Boboli Gardens
Park in Florence, Italy.
The garden climbs a slope behind the palace; go up first and let the view over the city open, then drift down.
Morning · 2 hrDay 1
Palace, gardens, and the old bridge
Palazzo Pitti
Renaissance palace and museum in Florence, Italy.
Morning · 2 hr
Ponte Vecchio
Bridge in Florence, Italy.
Stand mid-span for the long view along the Arno; the jewellers' windows are the reason to cross, the river is the reason to pause.
Afternoon · 45 min%20-%202022-08-31%20-%201.jpg?width=800)
Palazzo Strozzi
Palace in Florence.
The palace hosts temporary exhibitions; check what is showing before deciding how long to give it, since the building alone is a quick walk-through.
Evening · 1 hr 30 minPalazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens sit on the same site, so the morning reads as one long visit; the bridge and the evening palace keep the rest of the day light.
Day 2
Two basilicas, a cathedral, and David
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Basilica of Santa Maria Novella
Church in Florence, Italy.
Give the facade a moment from the square before going in; Masaccio's Trinity inside is the piece worth lingering on.
Morning · 2 hr.jpg?width=800)
Basilica of San Lorenzo
Church in Florence, Italy.
The plain brick facade hides the interior; do not judge the church from the piazza.
Morning · 2 hr
Florence Cathedral
13th-century cathedral in Florence, Italy.
Save energy for the dome climb; the nave itself reads quickly once you are inside.
Afternoon · 2 hr
Galleria dell'Accademia
Art museum in Florence, Italy.
David waits at the end of the long hall; the unfinished figures beside the corridor deserve a pause on the way.
Evening · 2 hrKeep the dome climb as the day's real effort; the two basilicas in the morning walk through quickly, leaving the Accademia calm for the evening.
Day 3
From the Uffizi to Santa Croce
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Uffizi Gallery
Palace and art museum in Florence, Italy.
The rooms run in rough chronological order; find the Botticelli hall first, then circle back through the earlier rooms.
Morning · 2 hr
piazza della Signoria
Square in Florence, Italy.
The square is open to the street and quick to read; stand by the Loggia for the outdoor sculptures before the Bargello.
Morning · 45 min
Bargello National Museum
Art museum in Florence, Italy.
The upper floors hold Donatello's David and are quieter than the ground floor; give the stairs time.
Afternoon · 2 hr
Basilica of Santa Croce
Franciscan church in Florence, Italy.
The tombs of Michelangelo and Galileo sit into the walls; walk the aisles slowly to find them.
Evening · 2 hrThe first three stops cluster around piazza della Signoria; Santa Croce is the longer walk that ends the day.
Good to know
Do I need to book Uffizi and Accademia tickets in advance?
Both galleries run timed entry and are heavily booked in May; booking ahead keeps the morning and evening slots this itinerary depends on.
How long do Boboli Gardens and Palazzo Pitti take together?
Plan on the full morning, about four hours; the palace rooms lead into the gardens, so the two visits flow as one.
Is Florence walkable for a three-day trip?
Yes; every stop here is a short walk from the last, and only day one crosses the Arno.
What should I not miss with only three days?
Keep all twelve stops; if time runs tight, protect the dome climb and David, the two experiences people remember longest.
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