I am not sure if you have already traveled to FLorence but I lived in Florence and frequent it. My favorite is Hotel Pitti Palace. It is right next to the Ponte Vecchio. It has the most amazing roof top suite. Dont miss dining at Borgo Antico... my favorite....

I was in Florence exactly the same time last year. You can click on my name and read my trip report for further details.

I would not go those days. Outside of being extremely hot the entire city is shut down around August 16th because of a national holiday. The museums and the Ponte Vecchio will be open but that is about it. We struggled to find restaurants that were open starting the 16th. My guess is since the 16th is a Monday, the weekend before will be dead.

Just remembered the holiday (Ferragosto) is the 15th not the 16th. Either way you will be there right in the middle of it.

yikes. I certainly did not pick a good week! So we would potenitally arrive into Florence airport at 9pm on 8/14. And leave Flroence airport at 7am on 8/18. If the holiday is on Sun, that is our first "real" day there. Would things be back to normal by Mon? I know the museums are closed on Mon, could we go to Uffizi and Accademia on Sun? The holiday?
Maybe we should just stay in Amsterdam? :(