ITALY - Best of Europe 2014 - page 1134

Florence, the home of the Renaissance and birthplace of our modern world, has the best
RenaissanceartinEurope.Inasingleday,youcouldlookMichelangelo's David intheeyes,
fall under the seductive sway of Botticelli's Birth of Venus, and climb the modern world's
first dome, which still dominates the skyline.
Get your bearings with a Renaissance walk. Florentine art goes beyond paintings and
statues—enjoy the food, fashion, and street markets. You can lick Italy's best gelato while
enjoying some of Europe's best people-watching.
Planning Your Time
If you're in Italy for three weeks, Florence deserves at least one well-organized day: see the
Accademia (David) , tour the Uffizi Gallery (Renaissance art), visit the underrated Bargello
(best statues), and do the Renaissance Walk (explained on here ; to avoid heat and crowds,
do this walk in the morning or late afternoon). Art lovers will want to chisel out another day
of their itinerary for the many other Florentine cultural treasures. Shoppers and ice-cream
lovers may need to do the same.
Planyoursightseeingcarefully;followthetipsandtricksinthischaptertosavetimeand
avoid lines. This is particularly important if you'll be in town for only a day or two during
the crowded summer months.
The Uffizi Gallery and Accademia nearly always have long ticket-buying lines, espe-
cially in peak season (April-Oct) and on holiday weekends. Crowds thin out weekdays in
the off-season. You can easily avoid the wait by making reservations (see here ) or buying a
Firenze Card (see here ) .