Things to see and do in Florence, Italy [Firenze, Italia]

• The Duomo: massive Basilica in the center of the city, 6 euro to climb the tower – amazing view of the city from 4 or 5 different levels all the way to the roof, definitely worth it but be prepared for 414 steps to the top in narrow staircases, also inside go downstairs and check out the historic archeological site below and the old chapel
• Museums: too many to write but the Galleria degli Uffizi and the Accademia (home of Michaelangelo’s famous David) are the two biggest and must sees
• Ponte de Vecchio: bridge going over the Arno River where all the area jewelers have their shops……beautiful in the evening especially right at sunset or around 6:00
• Fiesole: take the number 7 bus from the train station heading towards the center and ride the bus to the last stop at the top of the mountain for an amazing view of Florence from the ancient mountain city of Fiesole where Da Vinci first tried to fly, when you get off the bus facing the street take a left and there’s a path that leads up the mountain to the look-out points and a church at the top of the hill, if you go inside the church and find your way downstairs there’s a really cool museum with ancient artifacts including a real mummy, if you’re facing the street after getting off the bus and you go straight across the street you can see some Roman ruins
• Piazzale Michelangelo: just across the river, a little walk up the hill will give you a beautiful view over Florence, great place to see the Tuscan sunset over Florence, continue up the hill to check out the Basilica of San Miniato al Monte at the top of the hill, on your way back down take a detour to Forte di Belvedere and come back across the Ponte Vecchio
• Giardino di Boboli and Palazzo Pitti: Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens are beautiful and right next to the Forte di Belvedere, great place for a picnic over-looking Florence
• Piazza Signoria: most famous piazza in all of Italy, beautiful sculptures including one of the impressive fake David’s (recreations of the original), also right next to the Uffizi m
• Piazza San Marco: beautiful piazza and basilica
• San Lorenzo, Santa Maria Novella, and Santa Croce: other impressive basilicas in the city that should be seen
• Shopping: check out the outdoor markets especially the San Lorenzo area as well as the two-story indoor fresh food market (open every day until 2 pm), check out some of the local shops – masks, paper stores, and ceramics, Florence is known for leather and textiles so you’ll see very nice leather everywhere because the tanners are all right outside of Florence
• Go to an Enoteca (wine bar) as well as local restaurants
• Check out the nightlife! Florence has some of the best bars and clubs in Italy.