Renaissance Uncovered - Itinerary 2

Valeria - (dramatically.expatic)
Itinerary created by
Valeria
What you’ll do

This itinerary would be perfect to choose as the first one to follow around Florence or to take it on a different day after having already explored the previous itinerary. It also starts near the train station, but goes on exploring a little bit different side of Florence - namely, diving deeper in the Renaissance period, discovering some fantastic places along the way.

Day Total

19.9 km (12.4 mi)

1 hr 9 min

Total route too long to export to Google
1

Santa Maria Novella
Unlock to see location
Church with art treasures in Italy
Category
Historic
Est. Price
$
Direction

From there, take a little detour - instead of following crowds of people going in the direction of the city centre, turn right, and walk for a few minutes on a narrow street, called Via Della Scala.

2

Officina Profumo - Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella
Unlock to see location
Luxurious Italian brand with heritage
Category
Culture
Est. Price
$$
Direction

144 m (0.1 mi)

3

Museo Novecento
Unlock to see location
Modern Italian art museum in Florence
Category
Museum
Est. Price
$
Direction

As you leave the museum, turn right around the corner to cross Piazza degli Ottaviani and take Via dei Fossi - a narrower and less crowded street that will take you right to the riverside. But first coffee! As you walk down the street, you’ll find numerous amazing places that will make you stop and want to enter or at least admire the shopfronts: it’s lined with small art galleries and artisanal shops. But I’m inviting you to pop by...

4

Todo Modo
Unlock to see location
Cozy bookstore cafe in Florence
Category
Restaurant
Est. Price
$$
Restaurant Type
italian
Direction

As you leave Todo Modo and move down the street, you’ll reach Piazza Goldoni - and it will be tempting to come see river Arno. Well, do it! But then, move a bit further away to Piazza Ognissanti, dominated by the luxurious hotel Westin Excelsior (Orvm is their rooftop bar that costs a lot but offers jaw-dropping views!) from one side and the Church of San Salvatore in Ognissanti from the other. And that’s where we’re heading today.

5

Piazza Goldoni
Unlock to see location
Busy traffic circle with statue
Category
Sightseeing
Direction

1.1 km (0.7 mi)

4 min

6

Piazza Ognissanti
Unlock to see location
Historic square with artistic treasures
Category
Sightseeing
Direction

863 m (0.5 mi)

3 min

7

Orvm
Unlock to see location
Cozy Italian restaurant in Florence
Category
Bar
Est. Price
$$$
Direction

76 m (0 mi)

8

Chiesa di San Salvatore in Ognissanti
Unlock to see location
Baroque church with famous burials
Category
Historic
Direction

Lunch break! It might not always be an easy task to find a good and yet not overpriced place to eat in the centre of Florence. I will provide you with a full list of places I can recommend, but for this specific itinerary, I can’t recommend this place enough - Nerocarbone Bistro Toscano is a truly special place, serving authentic Tuscan food, using locally-sourced products. If you’re visiting in winter and the weather is not ideal, make sure to try their ribollita, a typical tuscan soup made with bread, beans, cabbage and other vegetables. The origins of this dish are very humble, with some historians dating it back to the Middle Ages when servants used to gather bread leftovers after their lords’ banquets and boil them for dinner - but today it’s a perfect winter dish (I wouldn’t attempt eating it when it’s hot outside, as it is pretty heavy - but also very tasty!).

9

Nerocarbone Bistrò Toscano
Unlock to see location
Cozy gem with delicious Italian dishes
Category
Restaurant
Est. Price
$$
Restaurant Type
italian
Direction

From there, take the jaw-dropping Lungarno Corsini, a beautiful riverside walk, to get back to the main central area.

10

Lungarno Corsini
Unlock to see location
Riverside charm in Florence
Category
Sightseeing
Direction

1.5 km (0.9 mi)

7 min

11

Museo Ferragamo
Unlock to see location
Fashionable tribute to shoe genius
Category
Museum
Est. Price
$
Direction

953 m (0.6 mi)

4 min

12

This one is optional

Strozzi Palace
Unlock to see location
Vibrant museum with diverse art
Category
Museum
Est. Price
$$
Direction

Whether you stop by for an exhibition or not, after the Strozzi Palace, I’m inviting you to dive back into the Renaissance.

13

Museo di Palazzo Davanzati
Unlock to see location
Medieval time capsule in Florence
Category
Museum
Est. Price
$
Direction

375 m (0.2 mi)

2 min

14

Cattedrale dell'Immagine
Unlock to see location
Innovative art experiences in Florence
Category
Museum
Est. Price
$$
Direction

Last but not least, the best way to end this itinerary is by admiring the iconic Ponte Vecchio.

15

Ponte Vecchio
Unlock to see location
Historic bridge with unique shops
Category
Sightseeing
Direction

8.6 km (5.3 mi)

19 min

16

Ponte alle Grazie
Unlock to see location
Modern twist on classic bridge
Category
Photospot
Direction

And that's it, I hope you enjoyed this itinerary - now let's move on to the next one!

Want to see more?

Simply sign up to access the free version of my travel guide, featuring things to do, itineraries, and travel tips.