In ancient times, to know the time, people used the sundial, a measurement tool based on the…read moredetection of the position of the sun. Sundials had a gnomon, the bar whose shadow marked the time on the dial. Standing outside the Museo Galileo near the Uffizi Gallery at the Palazzo Castellani in Florence, my partner, our friends, family member, and I stumbled on the Monumental Sundial on our way to find an establishment for lunch in September. Originally built in 2007, a tall bronze obelisk constitutes the gnomon of a modern sundial, which casts its shadow on the lines of travertine marble and brass flanked by the signs of the zodiac in glass and marble placed on the ground, indicating time and date. It was visually stunning.

Florence is like the birthplace of STEM, so when visiting here, going to the Galileo Museum is a…read moreMUST! Learning of not only Galileo, but his followers who came after him and the benefactors - the Medici family, was inspirational. It made me realize how bravery is foundational to how science evolves a society, and how essential loyal benefactors are to helping with the change. Truly amazing.

I was really looking forward to visiting the Gucci Garden Bar, but it ended up being one of the…read moremost disappointing experiences of my time in Florence. The evening staff came across as uninterested and unwelcoming. They barely acknowledged guests, rarely spoke to patrons, and spent much of their time standing around looking bored or looking away instead of engaging with customers. The atmosphere felt more like the staff believed they were above working behind the bar than hospitality professionals who wanted guests to enjoy the experience. The drinks are expensive, which would be understandable if the service matched the price. Unfortunately, the service was among the worst I experienced in Italy. Rather than feeling like a luxury destination, it reminded me of some of the more pretentious spots in Los Angeles--high prices, indifferent staff, and very little hospitality. Florence is full of incredible bars and restaurants where you're made to feel genuinely welcome. Sadly, the Gucci Garden Bar wasn't one of them. Based on my evening visits, I wouldn't recommend it unless the service culture changes significantly.

Perfectly fine outdoor seating area to grab a light lunch and look out over the Piazza Della…read moreSignoria. The people watching is the best!

AVOID AVOID AVOID…read more The garden is all around beautiful. But I went to the bathroom right above it, and basically paid to be assaulted. I was groped and forced into the bathroom by the man working there while waiting for my friend. Had to scream to get away. Truly traumatized. I've been living in Florence for 6 months and never felt that un safe. The sad truth I have to leave reviews to warn people because I don't know what the staff will do after I informed them. Be safe.

Everyone hypes about Piazzale Michelangelo or the San Miniato church, but this rose garden is…read moreliterally right behind these tourist magnets and yet offers the same stunning view of Florence except in a much more lovelier setting! Welcome to Florence's city rose garden! Located downhill of Piazzale Michelangelo, this is an easy walk down to quickly escape the crowd. In fact, if you are hardcore and are trekking to the Piazzale on foot from the San Niccolo neighborhood, why not take the more scenic route through this rose garden. Sure it's not well-manicured like a palace garden but it's free to enter and is still decently maintained enough to have roses blossom around you! Most likely, Piazzale Michelangelo that you are heading or coming from is filled with a huge crowd, so take a quick breather here and experience the Florence skyline in a less-stressful and more floral way! --- tl;dr version: 1) Located downhill of Piazzale Michelangelo with almost equal skyline view 2) Perfect scenic route if you are trekking to the Piazzale 3) Much less crowded and more beautiful than the Piazzale

The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is one of the most breathtaking landmarks I've ever visited…read more Pictures truly don't do it justice. The detail on the exterior is incredible, and seeing Brunelleschi's massive dome up close is something everyone should experience at least once. The entire area around the cathedral is beautiful and full of history, making it easy to spend hours exploring. Whether you're admiring it from the outside, going inside, or climbing to the top for the views, it's an unforgettable experience. If you're visiting Florence, this is an absolute must-see and one of the highlights of the city.

The Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore. Also known as Florence Duomo, is the defining landmark of…read moreFlorence and one of the most impressive cathedrals in the world. Dominating the city skyline, it is instantly recognizable for Brunelleschi's magnificent dome, a masterpiece of Renaissance engineering and artistic vision. The exterior is eyecatching , with its intricate façade of white, green, and pink marble that feels both elegant and monumental. Standing in Piazza del Duomo, the scale of the cathedral is awe‑inspiring, especially when viewed alongside Giotto's Bell Tower and the Baptistery. Inside, the cathedral is huge and relatively restrained compared to its ornate exterior. This simplicity emphasizes the immense size of the space. Climbing the dome was a highlight for sure although it nearly took out the hubs. Smile. Folks back in the day must have been tiny because there steps are so small and curvy. When you reach the top, you think you can walk out on the ledge for the spectacular panoramic views. No!!! You have to climb a ladder to get to the perimeter. Similar exhale to that of crossing the finish line at a marathon. The panoramic views are spectacular!

We came hear on Christmas Day and glad we did. Booking was easy online, and rooms were not…read morecrowded. The rooms are geared for both English or Italian speakers (hint cards are in picture notes that they slide through the door) while "puzzles" are written in both languages. We did both rooms. Zodiac, unique in how it begins, as there is a role play there of trying to escape the zodiac killer after he has "kidnapped" your party. Tesla was our second, quite creative and puzzle themes were really on point. Highly recommend!

Great escape room. Me and my wife played "The Bank" and won right when our time was up. The rooms…read morewere well decorated and the puzzles were really clever and fun. Every time we needed a clue the host was outside to give us picture clues through the door to help us out, rather than just tell us what to do. There were combination safes in the vault there were a lot of fun to figure out. I highly recommend playing here.

As a general rule, I don't do a lot of touristy things when I'm traveling. In my older age, and…read moreinfinite wisdom, I've learned that I don't need to go into all the old churches in Europe (especially if there's a line). I'll be happier sipping wine in the sunshine outside a cafe. Having said that, I still highly recommend the Boboli Gardens. My friends all wanted to go and it was a winner that I'm glad they dragged me along to visit. The grounds are gorgeous, and Florence is oddly devoid of anything green, so it's a breath of fresh air (literally) to wander around, walk up the Bowling Green, and gawk at the flowers, the trees, and one of the biggest and best stone heads I've ever seen. As a bonus, after touring the gardens we were somehow able to bypass the lines to get into the Pitti Palace, and skipping lines is my favorite. Also, the palace is just room after room of incredible paintings, gorgeous ceilings, and (my wife's favorite) some of the most intricately beautiful tables you've ever seen.

We visited the Boboli Gardens and the Palazzo Pitti on our first afternoon in Florence, and what…read morewith the Duomo views and the Medici glamor, it was a nice introduction to the city. The palace was originally commissioned in 1458 by a Florentine banker named Pitti. The Medicis picked it up in 1549, and it remained a ruling class residence until 1919, when it was gifted to the nation and turned into a museum. It's a giant place, literally palatial, with a kind of forbidding, fortress-like aesthetic. Seems like a weird place to live, but what do I know. We walked in on a Wednesday afternoon, and neither the gardens nor the museum were crowded. We started with the Boboli Gardens, which were quite attractive, even in mid-November with nothing in bloom. It felt like a large, inclined park, pleasant to walk, with impressive fountains and tremendous views. There was an empty amphitheater and an ancient Egyptian obelisk. Tons of old statues, including a fenced-off 17th century work called "The Abundance," where we saw a weird lady sneak in to molest the base. We wandered up the garden's main axis and reached the Giardino del Cavaliere, an intricately landscaped walled garden with truly fantastic views. We spent about an hour in the gardens and another hour in the Palatine Gallery, Palazzo Pitti's primary museum space. The gallery contains over 500 paintings, most of them from the Renaissance, a collection that once belonged to the Medicis and their successors. I'm sure we would've gotten more out of the visit had we taken a guided tour, but we did pretty well walking through those endless rooms on our own. We had a good time at the Palazzo Pitti and would recommend it to anyone visiting Florence. Less mandatory than the Uffizi or the Accademia, but a great place to absorb the lavish splendor of the Medicis.

I liked it but I wouldn't say it's something I'd recommend because it's pretty small and crowded. I…read moredoubt there's a "good" time to go but who knows. It was something to kill time and I did learn something so I gave 3 stars. However, I've been to many museums and this one didn't really strike it for me. The place does have a few interesting props so definitely check it out if you're bored and have kids. I went with my boyfriend and he wasn't into it.

Buy your ticket online, it's cheaper. The museum was a nice fun walk through, very informative on…read moreDa Vinci's creations and inspirations. A lot of interactive exhibits too, good for kids and adults. Took about 30-45 min to walk through completely. Not too crowded of a place too which was nice.

This place is amazing!!…read more Not only is it a phenomenal book store with tons of selections, it's an entire experience. Upstairs has seating like a movie theater with tons of comfy seats. They are constantly showing a movie and have a whole lineup listed for upcoming showings. They hold cool events too. There's seating with tables available to do work upstairs. Multiple people were there studying and doing work. Cafe available downstairs during certain hours. Gotchic revival mixed with art deco feel. There is an elevator to access the upstairs for anyone with mobility needs.

Such a romantic and cozy concept. The English book selections weren't bad, grab a book and get a…read morefew pages in while enjoying the AC. Keep in mind you would need to make a purchase in order to go upstairs or use the bathroom.

The Accademia Gallery in Florence offers a focused, more intimate, and ultimately defined by a…read moresingle, overwhelming masterpiece, Michelangelo's David. Founded in the late 18th century as a teaching collection, it evolved into one of Italy's most important art institutions You slowly move through the gallery of Renaissance paintings and plaster models. You curiosity begins to build as you anticipate viewing this famous David. Quite impressive...the statue's size, precision details, and sculpture expertise lives you in awe. The Accademia's smaller size allows for a more intimate experience. It highlights Michelangelo's works as well as adding meaningful context.

You cannot visit Florence without visiting Galleria dell'Accademia to see Michelangelo's David…read more Though I had a tour guide, I felt like the pace was too slow. It's a great museum, don't get me wrong, but I'd rather beat the crowds to see David, and then take my time strolling through all the other works of art. Seeing 17' of David in person is unreal-- a human made this out of rejected marble. The magnitude of David's height and attention to detail is incredible and the lighting under a skylight highlights every vein and definition of muscle even more so. If you're looking for a deep dive art history lesson, I'd recommend using AI. Note: try to book skip-the-line tickets in advance. If you're unable to, you can try to book through a third party booking system such as Viator, but you'll be paying more.

The secret is to go to their private shop on the second floor, not their tourist shop on the…read morebridge. The private shop is cool (the men enjoyed the AC while we shopped), spacious, and quiet. Some specialty pieces are only available here, and it's fun have Alessandro talk you through the provenance, inspiration, and history of some of the pieces he made or of artisans they showcase. I looooove the Alessio Boschi necklace I discovered here, it's one of a kind, and not something I saw at any of the millions of other shops/storefronts we checked out. And his dog is adorable.

This museum would be better described as a jewelry museum, sort of. It's a small, single room space…read morewhere you enter right off the street like a regular store. It is free to enter, with nicely displayed work that is a cross between jewelry and sculpture. His work would suggest ceremonial objects (some contain crystals or gems, female forms, and the occasional unicorn) or props for a Jules Verne movie. One large sculpture has a functioning Tesla 'bobbin' that released little electric bolts. Interesting and unusual.