casa Buonarroti - Michelangelo's Home?

Eloise, where is it located and can you go inside?

I have no idea what the situation is now regarding the Casa Buonarotti.

I visited it many years ago and was not greatly impressed - one or two very early and/or second-rate works. But I am not wild about Michelangelo in any case.

As far as I can recall, it was in a pretty central location, but I certainly wouldn't be able to find it without a map on which it was marked.

FIESOLE looks interesting.

Any good places to eat or drink up there?

Casa Buonarroti is a few blocks from Santa Croce on via Ghibellina at via Buonarroti. Michelangelo never lived there, but his family owned it until the mid-1850s when they deeded it to the city. Not many original pieces by him in the home; the family sold off most of the collection to the British Museum. Limited entry hours; as I recall only mornings a few days of the week.

I would not go to Fiesole only to eat or have a drink. It has a Roman theatre, Etruscan ruins, a lovely old church of San Francesco (from behind which there is a superb view of Florence).

There are cafes on the main square, the Piazza Mino da Fiesole, some of which also have lovely views of Florence.

I've frequently seen the Cave di Maiano mentioned as a good restaurant, also with views. It's not in Fiesole but in Maiano. I'm not sure how one gets there if one doesn't have a car.

Forgot to add some less well known sights in Florence:

Picnic at the Forte di Belvedere which is located outside the walls of the Boboli Gardens. Great views of Florence. No entry fee for grounds.

Museo Bardini on Piazza dei Mozzi (Oltrarno) is a 19th-C. palazzo overflowing with antiquities gathered by an art dealer. "Restoration hardware" taken from churches and palazzi before demolition, sculpture, furnishings, armor, tapestries. The Mozzi family (bankers) owned several palaces on the piazza. Open mornings only nearly every day; check for closed days. Small entry fee.

San Miniato al Monte, a jewel of a 11th-C. church located uphill from Piazzale Michelangelo. Wonderful views, peaceful setting. Gregorigan chants sung in the late afternoon. Open daily but closed during the lunch hours. No entry fee.

Darling, you must visit Farmaceutica Profumo Santa Maria Novella at Via Scala, 16n. It was founded in the 1600's, the perfume maker to Catherine di Medici. Even if you don't buy anything, you should still poke around and look at the little museum next to the shop.

Fortuny Fan

Cloister of the Scalzo, frescoes, free, Via Cavour 69,
Mon, Tue, Sat; 8:15-13.50

Museum of Palazzo Davanzati, Free,

Known as the Museum of the traditional Florentine house. Furnished with paintings, furniture and objects which faithfully reflect those of a home from the medieval to the renaissance periods, it also has an important collection of lace from Italy.

Via di Porta Rossa 13, 50122 Firenze. Mon to Sun, 8.15-13.50;
closed on the 2nd and 4th Sun, and 1st, 3rd and 5th Mon of the month.
Only the ground floor loggia and 1st fl can be visited.

This one looks interesting:

The Badìa Fiorentina, Via Dante Alighieri 1, near Bargello

An abbey and church of the Fraternity of Jerusalem situated on the Via del Proconsolo in the centre of Florence, Italy. It is famous for being the parish church of Beatrice Portinari, the love of Dante's life, and the place where he watched her at Mass. Later, Boccaccio delivered his famous lectures on Dante's The Divine Comedy in the church.

ttt

Try this one for views and a little hiking in the hills:

http://www.seetuscany.com/itineraries/fiesole.htm

Thanks - looks good.

I second San Miniato. Wander through the Oltrarno to reach it, and stop in to check out some of the craftsmen's workshops along the way.

The Ferragamo museum is fun and different: www.tuscanweb.com/news?ID=40

San Miniato is a must see on this trip.

topping for good tips

bookmarking...thanks!

ttt