In the summer, Florence no longer speaks Florentine but English, Spanish, and German: the city empties of its inhabitants and fills with tourists! However, not everyone can spend the entire season at the sea or elsewhere; many have holidays only in August, and the period becomes long.
So, what to do in Florence in the summer?
A Tour in the Green Parks
Florence is full of magnificent villas and green spaces: Villa Bardini with its Italian garden, Baroque staircase, and shaded English woodland inhabited by squirrels. The Park of Villa il Ventaglio extends over a hill for about five hectares. The Park of the Cascine, the true green lung of the city, stretches for about 118 hectares on the right bank of the Arno.
Cooling Off in Museums
An immersion in culture and coolness: what better place than Florence? The choice is vast: from temporary exhibitions at Palazzo Strozzi to the permanent collections in the many municipal museums, the Uffizi, and the many galleries scattered throughout the city.
You can take advantage of the Metropolitan Sunday: on the first Sunday of every month, the Florentine museums offer free events.
All residents of the Metropolitan City of Florence can visit the Florentine Civic Museums and Palazzo Medici Riccardi for free, participate in numerous visits and activities organized by the Municipality of Florence, the Metropolitan City of Florence, and MUS.E.
h2 Which museums are free on Metropolitan Sunday?
- Palazzo Vecchio
- Santa Maria Novella
- Palazzo Medici Riccardi
- Museo Stefano Bardini
- Memorial of the Deportations
- Museo Novecento
- Brancacci Chapel in Santa Maria del Carmine
- MAD – Murate Art District (the Murate Complex)
- Torre della Zecca
- Porta San Frediano
- Torre di San Niccolò
A Healthy and Tasty Lunch Break
To make your break in the city even more special, why not take advantage of take-away from Insalateria Original? We await you with all our fresh options!
You can choose from our poké salads, wraps, avocado toast, and fresh smoothies or juices. If you crave something sweet, try the smoothie bowls, perfect for a snack or a delicious after-dinner treat!
There’s No Sea, but There Are Pools!
When the heat becomes unbearable, why not take a dip in the pool? Depending on the area you are in, there are many options with different prices, here are some examples:
- Le Pavoniere at the Cascine
- Piscina Comunale Costoli
- Piscina Bellariva, or Piscina Comunale Goffredo Nannini on the Lungarno
- Firenze Camping in Town – Piscina Watermania
- Hidron in Campi Bisenzio
- Rooftop pool of Virgin Active in Rovezzano
- Asmana Wellness World for a full day of relaxation
- Piscina del Poggetto, next to the Flog
- Piscina del Centro Sportivo Paganelli in Novoli
- Piscina Val di Rose, within the scientific center of Sesto Fiorentino
- Piscina Solarium in Lastra a Signa
- Piscina dei Renai
- Piscina Zodiac in Tavarnuzze (Impruneta)
- A Cool Walk Near Florence
Hiking close by
The nearest mountain dominating the city is Monte Morello, characterized by its “three peaks,” with the highest being Poggio all’Aia, at an altitude of 934 meters.
There are numerous hiking trails that traverse the local flora, consisting of oaks, chestnuts, black pines, cypresses, and white firs. However, it wasn’t always like this: in the past, deforestation for timber was very intense. The Lorena family preserved the area’s flora, creating a large hunting reserve that extended from the Cascine to Monte Morello and Pratolino.
The current wooded appearance of Monte Morello is the result of reforestation carried out between 1909 and the 1970s.
Monte Morello, with its slopes located in the municipalities of Calenzano and Sesto Fiorentino, is a stop on the Renaissance Ring.
An Evening on the Terraces Overlooking Florence
If you want to spend a pleasant evening in Florence, especially in the summer months when the air starts to cool down only at sunset, there is nothing better than going to one of the city’s terraces for an aperitif.
Here are some options to consider:
- Fiore al Piazzale: If you’re looking for a terrace with an unparalleled view of Florence without having to buy tickets for the Duomo’s Dome, Fiore al Piazzale, located in Piazzale Michelangelo, is the ideal choice. Besides its gazebo, it often hosts concerts and other events in August, along with an excellent Tuscan menu.
- Flò Firenze: Nearby is Flò, a terrace with a city view. The atmosphere is quite youthful, and the aperitif, accompanied by music, usually starts at 8:00 PM.
- B-Green: The terrace of the Hotel Baglioni, in Piazza dell’Unità, is another highly recommended spot in Florence. Located near the Santa Maria Novella station, it offers a spectacular view of the city.
Terraces on Lungarno Colombo: A very popular area among Florentines is the right bank of the Arno. Several summer terraces have opened on Lungarno Colombo that are worth a visit to end the day in the best way.
