Florence at a glance & what to see

Uffizi Gallery    Greatest collection of Italian Paintings anywhere.  Reserve at least one month in advance.  Hours: Tue-Sun 8,15am-6,50pm  Closed Mon.

Accademia    Michelangelo's DAVID and powerful unfinished prisoners-reserve ahead.  Hours: same as Uffizi Closed Mon.

Bargello    Underappreciated Sculpture museum of Michelangelo, Donatello and Medici treasures. Hours 8,15am-1,50pm closed first, third, and fifth Sunday and second and fourth Monday of each month.

Museum of San Marco    Best collection anywhere of frescoes and paintings by the early Renaissance master Fra Angelico.  Hours Mon-Fri 8,15am-1,50pm, Sat-Sun 8,15am-7,00pm, closed first, third, and fifth Sunday and second and fourth Monday of each month.

Medici Chapel    Tombs of Florence's great ruling family, designed and carved by Micheangelo.  Hours Daily 8,15am-4,50pm.  Closed the second and fourth Sunday and the first, third, and fifth Monday of each month.

Church of Santa Maria Novella    13th century Dominican church with Masaccio's famous 3-D painting.  Hours Mon-Thurs and Sat 9,30am-5pm, Fri and Sun1,00pm-5pm.

Santa Croce Church    14th Century Franciscan Church with precious art, tombs of famous Florentines and Brunelleschi's Pazzi Chapel.  Hours Mon-Sat 9,30am-5,30pm.  Sun 1,00pm-5,30pm, winter Mon-Sat 9,30am-12,30pm & 3,00pm-5,30pm, Sun 1,00pm-5,30pm.

Science Museum    Fascinating collection of old clocks, telescopes, maps, and Galileo's finger.  Hours Mon and Wed-Fri 9,30am-5pm, Tues and Sat 9,30am-1,00pm, closed Sunday.

Pitti Palace    Three museums in a lavish palace: Palantine Gallery, Modern Art Galery, Grand Ducal Treasures, plus sprawling Boboli Gardens.  Hours Palantine is Tues-Sun 8,15am-6,50pm and closed Monday. Modern Art and Treasures is daily 8,15am-1,50pm and closed second and fourth Sunday and first, third and fifth Monday.  Boboli is daily 9am-7,30pm June-Aug., 9am-6,30pm fall and spring9am-4,30 in winter and closed first and last Monday of the month.

Brancacci Chapel   Works of Masaccio, early Renaissance master who reinvented perspective. Hours Mon and Wed-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 1pm-5pm, closed Tuesday and reservations required.

Duomo   Gothic Cathedral with colorful facade, long nave, and the first dome built since ancient times.  Hours Mon-Wed and Fri-Sat 10am-5pm except the first Sat of the month 10am-3,30pm, Thurs 10am-3,30pm, Sun 1,30pm-4,45.

Duomo Museum   Underated Cathedral Museum with great sculpture. Hours Mon-Sat 9am-7,30pm, Sun 9am-1,40pm.

Climbing Duomos Dome    Grand view into the cathedral, close-up of duomos architecture, and after 463 steps, a glorious Florence Vista.  Hours Mon-Fri 8,30am-7pm, Sat 8,30am-5,40pm except first Sat of the month 8,30am-4pm, closed Sun.  Long and Slow lines-no reservations accepted.

Giotto's Tower    Bell Tower with views equaling Duomos and fifty fewer steps, and fewer lines.  Hours daily 8,30am-7,30pm.

Baptistery    Bronze doors fit to the gates of paradise.  Hours Doors always viewable, Baptistery open Mon-Sat 12,00noon-7pm, Sun 8,30am-2pm.

Medici-Riccardi Gallery    Lorenzo the magnificents home, with fine art, frescoed ceilings, and a lovely chapel of the Magi.  Hours Tues-Thurs 9am-7pm, closed Wed.

Palazzo Vecchio    Fortified palace once the home of the Medici family, wallpapered with mediocre art.  Hours Fri-Wed 9am-7pm, Thurs 9am-2pm.

Ponte Vecchio    Famous bridge lined with gld and silver shops.  Hours Bridge always open.

Mercato Nuovo    Bustling Market in Loggia. Hours always open.

Michelangelos House    Museum featuring early, lesser known works of the master.  Hours Wed-Mon9,30am-2pm, closed Tues.

Piazzale Michelangelo    Hilltop square in South Florence offering stunning views of the city and Duomo. Hours Always Open.

San Miniato Church   Gem of a basilica, with sumptuous renaissanc chapel and sacristy showing scenes of St. Benedict.  Hours daily 9am-7pm.

My guests say:

"Doumina gives you an up-close insiders view of the treasures surrounding the enchanted hill town of Cortona. You like olive oil? Meet a farmer who picks his olives, and the man who presses them. Art your thing? Listen to the passionate sermons of her guide, and real-life descendant of Cortona's own Luca Signorelli. Want to eat the way the heartiest Tuscans do? For breakfast, lunch, and dinner, you will. Guaranteed."

Tim Stark
Organic farmer/Writer Gourmet & Conde Naste

"...with Doumina, all i needed to do was enjoy myself! It was just amazing!"

Karie Hoffman

Il mio stato