I recently spent six nights in Florence. When I have had a little more time, I will write more extensively about my time there, my thoughts and the places I visited. And what I missed and what I wouldn’t do again.

At first, I found Florence all overwhelming.

After all, I do prefer a quieter pace, preferably in the country. Somewhere like Cortona, or other towns in Tuscany like Montepulciano. But after the exhaustion of travel wore off and I adapted to the reality of solo travel for the first time, I could appreciate Florence.

And what a beautiful city it is. I am so glad I travelled in Autumn when the temperatures were cool and the crowds small. I could take my time and wander (and get lost). And following my friend Sandy’s advice, I gave myself permission to follow my path and not one set out by other travellers.

So, in the end, I did go to a few popular tourist destinations, but mostly I wandered, experienced and absorbed Florence, my way.

I will go back, hopefully, many times. I will visit again on my own, take my small tour groups and hopefully with my partner Dan. It is a city I don’t think I will ever tire of, and because of its location, it will make a great base to explore the surrounding towns, like Bologna and Verona as well as Siena and Lucca, to name just a few.

For now, enjoy my favourite photos of Florence, not a must-see list by any means, but more a reflection of how I saw Florence.

Florence at a Glance

My first glimpse of the Duomo

And the lovely little details in the streets surrounding it.

And I was fascinated by the beautiful facade.

My first glimpse of Santa Croce was on my first night in Florence.

I loved Ponte Vecchio for its colours and texture as well as the history and its prominent place over the Arno.

The Uffizi Gallery.

Santa Maria Novella.

I was shocked at how emotional I was seeing the Statue of David at Galleria dell’Accademia.

And of course, the view from Piazzale Michelangelo is worth the walk up (or you can catch a bus).

I hope you enjoyed my overview of Florence.

Cindy x

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