Traveling through the Chianti Valley and Siena in September is a great trip into the historic region of Tuscany.
Tuscan travel prices and options
- VISA TO ITALY - with delivery
- WHEN -
- TOURIST INSURANCE ITALY -
- HOW TO GET THERE - the capital of the historic Italian province of Tuscany - Florence, this is where the airport is located, the region is entangled bus routes and railway lines. There is also an international airport in Pisa, from which you can always get to Florence in an hour.
- FLIGHTS TO TUSCANA -
- TRANSFER -
- TRAIN TO TUSCANA - yes
- BUS TICKETS -
- TRANSPORTATION - while exploring the distinctive towns of Siena and Chianti, you can walk or use public transport, to explore all the sights of the region, it is still more convenient to rent a car.
- CAR FOR RENT -
- TRAVELERS - to Siena and Chianti
- WEATHER - The climate of Tuscany is rather mild, here it is warm in September, and the average temperature of the air during the day rarely drops below +24 ... 25 ° С.
- WHERE TO VISIT - Florence, Radda in Chianti, Badia a Coltibuono, Greve in Chianti, Siena, Collegiate, San Gimignano, Montalcino, Montepulciano, San Agostino.
- EXCURSIONS - around Greve, Gaioli, Florence, Siena, Radda.
- ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD - While relaxing in Siena and Chianti, you can choose a cozy tiny hotel in the cities of Siena, San Gimignano, or in Greve in Chianti, accommodation is possible in picturesque rural guest houses, estates. Chianti has many Italian restaurants, where you can get acquainted with the national Tuscan cuisine.
- GUIDES -.
- HOTELS -, or.
Luxury of Tuscany - Chianti and Siena provinces
You can explore the distinctive corners of the Chianti region, explore the surroundings of Radda (formerly the former capital of the League of Chianti Cities), there is a medieval abbey called Badia a Coltibuono nearby, and in the evening it is better to leave for Siena and dine at a restaurant in Piazza del Campo.
Day 4-5 - Siena
Stroll through ancient Siena, see Palazzo Publico, the Duomo, the Metropolitan Museum and the Civico Museum. On the fifth day, visit the Pinacoteca in Siena, see the interiors of the Church of Santa Catarina, and then head to the ruins of the medieval abbey of San Galliano.
Day 6-7 - Collegiate, San Gimignano, Montalcino, Montepulciano, San Agostino
On way back in Florence visit the charming towns of San Gimignano, Collegiate, Montalcino, San Agostino, Montepulciano, Tuscan villages, admire the vineyards. , then halfway you can spend the night and continue your trip in Tuscany in the morning.
On our return to Florence, our journey through the Chianti Valley and Siena ended. We didn't see much in Tuscany, so maybe we'll come back again. New travels to you!
In the famous Chianti valley in Italy, we managed to come not in the most better weather... You can never trust the forecasts ... This summer does not please Italy at all with hot and sunny weather, it should be noted. At first, we were upset to see the sky in the clouds. But, gradually blurred landscapes of Tuscany, washed out by high humidity and periodically beginning rain, we were simply fascinated.
The views were like on the paintings of old masters! As if the bright colors of summer have slightly lost their brightness from time to time ...
I deliberately did not improve the brightness in photos with Photoshop.
The first breath of autumn is already being felt in Italy.
It comes at the end of October, but already at the end of August we saw slightly yellowed trees.
Endless vineyards with juicy bunches of almost ripe fruits and olive groves in the rolling Tuscan hills - such is the Chianti Valley.
The grapes were grown here by the ancient Etruscans.
Medieval castles and farm houses, which often house cozy hotels; small wineries where you can taste all of the above wines, as well as local sausages and cheeses - you can get stuck here for a long time.
The Chianti Valley produces the famous Classico Chianti wines from Chianti grapes. And also wines Brunello di Montalcino and San Giovese from the grape variety San Giovese. The taste of wine differs significantly in different parts the Chianti Valley.
The Chianti Valley is located within the cities of Prato, Pistoia, and covers an area of \u200b\u200babout 90,000 hectares. We drove through the central part called Chianti Classico. In addition to the central part, there are several more areas in the Chianti Valley:
Chianti Montalbano is located near the town of Montalbano, north of Florence.
Rufina is located in the northeastern part of the valley.
Colline Fiorentini - South of the central part, in the Siena Hills.
Colline Aretine - east and southeast of the city of Arezzo.
Colline Pisane west of Chianti Classico, near Pisa.
Coline Montespertoli is located along the Montespertoli hills in the western part of the valley.
The Chianti symbol is the black rooster, which is featured on all wine bottles and numerous souvenirs. The rooster was raised to the rank of a symbol in the 13th century, when Siena and Florence were actively sorting out their relations over the borders of their territories. Then the black rooster of Florence sang before Siena, bringing victory to his city. (How easy territorial disputes were sometimes resolved in those days ...)
After such a "cock" victory of the city of Castellina, and Gaiole united in the Military League of Chianti Classico and placed the image of the cock on their flag. Here we drove through the territory of this former league.
The classic Tuscan landscapes with cypress trees have never left anyone indifferent.
We stopped literally every kilometer to take a couple of shots.
The Chianti Valley has breathtaking heady fresh air.
In addition to vineyards, the Chianti Valley is famous for its olive groves and the olive oil produced here.
Sometimes cities and towns suddenly appeared among the vineyards. The capital of Chianti Classico is the city of Greve. Without exception, all graying in this area are called with the ending "in Chianti", therefore, most often when communicating in the valley, this ending is omitted. seen from afar, it turned out to be quite large, in the central part there were some towers. We will definitely visit someday!
First impressions are always the strongest. The Chianti Valley of Italy in my memory will now forever remain in the shroud of rain.
The sun came out only once, showing what the valley looks like in bright light.
We will definitely come back here in sunny weather!
One way to love and understand wine is to travel through the wine region. It is through landscapes, smells, local gastronomy, through acquaintance with winemakers for many, including me, the easiest way to understand and discover wine. Therefore, I suggest starting your acquaintance with Chianti, one of the symbols of Italian winemaking, with the landscapes and cities of the Tuscan region of Chianti.
1. I'll start with the classic types. Chianti is one of the most popular Italian regions among tourists, whose hills and cypresses have been reproduced many times on hundreds of postcards. However, this is not a reason to admire them again, especially since these places have downright magical photogenicity.
8. The whole Chianti region in one photo - vineyards, olive groves, medieval towns.
10. Each time I open a bottle of Chianti, I will remember the malachite spills of the hills and the vineyards receding into the distance. These wine insight trips do more than all the classes and tastings combined.
12. Do you know why roses are planted in vineyards? Not so much for beauty as for benefit: they are much more susceptible to disease than vines. If the roses don't feel very good, the winemaker understands that something went wrong, and therefore has the opportunity to correct the situation.
16. This is a view from the terrace of a house in a winery Tenuta di Bibbiano where I stayed. One morning in these thickets I saw a deer! A story about the farm and its wines is ahead.
18. The first signs of autumn. The trip took place at the end of September, the weather was summer, and therefore little reminded of the approach of the yellow-orange season. Now in Tuscany, I think, it is a million times more beautiful!
19. At the end of September in the town of Panzano in Chianti the Vino al Vino wine festival takes place, which I could not help but stop by! The photo shows the moment when you can no longer hold the glass with your hands, you have to help yourself with your feet. ;)
20. How is the festival organized? For 16 euros you get a glass and a bag for it, which you saw in the previous photo, a booklet with a story about the producers and a list of wines available to order. You arm yourself with a pen and start walking from stand to stand, trying and making notes.
21. Each winemaker presents a full line - usually 4-5 wines. You can taste the wines of all the participants, I think, during the three days that the festival lasts. If time is short, then you can take a shortcut: I, for example, decided to try not classic Chianti, but more interesting and usually more expensive samples. I didn't buy anything - they still sell wine only in 6 bottles.
22. Winemakers, as you can see, are advanced - they use dropstops (drip catchers). I talked about them in. The cockerel on the neck is a symbol of the consortium of Chianti classico producers, we will return to it in a separate post.
24. Wine critics look like this.
25. And their future readers - so.
26. The festival is, of course, the best place to get acquainted with local products.
27. For the first time in my life I came across a pie with grapes! The traditional Chianti dish is called schiaccia con l "uva, schiaccia con l "uva... I tried both options: the one with dark and fresh grapes, I liked more, although the tastiest was the schiaccia, which I ate a few days before in Castellina in Chianti. I'll tell you more about this cute town and its gastronomic traditions. I think you understand that we have more than one post ahead of us dedicated to the Chianti region, its wines and gastronomy.
29. Here, in Panzano, is the restaurant of the star butcher Dario Cecchini. Unfortunately, during the trip, I was slightly out of schedule and did not get there, despite the reservation. I heard great reviews from friends! Have you been there?
30. I quickly ran away from the festival - Panzano is a tiny town, the pavilions of winemakers occupied one of its miniature squares. It was inconvenient to push around with a glass in hand and with a camera at the ready, so to get acquainted with wine, it was decided to go further, to Greve in Chianti. If you follow my route, don't miss this place, Antica Macelleria Falorni.
31. A good choice wines both by the glass and by the bottle, sensible snacks, excellent tartars and other meat dishes - I was satisfied. It was very pleasant to sit in the central square and stare around, despite the almost complete absence of the Italians surrounded. And in this, perhaps, one of the main features of Chianti is simply incredible, unthinkable tourist destination... Even remote villages have an English menu! And even in remote restaurants, found somewhere along the road, you will certainly stumble upon a company of American tourists. I have been in Italy a lot, but nowhere, except, perhaps, Rome, I have not seen so many tourists.
32. The more southern part of Tuscany, where I was in July, seemed to me a place more authentic, where you can feel the rhythm of Italian life, its unhurried flow, where the signs of life or the quirks of the locals lie in plain sight, and not hidden behind tourist options. Therefore, if you go to Tuscany, I advise you not to stop only in Chianti, but also to go further, towards Rome, for idyllic rural landscapes, for towns like where you are almost the only tourist behind.
33. Again, the black rooster is the symbol of the Chianti classico producers.
35. In Greve in Chianti I met my reader (how small the world is!), On whose advice I drove into the village of Montefioralle located just above. Such villages in Italy are called borgo.It seems that the flow of life has stopped here - these streets look exactly the same as they looked hundreds of years ago. And only the muttering of the TV, suddenly heard from the ajar window, brings you back to reality.
37. In Montefioralle I met a gang of cheese lovers with truffles. Even cats in Chianti are gourmets!
39. But this child I accidentally woke up - he slept in the sun by a wine barrel in Panzano. The very moment when you were raised, but they forgot to wake you up.
In the following posts, we will visit two wineries that are completely different from each other, walk around the Saturday market, understand the intricacies of Chianti production and visit a beautiful Tuscan house worthy of publication in Architectural Digest.
Would you like to visit the home of classic Chianti, the legendary Italian wine that became famous already in the 13th century? Then get ready: early morning departure from Marina di Scarlino towards Florence - you are already in Imprunet. After admiring the beautiful Sanctuary of St. Mary, you take the Chianti Road towards Siena, following state road no. 222. Then arrival in Greve in Chianti, in its beautiful medieval square, and visit the historic cellars for wine tasting. produced in the years of the best harvests. Do you want to feel the spirit of the Middle Ages? Then we invite you to Montefioralle, one of the most beautiful towns in Italy, where you can stroll through silent streets and ancient vineyards. This wonderful area is fraught with other surprises. A few more kilometers - and now you are in Volpaye - a perfectly preserved medieval town, famous for its castle and magnificent enoteca (if you can, go there in May, when a million fragrant roses bloom in the city). Finally, the last leg of our journey is Radda in Chianti, the headquarters of the Classic Chianti Consortium. The last attraction of the town is the rural church of San Giusto in Salcho: experience the harmony of 11th century architecture.
Scarlino
Scarlino is a town on the slopes of Monte d'Alma. It is here for the first time that the Maremma appears in all its splendor - an endless green space, which on the horizon merges with the blue of the sea. Scarlino, a small but charming medieval town, is just minutes from the beautiful Marina di Scarlino Yacht Club & Residences. The history of the town, which dates back to the 10th century AD, is connected with the history of the noble Aldobrandeschi family. For a sense of history, stroll along the medieval walls to the Rocca Aldobrandesca fortress, and then plunge into the atmosphere of the old streets or the intact setting of the beautiful Roman Church of San Donato, which was mentioned in the historical annals as early as 1188.
Cala violina
We are talking about a miracle that is located almost under your windows. Cala felice Beach Club is an elegant structure where you can have a great rest while enjoying the beautiful sea and sun. Can't resist the call of the sea, irresistibly enticing you to adventure? Then you should rent inflatable boat and visit Cala Violina ("Violin Bay"), the amazing beach of the Maremma Grossetto, located just a short sail from Marina di Scarlino. Want to know what the musical name of this beach comes from? Try walking along the finest sands of this delightful bay: on quiet days, your walk will be accompanied by the gentle sound of the sand, reminiscent of the sound of a violin. It is worth recalling that Cala Violina cannot be reached by private road transport, but in the summer there is a shuttle bus.
Alternatively, you can reach Cala Violina on foot along a 4 km trail that starts at the Il Cantuccio restaurant, located in the Il Puntone, Garibaldi promenade, towards the Tourist Port. After the barrier, trail number 1 begins, which runs through the Mediterranean vegetation. After 2 km you will be able to see the delightful rugged cliffs and transparent green waters of the Cala Franchese and Cala Martina bays, and after another 2 km you will see Cala Violina in all its glory.
Tuscan archipelago
Every day you can admire a delightful sight - the appearance of the outlines of Elba Island on the horizon of Marina di Scarlino. This is exactly how, in the breeze of a nascent day, an exciting and slightly sports travel by seven wonders National park Tuscan archipelago. This piece of paradise awaits you with crystal clear waters and depths of the sea that bring thoughts of treasure hunting to mind, as well as scenic beaches, wildlife and living history. Our starting point is Elba Island and Cape Enfola with amazingly clear waters. Or maybe you want to get to know the island better and visit the house where Napoleon lived during his exile in 1814? Would you like to continue your journey by sea? Then you just have to choose any of the many routes. For example, the island of Giannutri with a wonderful seabed, then the island of Giglio and the island of Montecristo, described in the famous novel by Alexander Dumas, the island of Capraia with a settlement of the Roman period and a monastery, and finally, the island of Pianosa and the island of Gorgona, already mentioned by Dante in the XXXIII song of Hell dedicated to the tragic character Ugolino della Gherardesca. But you don't have to worry - you are in heaven.
Siena And Surroundings
Siena is an ideal base for exploring the historical and cultural heritage of Tuscany. Now you are on your way to Siena, a UNESCO heritage site, an unrivaled treasure trove of art, culture and cuisine unparalleled in the world. With just an hour and a half drive from Marina di Scarlino, Piazza del Campo is at your feet. First step? A magnificent cycle of frescoes "Allegories of Good and Bad Government", painted by Abrogio Lorenzetti in 1337 for the Council of Nine Hall of Palazzo Pubblico. Or do you prefer Duccio's Maesta, a treasure housed in the Cathedral Museum (Museo dell'Opera Metropolitana del Duomo)? In any case, mark two dates in your diary: July 2 and August 16. It is on these days that the famous Siena Palio takes place, which you should definitely visit. But before summer comes, would you like to continue your wonderful journey by visiting one of the most beautiful and wealthy regions of Italy? South of Siena, the wonders of the Renaissance, which you can admire in Pienza, and the masterpieces of Italian winemaking await you: the finest wines in Italy - the magnificent Super Tuscans from Montalcino and Montepulciano. You can also travel north to enjoy the enchanting beauty of the castle of Monteriggioni, built by the inhabitants of Siena at the beginning of the 13th century, and take a look at Colle Val d'Elsa, old Citylocated on the Route of the Franks, or San Gimignano, is a true medieval Manhattan with its incredible towers that go back to the origins of history.
Maremma Experience
In this paradise, everything is perceived in a special light: nature, history, art, architecture, cuisine, winemaking. Because you are in the Maremma, one of the treasures of Italy. At the heart of this large area is Marina di Scarlino Yacht Club & Residences, where amazing discoveries await you every day.
Want to know about the origins of Italian civilization?
Then we will begin our story with the Etruscans, one of the most mysterious and amazing peoples of the Mediterranean. You will travel through the majestic necropolises and old townstowering on tuff rocks: for example, Pitigliano, which is also called "little Jerusalem", Sovane and its magnificent 11th century cathedral or Sorano, which is an amazing labyrinth of streets, courtyards and niches carved into the rock. These few kilometers contain centuries of history.
Looking for an unforgettable experience?
Then visit Volterra, where the wonders of the Guarnacci Museum await you, most notably the magnificent “Shadow of the Evening” (“L’ombra della sera”), named after Gabriele D'Annunzio. Want to make a quick transition to mannerism? Just a few steps - and you are already in the Pinacoteca in front of the masterpiece "Descent from the Cross", painted by Rosso Fiorentino in 1521.
Do you want to completely relax and not think about anything?
A few kilometers from Scarlino, there are the famous Terme di Saturnia, which were highly valued already during the Roman Empire. It is enough to spend just one day in the thermal springs, the temperature of which is 37 °, and you will completely relax and gain excellent well-being.
Are you interested in the Romanesque period?
Then you must visit a place located just a few steps from Marina di Scarlino Yacht & Residences. We are talking about the city of Massa Marittima and the enchanting Cathedral of San Cerbone, the true pearl of which is the Madonna and Child (1316), attributed to Duccio di Buoninsegna. A little further away - the most interesting Sources of Abundance. On their walls grows, like a forbidden fruit, the original "Tree of Fertility" - a fresco of 1265, to which all future mothers made a pilgrimage.
Do you want to relax in the lap of nature?
Maremma National Park is home to miles of pristine forests, pine groves, pastures and dazzling white sand beaches, awarded a European diploma, which is awarded to protected areas. Enjoy a 9,800-hectare piece of paradise between Principina a Mare and Talamone. Here you can admire the Mediterranean vegetation, hike, bike or horse. This oasis of beauty is fraught with small and large masterpieces of art and nature, for example, the Abbey of San Rabano - an old monastery of the Benedictines, which then passed to the cavaliers of Jerusalem. This is where movie-worthy adventure awaits.
Florence
Only one thing can be said about this city - it is a whole world full of amazing surprises that await you at any time of the year and in any setting. A completely different world awaits you here. Do you want to devote a whole day to museums? In the Uffizi, masterpieces of great masters await you, from Giotto and Botticelli to Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Titian. Are you looking for a more intimate environment suitable for reflection? Then take a walk through the silent monastery of St. Mark, which houses a painting by Beato Angelico (Savonarola fans should definitely visit his cell). Do you have an unbridled desire to look at the works of Raphael? If so, head to Palazzo Pitti. Alternatively, slow down and take a romantic stroll along the Arno and Ponte Vecchio or along the paths of the Boboli Gardens. An unforgettable shopping experience awaits you in the splendid boutiques on rue dei Tornabuoni, the benchmark for refined taste and Italian elegance. Before returning to the coast, devote at least an hour to the Salvatore Ferragamo Museum and its marvelous creations that have adorned the feet of such world stars as Greta Garbo, Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland and Audrey Hepburn. And of course, this museum is dedicated to you as well, as evidenced by Salvatore Ferragamo's Vintage line.
Maremma wines
Wine is one of the main treasures of Tuscany and, in particular, of the Maremma. Just a few steps from Marina di Scarlino, begins a wonderful wine and gastronomic route called Strada del Vino e dei Sapori Colli di Maremma, in the natural beauty of the province of Grossetto. On your way, you can taste all the wealth local cuisine and wines from thirteen cities of the Maremma: Campagnatico, Capalbio, Grossetto, Isola del Giglio, Magliano in Tuscany, Manciano, Monte Argentario, Orbetello, Pitigliano, Roccalbenya, Scansano, Semproniano. In each of these cities you will find wines with a distinct character, such as Morellino di Scansano, Bianco di Pitigliano, Montecucco Bianco and Montecucco Rosso, Montereggio di Massa Marittima Vin Santo, Novello di Montereggio di Massa Marittima ”and“ Parrina Rosato al Sovana Rosso Riserva ”. One sip - and you rise upward, feeling like a great sommelier, enjoying the unforgettable sensations from a magnificent combination of cuisine and wine. Served on the table, gentlemen!
Golf
A few minutes drive from Marina di Scarlino, near Gavorrano, the Il Pelagone golf club was opened. Here you will find one of the finest golf courses in Tuscany. The magnificent 18-hole course offers scenic views of the Maremma hills. There is a convenient training field nearby, where you can prepare for major sports competitions and show decent results.
Siena (Siena) -Chiantigiana (Chiantijana) -Firenze (Florence) -70 km + 0 euro
It's time to say goodbye to Siena. We never saw our Dionisio again. They left him a farewell note of thanks and the keys on the table. The door was slammed.
Then our path lay in Florence, but not along the highway, but along one of the most beautiful roads Chiantijana... On the map she has №222
... The plans were to visit a couple of towns along the way and, of course, wineries fattorie and buy a real Chianti Gallo Nero.
It makes no sense to talk about the beauty of this road. Some sources write that this is the most beautiful roadat least in Italy and even Europe. I'm not ready to agree with this, there are more beautiful ones. But the fact that she has a unique charm is undeniable.
After about 26 km from Siena, we drove into a picturesque town Castellina-in-Chianti... Walked along the covered walkway Via delle Volte... It is small but charming, with a lot of museums, designer shops and leather shops.
From the crossing we went to the city center. 
There is a magnificent restored castle in the center of the city. Renovated so much that its antiquity is not felt. 
Local wine and olive oil is sold on every corner, for example Bottega del Vino Gallo Nero (Via della Roca 10).
But we decided not to buy anything in the cities, we wanted maximum approximation to the natural, that is, they decided to call in some farm. There were a lot of signs along the way "VenditaDiretta "(direct sales). We turned to one of these. For a long time we drove along a terribly dusty country road among the fields and already doubted that we would meet at least some kind of civilization. And, finally, we unexpectedly arrived at a small village and a rather pleasant building, where we understood the farm's sales department Santo Stefano. We were greeted by a friendly young girl and a man. They told about their wine, gave everything to taste, including olive oil, for which they served slices of delicious bread. 
We, of course, gladly bought both Chianti and white wine and oil. By the way, the Russians have not yet wandered over to them. They say that mainly French, British and Germans come.
Then we stopped at Greve-in-Chianti... A wine festival is held here. Somehow the town was not impressed and we drove on to the castle Verrazzano (Castello di Verrazzanj), which is 4 km from Greve in Chianti. The castle also sells local wines and olive oil. You can get to the castle itself only with a guided tour and at a certain time. We photographed him from behind the bars, wandered around the area and admired the magnificent views of the Tuscan hills. 
Not arriving Strada-in-Chianti there is also a castle Castello di Mugnana, the best-preserved medieval castle, around which there are also a lot of fattorie, but we did not go there, but turned into another farm Tenuta Poggio ai Mandorli.
Our aunt met us, took us to the cellar, listed the wines and offered to try one of our choice, and it was impossible to taste expensive wines (more than 10 euros). We were surprised at this arrangement, but since we were not going to go anywhere else, we bought a couple of bottles from her. But among themselves they called her a greedy aunt. Apparently, the proximity to Florence affected, and she was not at all surprised to Russian visitors, she says that they often stop by. That's where the dog is buried! Probably tasted well at her place.
From this farm we went straight to Florence. I must say that on this day, despite the small mileage, we were completely out of the time schedule and arrived in Florence in the evening, closer to 5 pm.
We immediately stopped at piazzale michelangelo, which offers a beautiful view of the city with the huge Duomo and the Palazzo Vecchio tower, the Arno River with a series of bridges, including the Ponte Vecchio. 
There is a huge free parking lot on the square, a lot of cars. And it was still very hot 41 degrees! In an open area on a hill, it is unbearable heat. 
The time was approaching evening, it was necessary to move in. We booked a hotel « Hotel City»(Via Sant" Antonio, 18), which is located in a very convenient place, near the railway station, Medici Chapel, a few steps from the Duomo. Reviews of the hotel were excellent, which was confirmed in reality. A cozy home room of two rooms, with air conditioning, windows overlooking a quiet courtyard, an excellent bathroom with everything you need, a good breakfast and wonderful staff cost us 185 euros per night + 3 euros / person for tourist tax. Parking is paid, the hotel has its own parking spaces at the station, it costs 25 euros / day, you can leave and call in as many times as you like. This is normal for the center of Florence during peak season. And for us, exhausted by the Siena Palio, everything seemed like paradise.
But the hotel had to be reached. It was complicated. We got to ZTL all the time. Circled, circled, spat and drove into the area, parked near the hotel. But it turned out everything is fine. They brought us to some base and said that since we live here, we won't get fines. And so it turned out later.
Hastily settled down and went for a walk. Since Katya and Victor had already been to Florence during the day, we ran away each in our own direction.
First I went to Church of Santa Maria Novella which was designed and built by the Dominican monks. Fully work on the construction of the church ended in the second half of the XIV century. The marble façade of the church by Leon Battista Alberti dates back to 1456-1470.
The most interesting detail in the interior of the church is the pylons in the form of a bunch of columns, on which the pointed arched vaults rest. The Church of Santa Maria Novella contains a large number of works of Florentine art of the 14th-16th centuries by Vasari, Ghirlandaio, Brunelleschi, Giuliano da Sangallo, Ghiberti and other masters. 
From this church I went to the Duomo - Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Cattedrale di Maria del Fiore).
I immediately bought a ticket to Baptistery of John the Baptist (Battistero di San Giovanni) for 5 euros to see the famous dome of the Byzantine mosaic of the 13th century and the equally famous doors, the panels of which were created by Andrea Pisano and Lorenzo Ghiberti according to biblical subjects. 
After that I went for a walk. How can you describe your feelings as a result of the walk? And I had a feeling of confusion. I wandered through the streets and realized that I was confused and ... depressed. For the first time, the city did not let me into its soul. As if the city has its own protective shell, and I am behind it outside. I sat down on the steps of a building and wanted to cry, or even better, home. Through strength I walked a couple more steps and met with Katya and Victor. We walked until dark, but the feeling that you were a stranger did not disappear. Katya gave Florence a good definition: Florence is a lump. 
The next day for 12 days we bought tickets to the Uffizi Gallery. We bought in advance through the site for 11 euros + 4 euros for a reservation. Therefore, in the morning I had to climb onto the dome of the Duomo, visit the Duomo itself, then pack up, load things into the car and run to the gallery.
In the morning the streets were still deserted, but there was already a long line at the entrance to the dome, which was moving fast enough. The ticket cost 8 euros. 
In order to enter the cathedral itself, you need to go down from the dome, go outside and stand in line again. You don't need to be afraid of the queue, it moves quickly. The entrance is free.
The dimensions of the Duomo are amazing: 153 meters long and 90 meters wide. Today, Santa Maria del Fiori is the fourth largest cathedral in the world, second only to St. Peter's in the Vatican, St. Paul's in London and the Duomo of Milan.
The Cathedral has a museum that stores two priceless canvases - "Lamentation of Christ" by Michelangelo and "Mary Magdalene" by Donatello.
Despite the huge number of people in the cathedral, I still got great pleasure and examined it with interest. 
We quickly checked out of the hotel and walked to the Uffizi Gallery. Walking through Via De 'Tornabuoni, we looked into the church, which is located at the intersection with the street Via degli Agli... We noticed this church from the evening, but it was closed. Why she attracted our attention, I do not know, she did not differ in anything remarkable outwardly. Moreover, guidebooks bypass it and tourist maps at best, it is simply marked with an untitled cross. So we entered it without knowing the name. Now I already know what it is church of Saints Michael and Gaetano (Chiesa dei Santi Michele e Gaetano)... Church of the 16th century. We were struck by the interior decoration with the use of magnificent textiles, as it turned out from the 18th century.
I highly recommend visiting it. It was only here that I felt that Florence had slightly opened its door to me. 
There was a huge queue to the gallery, as they had been warned. But for those who have paid for tickets, there is a separate entrance, completely out of line. We spent 3 hours in the gallery. Among the treasures kept in the Uffizi Gallery are masterpieces by Giotto, Caravaggio, Titian, Leonardo da Vinci, Rubens, Perugdio. Only in this Florentine museum you can see Michelangelo's famous work depicting the Holy Family, as well as works by Raphael, The Adoration of the Magi by Gentile da Fabiano, The Birth of Venus and Spring by Botticelli. The best works of the greatest masters of the Renaissance - this is what the Uffizi Gallery is today. We saw all this, trying with all our might not to fall into a stupor from culture shock.
Gallery windows also open beautiful views to the Arno and Ponte Vecchio, there are places to stay. 
So the first acquaintance with Florence ended. I came to the conclusion that Florence is one of the cities that must be viewed from the inside, where there is interesting architecture, but the main treasures are inside museums, cathedrals, galleries.
