Florence

Destinations Within Florence

Florence Trip Itineraries

Venice and Beyond

Destination(s): Florence

This is your week in Italy and making Venice your home base is a step toward understanding what makes Italy so special. After seven days in the land where "si" is heard you may be writing sonnets and performing them in your cubicle to whomever may care to listen. Explore Venice and spend a day in Florence and Rome. read more about Venice and Beyond

Basilica di San Marco

San Marco 328
Piazza San Marco
tel:+39 0412413817
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Venice, 30124

Even before arriving in front of the Byzantine styled Basilica di San Marco, her many magnificent domes can be seen from afar announcing their presence and status in Venice. The story goes, that the remains of St. Mark were brought, or stolen – depending on your point of view, by the Venetians from Alexandria to rest in this elaborate burial place back in the 9th century. On closer observation, you will notice not all of the columns on the Basilica di San Marco are the same (some green marble, others not) due to trading with incoming merchants for the materials to build and decorate this amazing edifice. History throughout the centuries is woven into the world-wide known Basilica di San Marco, including the originally looted Bronze horses being stolen by Napoleon, and then returned again in 1815. read more about Basilica di San Marco

Murano

Isola di Murano
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Venice, 30141

The skilled Glass Blowers are the founders of this fair sized island called Murano. In 1291, the furnaces were moved off of the main island to Murano in case they ever caught fire, making sure the main city of Venice would still be preserved. To this day, Murano is still known for the beautiful glass works of art, with many stores allowing tours and on-looking crowds to watch the intense production of these delicate pieces. Many quaint restaurants and shops line the quiet streets of Murano, located just a short 15 minute boat ride from Venice. read more about Murano

Gallerie degli Uffizi (Uffizi Galleries)

Piazzale degli Uffizi 6
Off Piazza della Signoria
tel:055-238-8651
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Florence, 50122

Piazza di Spagna

piazza di Spagna
tel:+39 6 48 8991 (Tourist Information)
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Rome, 00187

Chiesa di S. Giorgio Maggiore

Isola di San Giorgio Maggiore
tel:+39 41 528 9900
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Venice, 30133

San Polo

Campo San Polo
tel:+39 (0)41 529 8711 (Tourist Information)
Venice, 30123

Palazzo Labia - Salone del Tiepolo

275 Campo San Geremia
tel:+39 41 524 2812
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Venice, 30131

Piazzale Michelangelo

Piazzale Michelangelo
Florence, 50125

The vista which one can see the whole valley of Florence and of the surrounding hills is a must see. The climb up is rewarding, the view is breathtaking. There are buses available to take you to Piazzale Michelangelo. Tourists, tourist groups and tour buses all congregate at this panoramic view. Vendors set up early in the morning with cool beverages for the parched tourists and souvenirs for the eager shoppers. A sunset visit is for the romantics, bringing a wine bottle and gazing at the Florentine sky as it ends another day. There is never a bad time to visit Piazzale Michelangelo, there is always something to see from this height
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San Marco Campanile

San Marco 328
tel:(+39) 041 241 3817
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Venice, 30124

Located in the very same Piazza San Marco, for which it is named after, the San Marco Campanile, or St. Mark's Bell tower, soars 98.5 meters high with spectacular panoramic views of the orange rooftops of Venice and on a clear day, the snow-capped Alps seem at your very fingertips. After paying at the entrance, one of the biggest elevators you'll find in Italy (a normal sized elevator for Americans) swiftly brings you up the San Marco Campanile to the observatory area where wind speeds seem to increase exponentially. Originally constructed in 1173, the San Marco Campanile has had many varied functions throughout the years such as a lighthouse for incoming ships on the lagoon, a means of tying up prisoners for torture during Medieval times, and an observatory for Galileo to demonstrate his telescope in 1609. After suddenly collapsing in 1902, the San Marco Campanile was reconstructed from its remaining base, a collection of marble sculpted storyboards called La Loggetta, and has been firmly standing since its re-inauguration in 1912. read more about San Marco Campanile

Museo Vetrario - Murano

Fondamenta Giustinian 8
(Settore Vetro antico, Fondamenta)
tel:+39 41 73 9586
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Venice, 30141

Palazzo Vecchio (Museo)

Piazza della Signoria
tel:+39 55 276 8224
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Florence, 50122

Trevi Fountain (Fontana dei Trevi)

piazza di Trevi
Piazza di Trevi
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Rome, 00187

Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri)

San Marco
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Venice, 30124

Legends, passions, hopes and despair form the emotional history of the ever famous Ponte dei Sospiri, or Bridge of Sighs, a must see for every visitor to Venice. Connecting the Palazzo delle Prigioni (Palazzo of the Prisoners) and the Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace), the Bridge of Sighs is where prisoners going from their trial and conviction in the Doge's Palace, would look across the bridge at their last glimpse of freedom before entering the prison and let out a sigh. Over the years it has gained a more hopeful out look being known as the bridge where if two lovers kiss under it, most likely in a romantic gondola, their love will last. To "walk the last walk" over the Bridge of Sighs, you will need to take a tour of the Palazzo Ducale or Palazzo delle Prigioni. read more about Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri)

Chiesa di San Salvador

Sestiere di S.Marco 4835
Campo San Salvador (just south from the Rialto bridge on Via 2 Aprile)
tel:041-523-6717
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Venice, 30124

San Francesco della Vigna

2786 Castello
Campo San Francesco
tel:+39 41 529 8711 (Le Informazioni Turistiche)
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Venice, 30122

Basilica di San Marco - Pala d'Oro e Tesoro

Piazza San Marco
(Basilica S. Marco)
tel:+39 41 522 5205
Venice, 30124

Ercole Moretti

423 0141 Fondame Navagero Murano
tel:+39 41 73 9083
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Venice, 30100

Loggia dei Lanzi

piazza della Signoria
Florence, 50122

The Loggia dei Lanzi or Loggia della Signoria is a wide-open gallery of great works of art and sculpture. It brings together the piazza with the Uffizi Gallery flowing down into the Arno River. As the Florentines adored this masterpiece, Michelangelo suggested having loggia encompass the whole Piazza della Signoria. The artist or designer of the Loggia dei Lanzi was Orcagna. He built it between 1376 and 1382 when Benci di Cione and Simone Talenti took over. The name Loggia dei Lanzi came from the years the Grand Duke Cosimo I was in power, it was used to keep his Lanzichenecchi(Italian) or Landsknechts(German). Shortening it to Lanzi, these were German mercenary pikemen. As the Uffizi was nearly complete, the Loggia's roof was constructed as a terrace for the Medici so they could watch ceremonies in the piazza away from the peasants. The Loggia's roof was designed by Bernardo Buontalenti. Today, the sculptures of divine beauty that are located inside are Benvenuto Cellini's Perseus, Giambologna's Rape of the Sabine Woman and the Rape of Polyxena by Pio Fedi. Loggia dei Lanzi is gorgeous at night. Take a stroll after dinner to see the Loggia light up.
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Fontana delle Tartarughe

piazza Mattei
tel:+39 6 48 8991 (Tourist Information)
Rome, 00186

Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale)

San Marco 1
Entrance for the public: Porta del Frumento, Piazzetta San Marco
tel:+39 041 271 5911
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Venice, 30124

Located next to the Basilica di San Marco, the Doge's Palace has been the symbol of Venice's political life and public administration for hundreds of years. The building has been continuously evolving into its present form since 1340, even though its fundations date back to the early Middle Ages (10th century). Considered a masterpiece of the gothic style, it has been destroyed many times, most notably during the fire of 1106. It was rebuilt by Barbarossa in 1177 and modified over the time by the different Dogi reigning in Venice. More than a palace, the Palazzo Ducale is an extensive infrastructure, comprising the apartments of the doge (often used as an exhibition space), the government quarters and the palace of justice. When visiting the palace, many parts are worth the detour. In the Museo dell'Opera, you'll see the remaining pieces of the building's medieval facades as well as a collection of sculptures dating from the 14th and 15th Centuries. Before heading towards the Doge's appartments, you'll enter the magnificent courtyard. Take some time to walk alongside the Loggias to enjoy the various angles of the Palazzo. In addition to the Institutional Chambers and the Prisons, take some time to see the great collection of weapons and armaments in the Armoury. read more about Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale)

Chiesa di S.Nicola da Tolentino

Campo dei Tolentini
tel:+39 (0)41 529 8711 (Le Informazioni Turistiche)
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Venice, 30124

Santa Maria dei Derelitti

Salizzada Santi Giovanni e Paolo
Venice, 30123

Ponte di Rialto

Ruga degli Orefici (Rialto)
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Venice, 30125

Ponte di Rialto is Venice's most famous bridge arching over the Grande Canal, known as a commercial area of the city with the busy Rialto Market nearby, filled with bright colored fruits, vegetables and fish (only open in the morning), and souvenir shops lined up and down the bridge itself. After its construction in 1591, the Rialto Bridge remained as the only bridge connecting the two sides of "the fish" called Venice for almost 300 years. The Ponte di Rialto is perfect for shopping or strolling along with gelato in hand while gazing off the bridge at the passing gondoliers and boats, and postcard perfect shots of the orange buildings & green water against the pink sky at sunset. read more about Ponte di Rialto

Museo Correr

Piazza San Marco 52
(Ala napoleonica)
tel:+39 41 522 5625 / +39 41 240 5211
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Venice, 30124

Piazza del Duomo

piazza del Duomo
tel:+39 055 2 3320
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Florence, 50122

San Luigi dei Francesi

Via Santa Giovanna d'Arco 5
tel:+39 6 68 8271
Rome, 00186

Da Remigio

Castello Ponte dei Greci 3416
tel:39 41 523 0089
Venice, 30131

Galleria dell'Accademia

Dorsoduro 1050
tel:+39 41 522 2247
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Venice, 30121

Containing the world's finest collection of Venetian paintings, the Galleria dell' Accademia houses works of art by Mantegna, Bellini, Carpaccio, Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese, Tiepolo and Canaletto – arranged for the most part in chronological order from room to room. A sophisticated tour through Byzantine, Gothic, Pre-Renaissance, High Renaissance, and Baroque art, the Galleria dell'Accademia is easily reached by crossing over the wooden Academia Bridge, having been named after the Galleria itself, residing on the Grande Canal. read more about Galleria dell'Accademia