There are many excellent options for day trips from Florence, including Pisa and Siena, but if you have less than a day to spare—or you just want to spend more time exploring a destination instead of in transit—then the historic town of Fiesole is the ideal choice. Fiesole (pronounced fee-YEH-zoh-leh) sits in the hills above Florence, which means you get a great vantage point over the city.
Roman Theater. Photo credit: Nikater via Wikimedia Commons.
Fiesole is a 20–25 minute bus ride from Florence (the main bus stop is in front of Florence’s train station, with another at San Marco Square, and you want bus #7), though the town itself is a short five miles away. Bus tickets are typically less than €2 one-way. The town dates from the 9th century BCE, and features Etruscan and Roman ruins. Later, Fiesole became a sort of “wealthy suburb” for Florentines with country homes, and today it offers both historic attractions and small town charm.
Among the main sights in Fiesole are the archaeological museum (including the remains of a Roman amphitheater), pieces of the Etruscan walls, the main cathedral, a 15th-century villa built for the famous Medici family, and the San Francesco monastery at the top of the hill. Those who tackle the uphill walk to the monastery are rewarded with the best views overlooking Florence.
While there are attractions in Fiesole worth visiting, the main reason people go is for the view. Some make a point to go in the evening so they can enjoy the sunset over Florence. If this sounds like what you’d like to do (and it’s a very romantic idea for a honeymoon), just be sure to check the bus schedules before you leave Florence—it’s romantic to see the sunset over Florence, but it could be less romantic to get stuck in Fiesole overnight accidentally because you missed the last bus back.
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September 5, 2012 by Jessica Spiegel
Day Trips, Things To Do