What are the must-sees in Florence in July? And good, not too expensive, lunch places around city center?

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Mario

You must see:

The Duomo- Gothic cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
The fourth largest cathedral in the world, it is the spiritual heart of Florence. The building work took around 200 years, and its green, pink and white marble fasade contributes to the chromatic harmony of the square; its imposing dome is visible for miles around. The interior houses many masterpieces including Michelangeloâ€™s PietÃ , frescoes by Paolo Uccello and Andrea del Castagno rub shoulders with terracottas by Luca Della Robbia and the sarcophagus of Saint Zanobi. It is possible to climb up to the top from where there is an extraordinary view over Florence.

The Piazza della Signoria
Florenceâ€™s most famous square, it was used for centuries as a backdrop by artists, then by film-makers. The former political centre of the city, it includes some of Florenceâ€™s main historic buildings and contains the most admired sculptures in the world.

Palazzo Pitti
One of the most visited sites on the southern bank of the Arno, this palace was designed by Brunelleschi for the Pitti family, rivals of the Medicis. It's a huge and imposing building, and a treasure house of the Medici family's massive art collection including works by Raphael, Filippo Lippi, Tintoretto, Veronese and Rubens, all hung in lavishly decorated rooms.The palace also houses a gallery of modern art and a costume collection.

Ponte Vecchio
Old Bridge, has been built in 1345, this beautiful bridge, is only one who survived second word war, and it is the oldest bridge in Florence, souranded with many shops and goldsmiths. There is a secret passageway which is connected with Uffizi Gallery and the Pitti Palace, today big touristic attraction.

The Basilica of Santa Croce
Geometrically coloured marble decorates the building's fasade, but the real treats lie inside, where many famous Florentines lie in peace. The walls are lined with tombs, and 276 tombstones pave the floor. The church's most famous inhabitants are Michelangelo, Macchiavelli, Galileo and Bardi. Its various chapels feature works of art by Giotto and della Robbia, and the serene cloisters were designed by Brunelleschi.

The church of San Lorenzo
The former parish church of the Medici family in Florentine Renaissance style, built from 1420 by Brunelleschi. Donatello, who designed the bronze pulpits, lies in one of the chapels. Passing through the cloister, you reach the Laurenziana Library, commissioned to house the family's huge collection of books and featuring a sublime staircase by Michelangelo. The Medici Chapels are sumptuously decorated with precious marble and semiprecious stones; the most powerful Medicis were buried here. The New Sacristy was designed by Michelangelo and contains his Night and Day, Dawn and Dusk sculptures.

Boboli gardens
Adjacent to the Palazzo Pitti, this garden is one of the most famous in the world. It was created from 1549 by Tribolo then by Vasari, Ammannati and Buontalenti. Its fountains, lakes, geometric flowerbeds and terraces lined with trees wonderfully represent the Renaissance style. At the top of the hill stands the Forte di Belvedere built in a star shape by Michelangelo with a magical view over Florence.

Cascine park
This huge farming estate, situated between the Arno and the Mugnone rivers, which belonged to the Medici family, was turned into a park by Giuseppe Manetti towards the end of the 18th century. The enthronement of Ferdinand III took place here in 1791.

Museums & Galleries:

Galleria degli Uffizi
This former palace of the Medici houses one of the most impressive art collections in the world. It shows the evolution of Italian painting from the primitives to the 17th century. Worth seeing: Botticelliâ€™sâ€™ Birth of Venus, Titianâ€™s Venus of Urbino, Michelangeloâ€™s Holy Family or the Portrait of the Duke of Urbino by Piero della Francesca. http://www.polomuseale.firenze.it

Museo Nazionale del Bargello
It houses sculptures by Michelangelo, Donatello, Verrocchio and various collections of enamelware, jewellery, weapons ...
http://www.polomuseale.firenze.it

Galleria dellâ€™Accademia
19th century statues, Byzantine paintings, Russian icons, paintings by Florentine Renaissance painters, notably Botticelliâ€™s Madonnas and above all sculptures by Michelangelo, including the original of the famous David.
http://www.polomuseale.firenze.it

Galleria Pitti
Gallery of modern art, museum of silverware and Galleria.
http://www.polomuseale.firenze.it

Museo della Casa Fiorentina Antica in Palazzo Davanzati
A museum of Florentine domestic life: furniture, fabrics, domestic objects from the 14th to 18th century.

florence is usually packed with tourists and on top of it it gets really hot in july. the city center and all around it is really expensive - you want to think over your plans again!
why not going to the cinque terre or to the toscan countryside?

estee06

The Uffizi gallery is a must see. There is also Michaelangelo's David which is located in another museum- Accademia Gallery. Don't miss that.

You can also make a day trip to Pisa - it is really worth it and do-able.

There is a Pizza place right opposite the central Termini- I forget it's name which serves delicious pizza and pasta (the way the locals eat).

samanthajanecaroline

It will be very hot in July, beware. Florence is relatively small for a city but you've not got much time there. I would recommend you fo to the Uffizi as it is in the centre of Florence, next to the Palazzo Vecchio and the loggia. This is the hub of the city. If you do intend to go to the Uffizi, pre book your tickets or you'll spend a day waiting to get in. The Bargello is nearby as is the Duomo and Santa Croce where Micelangelo, Galileo, Dante et al are buried. Try the Eyewitness travel guides as they tell you loads of place, opening times and have maps included.

Buon fortuna

John S

I'll add one more place to Mario's excellent list. I was in Florence two weeks ago. Take a taxi (around 15 euros) or walk (it's a pretty good climb) to Piazza Michelangelo on the south bank of the Arno to view the sunset. It is a wonderful view of the city and if you're lucky a few clouds can provide a breath-taking sunset (around 8 p.m. local). Several of the sites in Florence have scaffolding around them now due to renovation work. I couldn't find any place inexpensive in Florence (or in Italy for that matter (2 euros for a canned Coke!) or course I'm sure the locals don't pay those types of prices.

My family had a wonderful time in the city. It was my favorite place to visit.

raj

Florence (Italian: Firenze) is the capital city of the region of Tuscany, Italy. From 1865 to 1870 the city was also the capital of the Kingdom of Italy. Florence lies on the Arno River and has a population of around 400,000 people, plus a suburban population in excess of 200,000 persons. The greater area has some 956,000 people. A center of medieval European trade and finance, the city is often considered the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance and was long ruled by the Medici family. Florence is also famous for its fine art and architecture. It is said that, of the 1,000 most important European artists of the second millennium, 350 lived or worked in Florence.
fountain of neptune,Florence Duomo and Campanile Tower,Ponte Vecchio,Duomo in Florence,and more.......

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