On my way back to Shanghai from Paris, a teller at the airport duty-free shop heard that I had gone to Florence and was very happy to say that it was one of the cities he was most addicted to. I've heard someone say this about Florence more than once in the past few days.
Remove the time on the road and have 24 hours to visit the city this time. Florence is small, walkable, and the best way to get around, then try to get lost in the labyrinth of alleyways where every corner has a Renaissance twist.
Do your best to get lost in the maze of alleys,you will discover a rainbow of scents,flavors and sights as you have never experienced before.
9:00 am Firenze
J.K. Place Firenze
In the above paragraph, the managing director of J.K. Place Firenze would tell everyone who comes to or returns to Florence that the hotel most of the time affects our first impression of a strange city.
*Image from the hotel's official website
The night before arriving at Santa Maria Novella there was a bit of rain, from the taxi to take the luggage and trot under the eaves, thinking about where the hotel door is, looking up to see a small door sign with the name of the hotel written on it, J.K. Place Firenze is a private butler hotel, and usually we know the luxury of the hotel is not the same, its luxury comes from the European style "personal butler service", if you are interested in it, you can come to stay for a night or two.
The hotel's door is not large, it is like a private house, pushing the door through a corridor, the front desk is on the left-hand side of the study, the first time I came in, I almost thought that I had mistakenly entered someone's home. The pace of Italian life is slow, just don't rush, check in when you can order a free glass of sparkling wine, sit on the long table next to the study for a while, and admire the "own home".
Here is the restaurant
The rooms are elegantly styled and each is individually decorated to show a strong atmosphere of Italian classicism. The room wasn't spacious enough, but comfortable enough, after all the hotel is located in a popular area of Florence. The room will be cleaned twice a day, the housekeeper will confirm that the guest has gone out to arrange the cleaning service, if there are friends to visit, they will also warmly entertain friends, and all the travel details are arranged, occasionally feel a little too intimate.
The hotel offers an organic menu, using seasonal ingredients, home-cooked Italian and Tuscan specialties, which impress the taste buds with a private and comfortable dining environment, and of course, the restaurant staff's words: "You can eat whatever you want, just relax here." ”
Breakfast can be delivered to the room
*Address: Piazza di Santa Maria Novella, 7, Piazza Santa Maria Novella
*It takes about 20 minutes by car from the airport and 15 minutes from the train station
12:00 am Firenze
Piazza Santa Maria Novella
Have brunch at the hotel and push open the door on the ground floor to one of the most beautiful squares in Florence, Piazza Santa Maria Novella, named after the basilica di Santa Maria Novella, the main building of the square.
The image comes from the Internet
The noon square is bustling with people, the music of the street performers and, of course, the flocks of pigeons. After lunch, it's fun to take a walk here to feed the pigeons and watch the shows, and the benches in the center of the square are also a great place to stop, facing the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, a Gothic building that has been around for more than 600 years.
Chronologically, Santa Maria Novella was the first Basilica of the Apostolic Basilica in Florence, the Roman Catholic Church, with a collection of priceless artistic treasures, especially known for frescoes by Gothic and early Renaissance masters.
The square was surrounded by alleyways, and after thinking for a while, I decided to go in the direction of the Arno River.
*地址:Piazza di Santa Maria Novella
14:45 pm Florence
The Uffizi Gallery
Before entering the art museum, I bought a Gelato, the ice cream shop along the road is too tempting, the ideal trip to Italy is not exempt from eating a handmade ice cream, and eating a Gelato is enough time to pass the most prominent landmark building, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, and the Bell Tower of Jodo, which still enjoys the famous Plaza de la Fiorentes in the political center of the city, and the only old bridge on the Arno River that survived world war II... It's not how much Gelato is, it's that Florence is too good for a stroll.
The Uffizi Gallery is housed in the Uffizi Palace, a renaissance masterpiece in itself and a mecca for art lovers to pursue the Renaissance.
The Uffizi Gallery is internationally renowned for its large collection of Renaissance paintings, known as the "Treasure House of Renaissance Art" and the "Renaissance Museum", all thanks to one of the four major families in Europe, the Medici Family, which is also a very famous family in the history of Florence, which has been promoting and protecting culture and art, and it is no exaggeration to say that without the Medici family we can not see the Renaissance presented today.
The Uffizi Gallery is really too big, only two hours to visit, many places can only be hurried through, the most popular is still in front of the works of the Three Masters of the Renaissance. Shooting is allowed in the museum, but people are reluctant to press the shutter, because when the masterpiece in the history of human civilization is in front of you, even the highest-resolution camera cannot capture a certain feeling brought to you when facing it.
One way to get to know unfamiliar cities is to go to museums and remember to wear a pair of comfortable shoes.
*Address: Piazzale degli Uffizi, 6, 50122 Firenze
*Opening hours: 8:15-18:50 Closed on Mondays, January 1, and December 25.
*Free of charge on the first Sunday of each month.
*Fare: €13 (extra €4 for reservations) It is recommended to book in advance on major domestic travel websites or apps.
*PS: The museum's audio guide does not have a Chinese, so you can book a web audio guide when booking your tickets.
17:00 am Firenze
Piazzale Michelangelo
Coming out of the Uffizi Gallery, it was getting dark, and there was a faint sunset in sight, so I stepped up my steps and went up the hill. On the hill on the south bank of the Arno River is the famous Piazzale Michelangelo, which overlooks the panoramic view of Florence and is a good place to watch the sunset.
Piazzale Michelangelo was designed by the architect Giuseppe Poggi and built in 1869 to commemorate Michelangelo, a bronze statue of David was specially reproduced, which was transported with nine pairs of cattle at that time, and a replica in Piazzale Municipal, the original is white marble, stored in the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, if you have time, you can also go around.
The loggia and bar on the other side of the square are also the work of architect Bogy, who originally planned to build a Michelangelo Museum here, but it was not realized.
There was nothing special about the square, and I rushed up just to see the sunset, but unfortunately Tuscany did not have a bright sun on that day, and the whole evening passed flatly. But after dark, people did not leave, but sat on the steps facing the Arno River, feeling the coolness of autumn and the company of those around them.
*Address: Piazzale Michelangelo, 50125 Firenze
* Open all day and free of charge
20:00 pm Florence
Gucci Museum (Gucci Garden)
It takes only 20 minutes to walk back from the mountain to the other side of the river, it is only 8 o'clock after dinner in a restaurant, and the Italians have dinner after 9 o'clock, and it is very daily to watch the time, open the map for a while, the Gucci Museum is only 5 minutes away from us, and the closing time is 10 pm, so it is very happy to pass.
Located in the old Della Mercanzia, the Gucci Museum, carefully overseen by Gucci's current creative director, Alessandro Michele, has three floors of space divided into several different themed areas: an art exhibition space, a Gucci boutique and a Gucci restaurant.
On the first floor is a boutique full of bazaar style, but there are also many limited items, art books, postcards, canvas bags, stationery, mobile phone cases, etc., which are very suitable for slow appreciation and selection.
Another theme is the opening of the Gucci Osteria restaurant on the ground floor by Michelin chef Masimo Bottura, which offers authentic Italian cuisine, everything is elegant and Gucci.
*Images are from the Internet
Upstairs is the museum, where travel-themed bags are displayed in the perennial exhibition area, which is also the history of Gucci's classic fashion evolution. FloraWorld (Flower World) exhibition area, showing different ages, a variety of objects related to printed design, including ready-to-wear accessories bags, all goods are limited edition, Gucci goods that can not be seen in other stores around the world, is a symbol representing Gucci Garden, only sold here, so that Gucci lovers want to go crazy.
*Address: Piazza Della Signoria, 10
*Business hours: 10:00-22:30
When I finally walked back to the hotel, there was a light rain.
Hopefully everyone who goes to Florence will have a great time.
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