Posted by In 2009, Devon and I took a day trip from Rome to see Florence. We were instantly in love with the rich history, architecture, and art. It is truly the gem of Tuscany and would could not wait to go back someday.
We landed in Rome and headed to the train station, we had about an hour to pass so we exchanged the necessary money, grabbed a bite, and lined up for the high-speed train. Utilizing the rail system in Italy is very affordable, we could visit more locations at affordable prices and not worry about driving somewhere we didn’t know. The only downside is that four adults and two children on a 2 ½ week trip have a lot of luggage. You either must have a valet to assist or you are hauling a lot of bags.
We boarded the train and started our quick trip to Florence. Florence is the center of art, literature, architecture, and culture in general. It is not a surprise that during peak season Florence becomes a busy destination. The city is fully of things to do with many museums, walking tours, restaurants, parks, etc. Galleria dell’Accademia which has Michelangelo’s David statue is world class and a MUST SEE!
We arrived to Florence in the early evening, we headed to our accommodations Sina Villa Medici, this is an Autograph Collection hotel. The property is beautiful, set in a historic 19th century Palazzo and is completely luxurious. We checked into our rooms where we had a corner suite that overlooked the garden and pool area. The space in the room was plenty for the children and us and a perk was two bathrooms!
The next morning, we had ‘Best of Florence Walking Tour with Accademia Gallery & Duomo’ booked through Walks of Italy. The tour which was a fantastic five-hour tour of all the major sites in Florence. Seeing the Stature of David is truly a moment. David is a masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture created between 1501 and 1504, by the Italian artist Michelangelo. Because of the nature of the hero that it represented, it soon came to symbolize the defense of civil liberties embodied in the Florentine Republic, an independent city-state threatened on all sides by more powerful rival states and by the hegemony of the Medici family. I really enjoyed the Galleria dell’ Accademia. Seeing David up close again and explaining the history to the kids was a fantastic memory. Our guide was wonderful in explaining and keeping the children engaged. After the tour, we hit the pool at the hotel since the kids did so well.
Other fun activities to do is to hit the leather markets, walk the Arno Riverfront, spend time in a local park, and enjoy the shopping. The keep the kids engaged we stopped at the Piazza del Mercato Nuovo, where the famous bronze stature of the wild boar is. The symbol of Tuscany, has a tradition of putting coins in his mouth for good luck to someday to return to Florence. The kids got a kick out of this and it broke up the day of shopping! 
TIP:
The wait for admittance to the museums can be length, I would strong recommend booking tickets or tours in advances where you are able to ‘skip’ the line. This will save a lot of time and allow you more time to see the art and architecture.
Florence was a breathtaking way to kick off our Italian vacation. It was crowded in June but if you plan with tours, tickets, and offerings you will be able to see everything. Be prepared to walk too. Enjoy the culture of the city and walk to all the destinations when able.
Further Resources:
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