There are places in this world that, even though you've never encountered them in reality, leave you with the impression that you've always known them. Just like when you meet someone for the first time, you feel like you've known them your whole life.
It's that déjà vu feeling, come on, you know what I'm talking about! Florence has been a long-time love of mine. But unfortunately, I hadn't been able to meet her until now. When I started planning my trip to Rome in the summer, I immediately considered the possibility of going to Florence, even if just for a day trip.
The city is gorgeous, you can't help but fall in love with those charming, narrow streets. It's considered the cradle of Italian culture, or the "Athens of Italy." And as you'd expect, Florence is one of the most visited Italian cities. Statistics say that the city attracts millions of tourists from all over the world every year, and in 2023 alone, it's estimated that there were no less than 10.2 million.
The streets of Florence are insane!
One of my favorite things to do when I get to a city like Florence is to walk. And it doesn't cost a penny. I love to wander the narrow streets, admire the people. Perhaps the most interesting free activity is to observe people, to get lost among them, to admire shop windows, to simply walk without a specific direction.
This is almost impossible to do when you have limited time or you're not alone. Look, this is one of those reasons why I'm starting to consider more and more the option of traveling alone. At least once, to see how it will be for me. Besides, everyone says it's extraordinary.
You can get from Rome to Florence really quickly by train
I knew from last year when I was in Rome that you can get there very easily and quickly by train. I even inquired about how much it costs, how long the journey takes, and how to do it. Bought on the spot, the ticket for a trip isn't exactly cheap.
For example, a one-way ticket purchased on the current day costs 40€. From Rome to Florence (and vice versa), it's about 230 km and the distance is covered by train in an hour and a half. The two cities are connected daily by no less than 86 trains. So, you have plenty to choose from!
I booked the tickets online almost two months in advance, for two reasons. First of all, I thought that once I got the train tickets, I was as good as there in Florence. And I really wanted to visit it.
When you're alone, you can decide on the spot and make your schedule however you want, but when there are more people in the group, things get complicated. Another reason why I bought the tickets online was the price. The cost of a round-trip Rome-Florence ticket, purchased online, was 32€.
What can you do in just one day in Florence
One day in Florence is very little, no doubt about it. You'll be rushing all the time and you won't really get to understand much about this city. You won't be able to enjoy every moment, every place. I knew it would be like this, all the recommendations were for at least 3 days in Florence, but I accepted this from the beginning.
I have to say, though, that I moved quickly, I managed my time very well, and I managed to do everything I had planned. I even got back to the station earlier than I should have. I wanted to see for myself if the city is really as spectacular as everyone says, not least because I've been disappointed by certain places many times before. And even though I'm aware of this, I still make the same mistakes.
From the start, I set off with too many expectations and formulate a kind of dubious reality in my mind. And this happens to me because of my desire to research, to do my homework maybe too much from home. Every opinion, article, video, photo, etc., expresses the subjective view of a person at a given time.
Reality is not always the same as someone conveyed it to us, or as we have formed it ourselves. As I was saying, one day couldn't be enough to discover the beauties of Florence, but only to observe them superficially, in a hurry. I wasn't on a landmark hunt, but I made a route from home, just to know where to go and to be efficient.
My route, on foot through the streets of Florence
It wasn't easy, but it wasn't hard either. I'm used to walking, so the 12 km I covered in Florence, plus the climb up the steep slope to Piazzale Michelangelo, wasn't an unusual effort for me. Leaving behind the Santa Maria Novella Station, driven more by the cold outside, I headed quickly towards the first point on my plan for that day: the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.
Or the Duomo of Florence, as we all know it. It was quite chilly outside and much too early to wander the streets, but this way, I could walk and admire in peace without having to squeeze through the crowds of tourists.
A creation of the Florentine architect Filippo Brunelleschi, the Cathedral's Dome dominates the historic center of the city with its size. It's the second largest church in Italy, after St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
I didn't spend much time there, the cathedral was still closed and since I couldn't find any other place open at that hour, I headed towards the beautiful and expansive Piazza della Signoria.
It was almost 9 o'clock, the city was starting to come to life, and seeing a gentleman preparing his terrace, I pounced on it. I devoured a cappuccino, my gaze fixed on the nude statue of David.
What a big shot this David was, I thought to myself! You see him naked everywhere! I headed towards the imposing Palazzo Vecchio, of course I couldn't miss the opportunity to immortalize the moment with a few photos next to it.
Passing through the Uffizi Square passage, I focused my attention on the river. The Arno River, a first landmark for those arriving in Florence, draws all eyes to its embankment. And it's understandable why, because from here, you can admire and photograph the city's symbol - Ponte Vecchio.
And yet, what's so special about this bridge? The image of this bridge is everywhere, wherever Florence is mentioned: on magnets, postcards, tourist brochures, specialty magazines, city presentation videos, or even on restaurant menus.
The Ponte Vecchio was built in 1345, on a solid structure with three arches, being one of the few bridges on which buildings were constructed. Initially, these houses were used as workshops, tanneries, or butcher shops, but due to the smell and filth, they were transformed into jewelry workshops and shops.
Today, on Ponte Vecchio you'll find shops with all sorts of souvenirs and jewelry, but also some antique shops with pretty hefty prices, to be honest. Above them is the famous Vasari Corridor, which was built by order of Cosimo I de' Medici to connect the two palaces on the banks of the Arno River: Palazzo Vecchio, where the Florence City Hall is today, and Palazzo Pitti on the other side.
Piazzale Michelangelo – the place to admire the city
It often happens that we have a certain image of a city. That there's a representative panorama, which, to the disappointment of many tourists, isn't found everywhere.
Florence is gorgeous, with its charming streets and all those attractions of great interest to those who come to visit. But something seems to be missing, and the image isn't complete without that panorama we have in mind.
There is a place in Florence where you'll have the opportunity to see the city in almost its entire expanse, and if you're lucky enough to have a clearer day than mine, you'll be able to leave with photos worthy of replacing those in tourist brochures.
For a relatively active person, used to walking and climbing stairs, the route will be a natural one. From Ponte Vecchio to Piazzale Michelangelo is almost 1.5 km, and at a normal pace, without rushing, while admiring the river bank or taking a look back at the famous bridge, it will take you about 20-25 minutes.
The climb up the slope might be a bit more difficult, but don't worry, there are a few alleys that cut across the path and you'll get up there in no time. Once you get up there, your effort will be rewarded with an absolutely fabulous panorama.
From here, you'll admire Florence exactly as you knew it from the brochures. In the middle of the esplanade is the bronze statue of David, another opportunity to take a snapshot with him.
With difficulty, I could tear myself away from this place. The view is fantastic. Driven more by the clouds on the horizon, I turned my steps back towards the station area.
Because I wanted to cover as much of this beautiful city as possible, I chose a different route for the return, an opportunity to admire another beautiful basilica. I crossed Ponte alle Grazie and just a few steps away, Basilica Santa Croce unfolded before my eyes, in all its splendor.
Don't hesitate to consider a day trip to Florence!
If you think I managed to do too much in such a short time, you won't be the only one! Even I thought it was too long a route, almost impossible to follow in just a few hours. But surprisingly, I had enough time, I fit perfectly into the schedule. Of course, without waiting in lines or visiting interiors.
I even had time to take in the atmosphere, without rushing, and I got back to the station early. It was an interesting experience. Florence is an absolutely fascinating city, and if you're planning a stay in Rome or somewhere in northern Italy, consider a day trip to Florence.
