Florence Travel Forum

Hello, and a big thank you to everyone who replied to my previous posting on internet usage at Florence station, these answers were very helpful.

Another quick question; where is the 'centre' of Florence - what I mean is, which is the central square where at night the main restaurant's would be situated and where you could sit outside to eat a meal. I want to book a hotel that is close to the 'centre' but am not sure where this is.

Thanks again, Lucy

Hi Lucy,

The area near the Duomo (cathedral) and Piazza della Signoria is THE center!
Have a good time in Florence,

Ilan

Tha above answer is right although I'd avoid that area and I'd go a bitter bit further (close anyway), between the Duomo and SM Novella; I have some tips

By the Uffizzi. You will be very close to Ponte Vecchio, Galleria, Mercato Nuovo, etc..... You will also be near il Duomo. This is what they mean when they say the "center".

A very nice place to sit and have a drink, coffee, tea or whatever and people watch either before or after dinner is Gilli in Piazza della Republica very close to the Duomo and Piazza Signoria. There are better places to actually have a meal, though, and I am sure that you can find a million excellent recommendations if you check the Florence restaurant tips.

The center is, more or less, from the Duomo to the river and areas to the east and west of that. The main squares, as stated above, are Piazza Signoria, Piazza della Republica, and the Duomo. It is off limits to most cars. There is also the area where the Mercato San Lorenzo is located with plenty of restaurants there and some that are quite good, especially one which is situated behind Mercato Centrale (which I highly recommend seeing). I liked very much Tratorria Za Za.
http://www.trattoriazaza.it/index.html?Pagina=/news/primapagina.asp?idLingua=1&PrimaPagina=X&idSito=1