Firenze - art is in the air...
They weren't wrong. Firenze is just lovely, full of art and architecture. Both of my parents are architects, so I have been in touch with architecture my whole life, hahaha.
After a couple of hours I arrived to Firenze. I just left the station and a friendly policeman gave me some directions about how to arrive to my hostel. By the way, the man from the hostel in Rome helped me booking in a hostel in Firenze, and so did the guy in Venice with the booking in Rome. Grazie guys!
The hostel was located in an old Villa. It was also perfect for camping. I met a girl in the bus stop. She was also staying at the same hostel as me and helped me with my bag. It was funny, we were roommates. She was with some friends and have been there for a couple of days.
I arrived to Ponte Vecchio - lovely! - and there were a lot of people there. Were they waiting for me? hahaha, a fashion show performed that day later. I visited the Duomo, but didn't get inside. That's for the day after, also climbing the campanille. But I took a good look at it. I also saw Palazzo Vecchio and Palazzo Pitti. Galleria Uffizzi was for the next day, but I was walking around. Just to know how to arrive without getting lost or wasting time.
There was also a Regatta taking place - cool! There were a group of musicians performing and also a street market ;)
I took a really long walk. I was able to "discover" the piazzas and cross the bridges over the Arno river.
The girl from the hostel even gave me her old map of Firenze. She was leaving next morning and wouldn't need to use it. She even marked the places to visit. Thank you! Things were really easy, hahaha. I kept on walking until Piazza Michel Angelo. From the top of the hill I got an amazing view of the city. I love the roofs and the small streets. All the people seemed to be so happy :)
In my way down I stopped in front of Santa Croce Church - it's a beauty!
I went back to the hostel around 9:30pm. Time to get some rest. A new day is coming...
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This place is very well known because of the panoramic views of Florence and the Arno valley. This square is a popular spot with locals and tourists.
You can find copies of Michelangelo’s works, including David and the Medici chapel sculptures from San Lorenzo.
Although is a long climb to arrive there, it's a nice spot to enjoy one of the most beautiful views of the city, so every single step is 100% worth.
It's full of stores. Mostly old specialized in jewelry and expensive articles. Just walk around and feel all the fashion vibe.
But the row of shops is interrupted in the center, where the bridge opens over the Arno river with 2 splendid, panoramic terraces.
It's impossible not to see it. Try to go there in the sunset, so you'll see it with daylight and also when it's dark.
It's surrounded by amazing buildings like: Palazzo Vecchio, the Loggia della Signoria, the Uffizi Gallery, the Palace of the Tribunale della Mercanzia (now Agriculture office) and the Uguccioni Palace.
Here you can find master art pieces every direction you look at. For example:
-A copy of the David by Michelangelo (original is kept at the Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts).
-The Fountain of Neptune by Bartolomeo Ammannati.
-Judith and Holofernes by Donatello
-Hercules and Cacus by Bandinelli
-The Rape of the Sabine Women by Giambologna
-Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Cellini
It's a MUST visiting this splendid open-air museum.
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I like the building, a lovely renovated villa with beautiful views right in the middle of nature, so if you go in summer, bring some repellent! You can either stay in a room or camp. The surroundings are really nice, green and peaceful. You feel as if you were in the middle of the woods, and actually you are! Take note that from the entrance to the villa 'til you arrive to the building is quite a long walk, if you are carrying heavy stuff.
The cleanliness is ok. It has hot hot showers, but no self catering kitchen. The bathrooms are not inside the dorms, but there are large and clean toilets facilities in the corridor. The beds weren't the best, but were comfortable enough, especially if you were tired.
There are no lockers, except of the one inside the dorms. If you want to leave early in the morning, you have to do check out the evening before. They have free breakfast, just bread and hot drink.
The staff were friendly and you can meet nice people there.
The wonderful atmosphere and beautiful surrounding makes this hostel/villa an amazing experience if you are backpacking.
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The tickets and bus passes can be purchased at Piazza Stazione, bars, newstands, stores. Tickets must be stamped on the machines on board. At night, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., tickets can be purchased on board of the bus.
The rates are inside the city are:
1hr - 1 Eur | 3hrs - 1,8 Eur
days: 1 - 4Eur | 2 - 5,70 Eur | 3 - 7,20 | weekly ticket - 12 Eur
Personally I would recommend you to buy a pass depending on how long you are staying in the city. Since I didn't stay for 2 todays, I didn't got a pass.
Furthermore, the city is small and you can go everywhere just walking. I just drove the bus to go from and to the station ;)
