The most-visited art museum in Italy, Florence’s Uffizi Gallery is home to some of the most famous masterpieces from the Italian Renaissance, among them, Botticelli’s iconic Birth of Venus painting. Formerly the private collection of Francesco de’Medici, it deserves a sliver of your Italy budget and a spot on your Florence itinerary. That said, the line » Read more
Sightseeing in Florence: Budget Travel Guide
Between the Tuscan wine, chic clothing and world-class museums, your trip budget in Florence can really add up. While there are some things you can’t avoid shelling out for (your hotel, flight, etc.), there are ways to save in Florence that you might not have thought of. Here are five budget tips that will help you save » Read more
A dense web of connections links America with Florence. Some argue it massively invigorates the Tuscan city, while others aver that Florentine life has been distorted by the American impact on the city. What view you take on the American influence on Florence, there is no doubt that the Italian city (as seen through American eyes) » Read more
You splurged on a scarf you couldn’t afford? Waiting for an urgent bank transfer from mom and dad? Whatever, you’re broke, you’re in Florence and you don’t know what to do. Well, rejoice my friend, here are some free activities to explore. Music 1. Every night, the organ goes wild at the Santa Maria de’ » Read more
With so many must-see museums, churches and palaces, Florence is a treasure trove for art and history lovers. It’s almost impossible to visit them all in a lifetime, much less a weekend trip! How do you choose which museums are worth your time–and budget? There are a few ways to skip the lines and minimize » Read more
By Laura Mongillo in Florence—Feel like catching a movie in fair Firenze without having to first get a degree in Italian? Ha! This can prove to be more difficult than getting into the Uffizi on a Saturday. Most movies in Italy are shown almost exclusively in the Italian language, meaning they are dubbed and translated » Read more
What’s the best way to rub shoulders with Florentines, far from the museums and tourist traps of central Florence? Head out to the stadium and watch the city’s soccer team Fiorentina play against some of the best teams in the world! Fiorentina’s fan base is still very proudly Florentine and is a constant topic of » Read more
Many would say visiting Florence without dousing yourself in Chianti wine makes for an incomplete trip. But did you know that the Chianti region is not only a basin for wines but also home to walking trails that will awaken the dormant hiker buried deep inside every Cheapo. Greve in Chianti, today’s featured destination, is situated about » Read more
Once you’ve spent some time in Florence, a day trip provides a nice break from the crowds of tourists and shoppers flooding the city. Poggio a Caiano, a small town about 30-40 minutes northwest of Florence, is a great example of amazing Tuscan history integrated into a modern Italian town. The highlight of the town » Read more
Florence is an amazing city that has it all … well, almost. One thing missing from this city is green space. There are many piazzas and small gardens, but central Florence is void of real open, green space. Luckily, the Giardino dell’Orticultura (Horiculture Gaden) offers some much-needed greenery not far from the city center. So » Read more
When you visit the historic center of Florence, it can sometimes feel like you’re following your map from one must-see destination to another. But Florence is full of fascinating details, and it’s worth it to stop and look around. In this walking tour, you start and end at two key sights in Florence (the Palazzo » Read more
Florence, along with the rest of Italy, is famous for its churches. Upon arriving in Florence, most tourists head to the Duomo for its giant brick dome, the Santa Maria Novella for its artwork, and Santa Croce for its crypt. While these churches are the most well-known in Florence, they are certainly not the only » Read more
Florence—architectural empress, city of beauty, city of love. Florence—city of body jams, packed piazzas, and tourist traps. The hoards of keen tourists can be exhausting and if you’re like me, you just want a little patch of peace from time to time to re-sharpen your explorer senses. Enter Fiesole, a charming village on Florence’s doorstep. » Read more
The vibrant city of Florence, chock full of some of the most world-renowned Renaissance art and architecture, is always surprising us. This week, we were happy to learn that the Bardini Museum, which kept its doors shut for renovations for nearly a decade, has finally reopened. A little bit of history The museum is named » Read more
One of our favorite must-sees in Florence is the Duomo, or the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (sometimes known as Florence Cathedral). And, lucky for us Cheapos, it’s free to enter the main sanctuary daily. Duomo do! But, get this. Did you know that every 40 minutes Florence’s Center for Art and Culture also » Read more
Michelangelo Buonarroti was born outside of Florence in 1475. Though he spent much of his life working in Rome, he loved Florence and considered it his home. Many of his greatest works still reside in Florence, and Florentines are exceedingly proud of their native son. Although visiting the city can get pricey, many of Michelangelo’s treasures can be experienced cheaply, » Read more
If you’ve ever visited the fabulous Uffizi museum in Florence, you probably know that your first hour (or two) there can often be spent waiting in a long, slow ticket line. And, that’s if you’re lucky. After all, the museum puts a daily cap on total entrants, so if you arrive on really busy days or after » Read more
How many pharmacies can claim frescoed ceilings and whispering shoppers? Only the Officina Profumo Farmaceutica Santa Maria Novella in the former chapel belonging to the Dominican monastery of Santa Maria Novella in Florence. Since the 15th century, this herbalist and pharmacy has collected a faithful following of jet setters and average Florentines who fancy luxurious » Read more
