THE PERFECT ESCAPE FROM THE FLORENTINE HEAT: FIESOLE

During your stay in Florence I will suggest you a breezy half day trip to Fiesole, which is perched on a hill overlooking the Arno valley.



Piazza Garibaldi - Fiesole


Fiesole is a small town with a main square, a few restaurants and shops, a few minor sights, and a great view. The ancient Etruscans knew a good spot when they saw one, and chose to settle here, estabilishing Fiesole about 400 years before the Romans founded Florence. Also healthy Renaissance families chose Fiesole as a prefered vacation spot, building villas in the surrounding hillsides. Later, in the 19-th century Romantics spent part of the Grand Tour admiring the vistas.

Fiesole

               GETTING TO FIESOLE

Bus #7 runs every 30 minutes from the train station or the San Marco square. Tickets costs €1.20 for 90 min or €3 for a daily ticket.
Sightseeing buses has a stop to Fiesole.
Taxis from Florence cost approx. €20 to Fiesole.

Sightseeing bus in Fiesole

SIGHTS IN FIESOLE

Fiesole's sight are either free or covered under one €10 combo ticket, avaible at the Roman Theater.

Via San Francesco - Fiesole

Terrace with a View - Catch the sunset (and your breath) from the view terrace just below San Francesco's Church. It's a 5/6 min hike from the main bus stop: Face the bell tower and take via San Francesco, on the left.


Church of San Francesco - For even more hill-climbing, continue up from the view terrace to this charming little church. The small scale and the colorful altar paintings make this church more enjoyable than Fiesole's Duomo. Free of charge from Mon-Sat 8-12 & 15-19, Sun 7-11 & 15-19.



Church of San Francesco - Fiesole





The Duomo of Fiesole



Duomo - While this church has a drab, 19th-century exterior, the interior is worth a look, if only for the blue-and-white glazed Giovanni della Robbia statue of St. Romulus over the entry door. Free entrance daily 8-12 & 15-18.



Museum of Fiesole



Roman Theater and Archaeological Park -

Occasionally used today for plays, this well preserved theater held up to 2000 people. The site's other ruins are, well, ruined, and lacking in explanation. But the valley view and peaceful setting are lovely. €10 combo-ticket also covers Civic and Bandini museums, Wed-Mon 10-18, closed Tue.

Civic Museum - Located with the Aercheological Park, the museum imparts insight into Fiesole's Etruscan and Roman roots with well-displayed artifacts and with a few English descriptions in the corners. Wed-Mon 10-18, closed Tue.

Bandini Mueseum - This small museum diplays the wooden panels of lesser know Gothic and Renaissance painters as well as the glazed terra-cotta figures of Andrea della Robbia. Wed-Mon 10-18, closed Tue.

Tourist Information

The TI is immediately to the right of the Roman Aercheological Park, at via Portigiani, 3 (open daily 9.30-18.30 - phone 055-598-720)

EATING IN FIESOLE

I will suggest to you an open air pic-nic in Fiesole. Bring some sandwiches and drinks with and just sit in one of the manys gardens of Fiesole. This will be a really lovely lunch for you.