Florence, Italy, Itinerary for the Solo Traveler

Florence is most importantly known for being the home of the Renaissance. Think the Birth of Venus, Michelangelo's David and the Medici family. Paintings and structures with origins that date back to the 1400s are still standing proudly throughout the city. Start your itinerary visiting the Accademia Gallery, where you'll see various sculptures by Michelangelo including one of his many masterpieces – David. You will want to book tickets in advance as they tend to sell out.

On your way from the gallery, stroll around Piazza del Duomo in complete amazement. The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and its Baptistry standing just in front are two of Florence's most spectacular sights.

As you continue to head east, aimlessly wandering through the narrow alleyways, you'll reach the Basilica of Santa Croce, the richest Medieval church in Florence while still being a perfect example of Gothic Italian architecture. Inside you'll find the chapels of historically wealthy families, beautiful frescoes and the tombs of Michelangelo and Galileo Galilei.

Heading over to the Uffizi Gallery, stop at the Piazza della Signoria, one of the most beautiful squares in the center of Florence, and take a moment inside the loggia – admiring its statues and grandeur. Once you've reached the Uffizi, one of the most renowned museums in Europe, make a note of seeing Botticelli's greatest masterpieces such as the Birth of Venus and Primavera. Other crucial paintings worth seeing include Caravaggio's Medusa, Leonardo Da Vinci's Annunciation and Michelangelo's Tondo Doni. Carve out as much time as your itinerary allows for this museum. Some may argue it to be more significant than the Louvre!
Leaving the Uffizi and walking towards the Arno river, you'll come face-to-face with Italy's most historical bridge – Ponte Vecchio. Once a place for meat vendors, it's now filled with fine jewelry stores thanks to the Medici family. Crossing this bridge will lead you to Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens where you'll see how the wealthiest family in Florence once lived and, just behind the palace, how they spent their time outdoors.

If you happen to be in Florence during the first Sunday of a month, not only will you have free access to all museums, but you'll also get to visit one of Florence's best artisanal markets inside Piazza Santo Spirito.

While there is still so much more to see and do in Florence, visiting its most significant sites will give you a better glance into the rich history and culture of this fascinating city.

Day Trips:

With so many incredible vineyards surrounding Florence, it would be such a shame to not take a day trip to explore at least one. Antinori nel Chianti Classico is a winery just an hour from Florence with extensive history and delicious wine. Stationed atop the Tuscan hills, you'll be amazed not only by the scenic views but also by its innovative architecture.

The winery offers a range of different wine tastings and tours depending on your palette, time and interest.

The best part of visiting Italy is undoubtedly having access to such incredible food and wine. To start your days, you'll want to head to a caffè, bar or pasticceria and have your morning cappuccino and pastry "al banco." Some favorite breakfast spots include: Caffè Gilli, Cibreo Caffè, Galleria Iginio Massari, Sforno, Gilda Bistrot and Caffè Concerto Paszkowski.

Try a budino di riso with your coffee, a sweet rice custard that you can only find in Tuscany. As lunch rolls along, you'll want to choose between a sit-down restaurant, or a panino to-go. Favorite restaurants for a solo lunch include Cibleo – a take on Japanese-Italian fusion, Zeb – a Michelin starred restaurant serving a new take on traditional Italian cuisine, Trattoria Sostanza – a favorite trattoria among Florentines with a traditional Tuscan menu. A must try is their butter chicken and the chocolate-chip meringue cake. Trattoria Cammillo, just across the Arno, for a true Italian old world dining experience and da Giacomo al Salviatino for a beautiful villa setting just outside of Florence. If you prefer to have a more laid-back lunch, consider these schiacciaterie spots: La Fettunta, I Geroni dei Ghiotti or Antico Trippaio in Piazza dei Cimatori for a traditional tuscan lampredotto.

As you walk in and out of museums throughout the day, reward yourself with a scoop or two of gelato from La Sorbettiera or a decadent affogato from Vivoli. Right around five o'clock, you will want to stop for an aperitivo in order to gear up your appetite for dinner. The Atrium Bar inside the Four Seasons hotel has a mean wine list as well as a full stocked bar ready to serve a dry or espresso martini. The Loggia Roof Bar in Piazza Santo Spirito has gorgeous views overlooking the Tuscan hills as well as delicious negronis and aperol spritzes. Caffè dell'Oro is a fantastic spot alongside the river for a glass of chianti with a side of people watching. Lastly, Picteau Bistrot & Cocktail Bar offers beautiful views of the Ponte Vecchio.

For dinner, I would consider making reservations in advance at the following restaurants: Atelier de' Nerli – a refined bistro with revisited traditional tuscan dishes. Sabatini – once an artist hub serving hand cooked pasta and traditional bistecca fiorentina. Atto di Vito Mollica – a Michelin starred restaurant in a one-of-a-kind setting that marries traditional Italian cuisine with a contemporary flair. And lastly, Enoteca Pinchiorri – considered to be one of the best restaurants in the world with an impressive wine list and carefully selected ingredients to create phenomenal Italian dishes.