Rome And Florence Trip Log Day 3: Florence Day Trip Part One - Visiting the Uffizi Gallery
When we woke up in the morning, we were disoriented for some reason. We swore we got adequate sleep, yet we felt exhausted. Apparently, it was daylight savings, and the clock went ahead one hour, so needless to say, we were scrambling to leave the hotel and get to Roma Termini in time to board our train to Florence.
The hotel did not inform us of the time change and I only say this because later in the year when I traveled to London, the hotel I stayed in (Hilton London Excel) had signs plasterd all over the elevator and lobby to inform guests of the time change so they are not in for a shock like we were.
Still made sure to fit in some brekkie but no photo because we were RUSHING to the train station.
This is the Regional (REG) train we took into central Rome everyday
Look at how CLEAN it is!
We purchased business class tickets with Italo, and the ride was fast and smooth. The train cars were clean, and the seats were very comfortable. They even had footrests, coat hangers, and a tray if you wanted to eat any food you bought or purchased while onboard. I loved how, when we were approaching Florence, a crew member came around and vacuumed the train car floor to get rid of any crumbs so the car was nice and clean for anyone boarding in Florence.
The hardest part of taking the train to Florence was getting to Roma Termini during rush hour and figuring out which train to board, but once you get there, you are good to go. Your ticket will tell you which car to board, and you have assigned seats.
Clip from inside of the Italo high-speed train to Florence
After about 90 minutes, we were in Florence!
The Uffizi Gallery is a short walk from the Florence station, and you pass by some iconic sights like the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Piazza della Repubblica, and Piazza della Signoria. I recommend going to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore if you are able to. This day was a Sunday, and you are typically unable to visit churches due to mass and we just genuinely did not know you could go inside. This trip was planned in six stressful days, and many things like this were overlooked. (another thing that was overlooked was going to Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major and Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri, the latter of which was designed by Michelangelo, my favorite artist of the Renaissance times.)
Piazza della Repubblica
Piazza della Signoria
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
The Uffizi Gallery was an approximately 20-minute walk from the train station. For my in-depth experience visiting the Uffizi Gallery and to find out the seven works you MUST see while there, read this post: What To Know Before You Visit The Uffizi Gallery And The Top Seven Must-See Works.
Cafe Menu
We spent almost three hours in the Uffizi, and honestly, that was not enough time. There is so much to see, and every art piece is so beautiful.
Tip #1: I don’t believe this museum has air conditioning. We were here at the end of March, and it was quite warm inside, so if you are visiting in the summer months, beware of how much you will sweat.
Doni Tondo by Michelangelo
Annunciation by Leonardo da Vinci
The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli
View from the Uffizi Gallery
After leaving the Uffizi it was lunch time and we were having trouble figuring out what to eat, but we saw many people holding sandwiches in their hands and we went to investigate. We found the location of said sandhwhiches and it was a hole-in-the-wall shop down an alley near Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.
Bag Secured
I Fratellini is a perfect spot for quick, cheap, and delicious sandwiches. The line went down the block and started to wrap around the corner, but it went fast. The menu is not vast, but I still had a hard time deciding what to eat. This was the first time in my life that I had ever had fresh mozzarella cheese, and it was FANTASTIC. It was so gooey and natural tasting, but most importantly, it did not hurt my tummy.
My lactose intolerance was tolerated.
After this, we went to get some gelato. I will withhold the place's name because the staff was rude, and I do not want to promote their business. I found many people in Rome rude but found the people in Florence much friendlier, but the staff at this Gelateria was the exception.
When we came in, the vibe changed, and they didn’t want to serve us; mind you, I’m black, and my friend is white. And I felt like they gave me a ‘here damn” vegan gelato. It was fine. The gelato at the hotel and a place near the trevi fountain (more on that in my day five post) were better. They also gave me a huge cone which was odd and made people stare. The whole experience was odd.
We then boarded the train back to Rome, returned to the hotel for dinner, and went to bed to get ready for the day I had been most excited about this whole trip, the moment I had been dreaming of since I was a child.
I was going to the Sistine Chapel.
I love how the tops stay on the water bottels
Five Guys In Italy?
I wish I tried the wings at Mcdonalds in Italy
Roma Termini
Hudson News In Italy?
I was obsessed with these cookies
Trip Log Index
Day 1: Traveling Abroad For The First Time
Day 2: Exploring Rome via Big Bus Tour and Visiting The Colosseum
Day 3: Florence Day Trip Part One - Visiting the Uffizi Gallery
Day 4: Visiting The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
Day 5: Exploring Rome via Gray Bus Tour - Visiting the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps
Day 6: Florence Day Trip Part Two - Visiting the Accademia Gallery
Day 7: Last Day In Rome - Almost Visiting St. Peter’s Basilica
Hi! I’m Andrea, the creator of Cinematic Excursions.
I am a video editor, photographer, travel and events vlogger, and blogger who likes to write movie analyses and yap about fandom. I also have a useless film degree.
I have been creating videos since 2018. In 2023, I started Cinematic Excursions to share my unfiltered experiences traveling, cruising, going on excursions, and using city cards that are supposed to save money.
I also use my platform to document my experience attending events like New York Comic-Con, MCM Comic-Con London, and the Food Network New York City Wine and Food Festival, advising others and covering news from these events.