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While in Florence...

While in Florence...

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While in Florence...

T-minus days and counting!

See:

	The Duomo. After all, it only took them 427 years to build it to look just the way they like it! Conceived by Brunelleschi, it sits right in the middle of the city and those brave enough to climb up to the top of it are rewarded with the most spectacular view of Florence and the surrounding countryside.
	The Uffizi Gallery houses one of the world's greatest collections of Renaissance art, Botticelli, Michelangelo, da Vinci...no Velvet Elvises here. Avoid the long lines and call ahead for tickets. The number to call is listed in the official Uffizi website, under "Information" .
	The Galleria dell' Accademia, is where Michelangelo's David is housed. It will have just finished a 6-month restoration and cleaning by then and will surely look even more impressive.
	Everything! The city center is but a 30 minute walk from one end to the other. Wander around and explore. Virtually around every corner lies yet another object of antiquity. Discover your own favorite.

Shop!

(Before we proceed, here's a quick primer on stores and their hours of operation: Generally stores in Italy open from 830am-1pm, CLOSE for the afternoon, and reopen around 4-5pm till 730pm. Department stores and some of the bigger stores remain open all day. Food shops are closed on Wednesday afternoons, and many clothing shops are closed Monday mornings.)

Florence is known for its high standards of craftsmanship. Fine jewelry and leather goods are what they're known for. By far, leather goods are where the best buys can be had. What else can you expect from the city that introduced the world to Gucci and Ferragamo? The Gucci and Ferragamo boutiques (Versace and Valentino too) are along the Via de' Tornabuoni. It's doubtful you'll find any deals there, but it's worth walking past just to take a look. It's like strolling past Tiffany's on 5th Avenue in NYC!

For seasoned hagglers, shopping expeditions to the city's many open-air markets are in order. (Filipinos: Think Divisoria, but in Italian!) The Mercato di San Lorenzo is at the Piazza di San Lorenzo and sells mainly fruit,vegetables, meats and cheeses; but the streets surrounding it are filled with stalls that sell clothes, shoes, leather goods and jewelry. The Mercato del Porcellino is where you'll find hand-embroideries, Florentine straw, leather goods, wooden objects, and flowers. There's the Mercato Centrale to check out as well. The open-air markets are open Mon.-Sat. 7am - 2pm.

The Ponte Vecchio is where you'll find traditional Florentine goldsmiths, silversmiths, and jewelers. Some family-owned shops have been there for generations! Even while you shop, you just can't escape from the history of this town! The "Old Bridge" is definitely one of Florence's most recognizable landmarks; you can't miss it.

Fall in Love!

One of the reasons Cindy and I chose to get married in Florence is because it's simply the most romantic place in the world! Be there and experience it for yourself. During your stay, you're sure to find something that will move you!