The hostel I chose to stay at in Florence is called Plus Florence. I actually stayed here on my last trip to Florence and had an extremely postive experience. The atmosphere was great - clean rooms, a restaurant and bar...all for a low price! There is even a sauna, pool, and roof top terrace; the works. I met a lot of great travelers the last time I stayed, and the staff was incredibly helpful and friendly. They even passed out water and breadsticks while waiting in line for check-in! This hostel company has hostels all over Europe and are a well-established and dependable institution. Prices range from 18-30 dollars a night depending on how private a room you would prefer. Totally afordable! Can't say enough good things about Plus Florence. I am excited to stay here once again.
Day One:
I would like to start my trip by wandering down to the Duomo; probably the most impressive and gorgeous building I've ever seen. The center of Florence is only a few blocks from my hostel, so it will be an easy walk. I want to spend my first morning walking around the Duomo and just taking in it's breathtaking beauty. I'll sit on the steps, walk inside, and explore the central area. There are little shops and cafes and gelaterias all around the outskirts of the center, which I will most likely stop by for a light lunch. I will go to the top of the Duomo to get a great view of the city!
After exploring the city center and the Duomo, I will head over to the Boboli Gardens to spend the afternoon relaxing in the sunshine. The top of the gardens also has an incredible view of the city, so I'll be sure to make the short trek to the top. I will spend today just doing some wandering about and orienting myself to the city.
Day Two:
Today will be my museum day. Because there are SO many to see in Florence, I'm not sure I will be able to hit them all. The three that I am most interested in seeing are the Uffizi, the Bargello, and the Accademia. I will start with the Uffizi because I didn't get to see it the last time I was in Florence! I understand that I may get a little museumed out by doing three in a day, so I may save a few for the next few days if I get tired. I'll play it by ear! I know for sure I want to see the Uffizi and Accademia again ...the David sculpture is incredible! It costs in the ballpark of 6-12 euro for most museums, so I'll keep that in mind as I make my way through them.
Day Three:
Today I want to go shopping on the Ponte Vecchio. It has many beautiful jewelry shops - we'll see if I can afford any of it though!
The places that I want to eat for the most part are not online, and in the past visiting Florence I've had friends guide me to the best places to go. Rather than looking for popular places I think I'll have friends of mine recommend where I should eat. I remember last time I visited a DELICIOUS little sandwich shop that looked like nothing more than a whole in the wall ...best sandwiches I've ever had ...
Day Four:
Today I want to explore the leather markets! I've heard that you can't be in Florence without buying leather goods, so that's my goal for the day. The San Lorenzo market is the place to go, so that's where I'm headed! I'll do some last sight seeing and wandering around before my trip here is over.
Day Five:
My Tuscan Bike Tour side trip!!!
