A Florentine Survival Kit

`See Naples and Die'. I have never fully understood the connotation of this statement, but after five days in Florence, I have come up with my own, `See Florence and Survive'. Survive? I hear you ask yourself. My personal advice is that you should prepare yourself in advance, both physically and mentally, in order to enjoy the wonderful sights and art works that this magical Tuscan city has to offer.

Whatever your reasons are for visiting, they are bound to include a visit to the Uffizi Gallery, the Accademia, home to Michelangelo's David and of course the Piazza Signoria. The list of museums, art galleries, churches and palaces are far too extensive to mention here, only you will know what you want to see, so if time is limited, be selective.

Once you have chosen your locations, do as much research on them as you can and find out the opening and closing times of galleries, museums and churches. Many have a habit of closing all day Mondays, and also in the afternoons, so you may spend the morning in one place only to find that your afternoon choice is closed. It is absolutely advisable to pre-book entrance tickets for the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia. This can be done through the Internet or by most hotels in advance. By doing this you will avoid queuing for up to three hours and be able to plan the time you want to enter. There is an extra cost incurred for this, but this cost far outweighs the inconvenience of wasting time in long slow moving queues. Ask your hotel in advance, or check the Internet about the cost of the extra fee is, so that you can plan ahead of what your expenses are likely to be. Make sure that you always have small denominations of Euros with you, as all places of interest charge an admission fee, and most display notices saying `EXACT ADMISSION FEE ONLY' I actually saw people being turned away for this reason.

Once again, if time is limited, be selective as the vast collections of art works are so awe inspiring, it is not possible to do them all the justice they deserve.

Florence is searingly hot in the summer months and heaving with tourists. I was told that the best months to visit are March to May (excluding Easter) and October / November. If the summer months are unavoidable, preparation is essential. Take your most comfortable walking shoes, most places of interest are situated within the centre of the city and the only way to get around is on foot. The city streets and pavements are uneven, many are cobbled and very slippery due to the continuous wear of peoples' feet. A sun hat or head covering is essential as the sun is fierce and if you do end up in a queue you will be grateful for the protection. My advice to both men and women would be to keep your shoulders and backs covered, as it is so easy to get burnt, despite applying the obligatory sun creams. I saw many a hapless tourist turning a painful lobster red, and obviously very uncomfortable, this could easily have been avoided if they had covered up sensibly.

These days, carrying a bottle of water around has almost become a fashion accessory, but it will prove to be your life line. Avoid buying water near the monuments or museums, it is far more expensive in these locations. Buy in the numerous little grocery shops usually situated on the side streets, the shops were the locals buy their food. Eating out in Florence is easy, there are many options ranging from a light lunchtime snack to a full five course evening meal. Most of the main places of interest have several restaurants situated around them, they tend to be more expensive and offer a full menu from which you can choose a light starter or just a main course. If you want a quick and cheap snack, go down any of the side streets where you will find numerous little bars that sell slices of pizza or other savouries.

Most restaurants display their menus outside with prices, if you like the look of the restaurant and decide that you will visit it for dinner, be sure to check in advance that the menu displayed outside is the same for dinner. You may find that on your return in the evening, the menu is different and more expensive, so ask, it saves time and possible embarrassment. If you are going to pay by credit card, check beforehand, that the restaurant does accept them and also confirm that it takes your particular one.

I found the food excellent in Florence wherever I ate, fresh, plentiful, extremely tasty and of a very high standard. One of the highlights of my evening meals was to sample the excellent Chianti wines that are a regional speciality, and very reasonably priced.


Accommodation in Florence varies, ranging from relatively inexpensive (approx Euro 60) to expensive (Euro 275+). The cheap end of the market hotels, tend to be very shabby and overlook very noisy streets, most decent hotels start in the three star category, and above, but be prepared to pay. Like me, if you are not a great fan of air conditioning, it can be very welcome during the hot summer months. If you are an independent traveler, my advice would be, plan and book in advance, the type and price of accommodation you require, the Internet or your nearest Italian Tourist office will be able to supply you with a list of hotels, prices and amenities available. Facilities in Florence, for people with disabilities are not good, this is general in most of Italy. However, an increasing amount of museums and galleries now have lifts and ramps, and most of the streets in the centre of town have leveled off curbs for easier wheelchair access. There is a guide you can obtain from the Italian Tourist Office that gives information on accessibility to the museums and galleries, called, Museums and Monuments of Florence. Do use the toilet facilities in the museums / galleries that you are visiting as public ones in the streets appear to be non existent.

Finally if you are an independent traveler, ask your hotel reception desk the night before checking out, to ensure that there are no strikes or demonstrations planned that may hinder your journey to catch a plane or train, do not end up like me, running through the cobbled streets with luggage bouncing along, in 35’C heat, as I tried to find a bus to take me to the airport, after just being informed by reception that there was a general taxi strike in Italy.

Florence is an absolute jewel, the sights and the astounding wealth of art tucked away in churches and galleries will amaze you and leave you wanting more. You will find yourself promising to return again, so hopefully this survival guide will