Florence In A Day

Although it is possible to spend a lifetime in Rome without getting bored, it is impossible to overlook the fact that the Tuscan pearl Florence – the birthplace of the Renaissance – is only a few hours away by train. Florence, best known for its history during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, offers so much more than just art and culture. As a photographer, I was drawn to the little winding streets and back alleys, the exquisite architecture, and the abundance of impressive monuments.

Taking a day trip to Florence from Rome was much easier than I first thought, as the Italian railway system, which happens to be one of the most important parts of the infrastructure of Italy, is well-developed and well-functioning. To ensure that I would not miss any Florence attractions or sights, I chose to book a guided day trip via LivTours where train tickets, a guided tour through the city, and admission to a number of different museums are included in one and the same package.

The guided tour started at Roma Termini where we were met by a LivTour coordinator who handed over our tickets and guided us to the high-speed train. The coordinator was a local, and so he eagerly gave us recommendations on other, off the beaten track destinations in Italy that he thought we might be interested in visiting. We mainly received recommendations in a few secret gems in Lombardy, where he had previously worked as a ski instructor, and I actually ended up going to several of these places.

After having chit-chatted with the coordinator, who made sure we were well informed about our train journey, we boarded the train and took our assigned seats. The train journey from Rome to Florence was surprisingly pleasant; the seats on the train were spacious and comfortable, but above all, the views were absolutely scenic, and I managed to get some gorgeous snapshots of the Italian scenery as the train twisted along through new landscapes.

The scenic views from the train journey

Once at Florence, the train came to a halt and pulled into my stop, the Santa Maria Novella Train Station. As I disembarked, I was greeted by my guide, who also was an expert on all things Florence. The guided tour started at the Santa Maria Novella Train Station, and we learned that it was inaugurated in 1935, which was designed by the renowned architect Giovanni Michelucci. We continued our tour by walking through the central parts of Florence, wandering around cobble stone winding streets and picturesque alleys. 

During the tour, the guide eagerly told us about the history of the town, but also provided us information about her personal experiences, which made the experience feel more authentic. The city walk also included odd but intriguing stories about what once took place in Florence, about Italian culture, their customs and norms.

What struck me is how Florence is a city shock-full of beautiful Renaissance churches, magnificent cathedrals, and cobbled streets that are best explored on foot. You can easily spend many days in the city without getting bored. Without a doubt, Florence offers something for everyone, regardless of budget, interests, or age. As a photo enthusiast, this appealed to me immensely.

The guided tour also included a visit to the cultural treasure Gallerie degli Uffizi, one of the world’s oldest art galleries, featuring artworks by Michelangelo and Botticelli, among others. Personally, my favourite part of the itinerary was the stop at Ponte Vecchio, a charming bridge that also happens to be one of the city’s most beloved landmarks. The bridge, which is Europe’s oldest closed-spandrel segmental arch bridge, has a history that dates back to the times of the Romans. It was built in 996, and unlike many other bridges in Florence, the Ponte Vecchio was never destroyed during World War II. It, however, was severely damaged by the great flood of 1966.

Another stop I enjoyed very much was Piazzale Michelangiolo. This location is coincidentally not part of the guided tour, but since we were a small group, we were able to custom tailor the itinerary to our liking, and so chose to take a leisurely stroll up to the famous stairs, Rampe del Poggi, to reach the Piazzale Michelangiolo. Once we arrived, we were astonished by the panoramic views of Florence. From the Piazzale Michelangiolo, you can see the lavish Santa Maria Del Fiore, but also other Florence icons such as Ponte Vecchio, Palazzo Vecchio, and Santa Croce. 

To summarise my brief visit in Florence, the experience with LivTours was refreshing. This is a family-run travel company that focuses on guided tours with small groups of up to 6 people, as well as private tours. Since private and small groups are more flexible, it makes it easier to tailor the tours to one’s own interests. The guides are all local, and have a lot of insight in the city but also personal stories to tell that makes the experience come alive. For people who are travelling on a tight schedule, such as myself, tours such as these are a good way to see all the major attractions in a short amount of time, but since guides are local, they are also able to show you hidden gems and take you off the beaten path to lesser known spots in the city. Lastly, what I was particularly keen on is that walking tours are a a truly sustainable way of exploring. The tours with LivTours are offered in beloved Italian cities such as Rome, Venice, Florence, Pompeii, but also in other popular European destinations, including Paris, Barcelona and London.

Recommendations For Walking Tours:

  • Wear comfortable shoes for walking tours. Walking tours will have you standing on your feet and walking around for several hours, something I personally should have thought of when I happened to wear my loafers, which turned out to be anything but comfortable.
  • Use sun protection factor. You would be surprised how strong the sun in Italy is during the summer. It is not always possible to seek shelter in the shade during a walking tour, so make sure to wear protective clothing or SPF.
  • Make sure that the batteries for the camera / mobile are charged, and preferably, bring an extra pair, since Florence is such a photogenic place.
  • Bring a large bottle of water, it is easy to get dehydrated when you stay active for hours and the sun is glaring.

15 Comments

  • Bhushavali N

    My visit to Florence is till-date one of my cherished trips. Infact I too spent only 1 day in Florence. Indeed Italian trains are well connected and the trip from Rome to Florence was seemless. I loved Ponte Vecchio and Uffizi Gallery as well. As an art-history enthusiast, I loved everything in Florence. The historical gems here are just stunning.

  • Aradhana

    I visited Rome and Venice on my first trip to Italy, hah conventional choices no surprises there! I really wanted to visit Florence but was short on time, the Renaissance influence is something I would like to see for myself. Seems like you had the right tour guide to show you around the exact tour spots, I really like the art gallery description and the pic with the suspended balloons in air. Is that the gallery itself? That the Ponte bridge withstood the WW2 but not nature’s wrath is testimony to our current times of despair, again caused by man’s own doing!

    • Nordh

      Sometimes, conventional places are conventional for a reason. I was pleasantly surprised by my visit to Rome, for example. I don’t regret it one second, even if it’s a “touristy” place.

  • Anne Howard

    Walking tours are the best and when it comes to Florence, this is a city that needs to be explored by foot. Sounds like you accomplished a lot in a day…and excited to go back for more! Love Firenze!

    • Nordh

      I fully agree, Florence is best explored by foot, or possibly bike (although there are quite a few hills). When we were walking around Florence, it struck me as odd that so many chose to drive. I remember asking my guide about it; why do the locals drive here? Surely biking would be a more convenient way to get around.

  • Clarice

    I would love to visit Florence and it has been on my bucket list for quite some time now as we wish to see their beautiful Renaissance churches and cathedrals up close. We were planning to visit it on our own but after reading your post, I would love to avail of the guided tour as I believe this is will make me appreciate the place once more. Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience.

    • Nordh

      The churches and cathedral are all amazing. If you are pressed for time, a guided tour can help you squeeze in all the sights. If you have more time, I’d definitely recommend visiting smaller towns in Tuscany, as well as Rome, of course. Actually, come to think of it, there so many picturesque places to visit in Italy.

  • Adele Gee

    Your post brought me down memory lane. Visiting Florence is always a pleasure and the Uffizi Gallery remains one of my favourite places to visit to date.

  • Lourdes

    Florence is an amazing city. I’m so glad that you were able to move your itinerary a little to check out Piazzale Michelangiolo. It isn’t easy to find tour guides that are willing to go out of their way to change things around. That is one of the reasons why I don’t like guided tours. However, I do recognize that there is something great about having someone narrate the story of the place. Also, maybe if I had a tour I wouldn’t have missed Gallerie Degli Uffizi. hopefully, I can go back and see it some time.

    • Nordh

      I am too happy I got the chance to reach Piazzale Michelangiolo for the iconic shots of the view. I wish I could have taken som sunset shots though. It was tricky to photograph cause it was in the middle of the day, when the sun casts ugly shadows. If I would have had some more time in Florence, I would have done a sunrise or sunset shot. I am actually considering going back to Florence very soon, and when I do, I will make sure to visit Gallerie Degli Uffizi – thank you for the recommendation.

  • Raksha

    Wow Florence looks so dreamy. I love those colourful buildings and I love taking the walking tours to explore a city. I was there in Rome only for a day but I would definitely visit the country again and explore the other places like Florence.

    • Nordh

      It was dreamy for sure. So much so that I decided to go back and spend some more time there this summer.

  • Yukti Agrawal

    Wow you have covered so many things to do in Florence and that too in one day. The scenic views from train journey looks amazing. I would love to visit cultural treasure Gallerie degli Uffizi, as it is one of the world’s oldest art galleries. I would also now try to book Liv tours.

    • Nordh

      It was an eventful day for sure and Florence piqued my interest, so now I have made plans to visit the town once again. Can’t wait to explore more of it.

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