Florence, Pisa & the Uffizi | Ultimate Italy Travel Guide (2025)

Florence, Pisa & the Uffizi | Ultimate Italy Travel Guide (2025)

Man, when you visited this place you knew you were somewhere powerful! Wow! This is a house? I’m trying to work out, why all these people are doing Tai Chi? It’s like playing tick-a-box of great arts of the world We just got notice that our train has been cancelled we’re off to the station to see what we do now Oh my God Good morning travellers We’re catching a train today if you wanna get to the train station over there then you should go down there that saves crossing four tram lines two bus lines six lanes of traffic. Check it out Instead of battling tram lines, traffic and tour groups this underground passage is a shortcut straight to the station with aircon, escalators and even a few shops to tempt the euros from your wallet And here we are, the train station. How easy? Today we’re taking the train to the famous city of Pisa just west of Florence where we’ll visit the Piazza del Duomo home to Pisa’s cathedral baptistry and its famously tilted bell tower Are you excited? Well I’m looking forward to seeing this leaning tower This strange and leaning tower Nice clean train It holds a lot of people. I bet you it’s gonna fill up The train from Florence to Pisa is a quick and easy day trip Just over an hour west winding through Tuscany’s beautiful countryside The rolling farmlands and vineyards feel a world away from the busy streets of Florence It’s a regional service so no need to book ahead. Services are frequent and tickets are cheap at about €9 each way. Ours is included in our Eurail Pass Thank you Trenitalia A very easy journey (yes) Welcome to Pisa A Pisa cake to get here Ah how do you find it? We’re just gonna follow everybody else Of course I’m a man, so I haven’t looked on a map But that was the first sign we’ve seen oh? We’re on the right track anyway (Yeah) It’s a fair walk (hmm) (I reckon it’s) yes it’s pretty straightforward though about one and a half, two km Stepping into the piazza we’re immediately confronted by one of Italy’s most unusual and most iconic landmarks the Leaning Tower of Pisa So not only is it a place to take stupid photos which everybody comes here to do (yeah) It was built in the 12th century and began to lean during construction and they tried to straighten it while they were building it. In 1990 when I was here last it got to five and a half degrees but they reinforced it to pull it back to 3.9 degrees This grand tribute to the brilliance of Italian engineering Modern day engineering saved the ancient I’m trying to work out, why all these people are doing Tai Chi? This triumph of modern engineering will ensure that the ancient tower will delight generations of travelling photographers and their Tai Chi poses for a few hundred years to come That was well worth doing I think Pisa would actually be worth a couple of days stay Seems to be plenty to see around here besides the tower it’s worth coming just for the tower too (leaning tower) the leaning tower and take your stupid photos ha ha ha ha like everybody does Thanks Instagram! It’s about a 3 kilometer round trip walk from the station to the tower it’s very flat there’s plenty to see and do along the way and eat (and shop a little) and shop I’ll show you one more time how to get out Take the escalator to the shopping centre Keep going all the way to the end and through the crazy tunnel. DO NOT go up the stairs. Turn left. Turn right, and go up the ramp, easy for your luggage you’re out, and that’s it. You’re out of the station easy peasy. Back into the tour groups. My first Italian hamburger That is legit (oh yeah!) Bacon, medium cooked beef, not heavy at all. That’s a legitimately good burger 10 out of 10 for these things They make the best chips, or the best fries if you’re American Move on Italian Pub and Record Bar Awesome food. Sometimes you just get sick of pizza and pasta all the time Oh yeah, I’ve done that Very cool (very cool) somewhere different in Florence right in front of the cathedral Bonjourno travellers. What to do on a rainy day in Florence? There’s over 80 museums in Florence, we should go see one of them Today we’ll be exploring some of Florence’s museums starting with the lesser known The history is palpable before entering the grand halls of Palazzo Vecchio and finishing with one of the most famous art collections in the world inside the Uffizi Galleries This is the Museo Palazzo Davanzati €8. Bargain! The Palazzo Davanzati was once home to the Davanzati family. Wealthy merchants who lived here in the 14th century and has more staircases than seems strictly necessary. Wow. This is a house? Crazy. Let’s go up Wow Pre wallpaper, they would just paint the wall Fascinating place Strange little rooms and alcoves everywhere. They had a system for getting things up and down between the floors. These people had a lot of money in 1977 the top floor of the museum was set up to display lace The amount of work that would have gone into some of these pieces is astounding. Displaying the bum cut which was popular at the time. You can only imagine the smells and noise and the lives of the people who have lived in this place. The history is palpable. At least they could close the doors on Mary and Jesus when they wanted some privacy Still raining. Well, that was fascinating I always wanted know what it looked like and there’s hardly anyone in there what worth doing if you find yourself on a rainy day in Florence If you’re wondering where Inta is today she’s having a quiet day We’ve been pretty flat out since we got here and we’ve still got another month to go! So if you’re liking the Italian content hit the like button and please subscribe for more. This is the Museum Palazzo Vecchio home of the Medici family and their palace. The most powerful family in Italy at the time Duke Cosimo Medici moved his seat of power here in 1540 establishing the Medici empire and cementing their rule over Tuscany. Let’s go in The enormous hall of the 500 is the first and most imposing room in the Palazzo. Built in the late 1400s to host Florence’s ruling council it became a grand stage for the Medici power and propaganda when they moved in It shifted from council meeting, to something closer to don’t argue with me Towering frescoes and a gilded ceiling rise nearly 20 meters overhead I don’t know which way to look? Man, when you visited this place you knew you were somewhere powerful Tucked just off the hall is the Studiolo of Francesca the First This tiny windowless room is crammed with paintings and let’s just say they have a theme. Wow! Francesca’s Studio. What a little porn stash. The deeper I move into the palace the more staggering the opulence Room after room of frescoed walls, gilded ceilings These people had some money Duke Cosimo’s name is everywhere The Duke eventually moved out to the Pitti Palace across the river Apparently he built a walkway above the ground from here across the river, to the Pitti Palace so he didn’t have to walk with the people. So much history. So worth seeing. Back where we started Wow. They were crazy rich The largest bank in Italy at the time So if you get sick of looking at churches There are so many churches, you think Jesus was Italian! museum hopping is definitely a good option. Just put into Google Maps “museum” and sort by distance and just go! See what’s nearby. A great option if you’re in Florence To finish off our rainy day excursions to galleries and museums we go to the biggest and the best. The Uffizi. Florence’s answer to the Louvre The Uffizi is one of the world’s greatest art galleries situated on the banks of the Arno River right next to the famous Ponte Vecchio its name literally means “offices” as it once served as the administrative heart of the Medici empire I bought these tickets online directly from the Uffizi Gallery about a month ago €25 a ticket timed entry, so tonight we’re going at 7:30pm We’re in the door. Today the building houses one of the most extraordinary collections of Renaissance masterpieces under a single roof Once you’re inside the Uffizi it’s room after room of jaw dropping Renaissance masterpieces Probably the most photographed pieces are by Botticelli The Birth of Venus, and Primavera This place is big There’s over 15 hundred works on display and I don’t think two hours is gonna cut it in fact it wasn’t near enough time to take all of this in People just randomly walk up to statues and take their photos without even looking what the statues are about? Who knows? It’s like playing tick-a-box of great arts of the world Da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, everyone The sheer scale of the gallery and the sheer volume of these amazing works of art can be overwhelming Your senses are assaulted by colour, detail and a dizzying variety of styles from across the centuries At the end of the gallery something darker awaits This final room is dedicated to Caravaggio master of light shadow, and bloodthirsty drama. His famous Medusa painted on a ceremonial shield. Her severed head frozen mid scream Caravaggio is unapologetically raw and impossible to ignore Until once again we exit through the gift shop It goes on, and on, and on Why would you want that poster on your wall? So many great works of art all in one spot. Some pieces did affect me like The Slaughter of the Innocents was just horrific. This is like Instagram for the Middle Ages So that’s it for Florence! Tomorrow we’re heading off to Venice. So I’ll see you, with Inta, in the morning. Buona notte. She’s back I’m still with the fairies this morning In the comments it was just filled with “where’s Inta today?” (oh yeah!) This has to last me for a 3 hour train trip today Today we’re catching the high speed train from Florence heading north to one of Italy’s most famous and waterlogged cities. Venice Hopefully We just got notice that our train has been cancelled We’re off to the station to see what we do now Right. We have pre book seats, we need to book some new seats What number? (Six hundred and sixty one.) So we’ve only got 230 to go (Oh my God!) Trapped in Florence Oh don’t say that. It’s chaos in Italy today. It’s now nearly 12 the 10:30 train is an hour and a half late and we’re on the 12:30 train which has been cancelled Will we escape Florence? Will we be staying in Florence? Stay tuned! So I got to the ticket window. Oh, it’s chaos! You’re losing me! Hold on to that thought. If you wouldn’t have said it I wouldn’t have believed it So as I was saying. I got to the ticket window and they said there’s a train leaving in 10 minutes, it’s the 10:20 trains now departing at 12:30 It’s only 10 minutes after our last scheduled train so overall we’re only 10 minutes late! Here we are in Bologna Centrale I’ve had lunch, wine, coffee, Nutella biscuits I’m feeling amped We’d better get going or I’m gonna run all the way to Venice! We made it (yeah I know ) Welcome to Venice Now we have a water taxi booked to take us to the hotel Let’s see if we can find it It’s very pretty isn’t it? One step closer We made it! (Yay) Not very romantic is it? (No) Gondola in the rain. Next up, Venice. We explore the arts, and embrace the chaos So romantic! (oh my Lord yes) As we explore this fascinating city on the water Bye, bye money! It’s crowded It’s beautiful and a glass floor! (I know) If your wife says: Oh Frank it’d be so romantic staying in St Marks. NAH! It’s VENICE! Come to Venice they said. Enjoy the beautiful weather and the romance (and the romance!) See the things we do so you don’t have to! Well yes!

Planning your Florence itinerary? This comprehensive Florence travel guide (Part 2 of our Italy series!) takes you beyond the usual, showing you how we conquered Florence’s hidden gems, navigated a day trip to Pisa’s iconic Leaning Tower, explored stunning rainy-day museums like the Uffizi Gallery, and even handled Italian train delays with a smile!

This Florence itinerary is packed with actionable insights: learn how we handled unexpected bad weather, cleverly avoided tourist crowds at key attractions, squeezed in Renaissance masterpieces, found the best burger at a record-themed bar, and even navigated Italian train delays on our way to Venice!

If you’re planning your dream Italy trip for 2025 (or beyond!), this vlog is your essential companion, packed with practical Florence travel tips, crucial ticket info, real-world costs, and our honest first-hand experiences to help you plan your own unforgettable adventure.

📺 Watch Part 1 (Florence, Chianti & More): https://youtu.be/531BCEQ8q7U
🧳 Full Italy Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8DvUO0nQ89obNiKMV0J_BnAUDuGFxpTb

In this Florence & Pisa episode, you’ll discover:
✅ Easy day trip to Pisa: 🚆 Train details & costs revealed!
✅ How to explore the Leaning Tower of Pisa (and its fascinating history!)
✅ Where to find the best burger in Florence: 🍔 Move On Pub review
✅ Touring historic gems: Palazzo Davanzati & Palazzo Vecchio (Hall of 500 & Studiolo insights!)
✅ Skip-the-line entry into the Uffizi Gallery: Your guide to beating the queues!
✅ Must-see Renaissance masterpieces: 🎨 Botticelli, Da Vinci, Caravaggio & more!
✅ Dealing with Italian train delays: Our humorous survival guide! 😂

Plan Your Trip: Essential Links!
🎟️ Timed Entry Uffizi Gallery Tickets: https://go.michaelbtraveller.com/uffizi
🎟️ Skip the Line Entry to Palazzo Vecchio: https://go.michaelbtraveller.com/vecchio
🚆 Day Trip to Pisa: https://go.michaelbtraveller.com/pisa
🍔 Move On Pub: https://go.michaelbtraveller.com/moveon

Chapters:
0:00 Italy Travel Highlights & Intro
0:24 Navigating Florence: Walk to the Train Station
1:18 Train Journey to Pisa: Scenic Ride & Travel Times
2:07 Arriving in Pisa: Walk to the Leaning Tower
2:54 Exploring the Leaning Tower of Pisa & Its History
3:51 Pisa City Exploration & Return to Florence
4:54 Florence Nightlife: Move On Pub & Record Bar
5:42 Rainy Day in Florence & Museo di Palazzo Davanzati Tour
8:19 Palazzo Vecchio Exploration: Hall of 500 & Studiolo
10:19 Discovering the Vasari Corridor
10:57 Uffizi Galleries: Renaissance Masterpieces & Night Views
13:04 Uffizi Art Deep Dive: Perugino, Da Vinci & Caravaggio
14:48 Morning in Florence & Breakfast
15:04 Florence to Venice Train Journey & Delays
16:55 Arriving in Venice & Water Taxi to Hotel
17:22 Venice Exploration & Next Episode Preview

Got questions about planning your own Italy adventure, or want to share your favorite Florence tips? Drop them in the comments below – we love hearing from you! 👇

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