“Father of four Marco spends his precious spare time reading about Florence, so he has both hands-on and scholarly insights about adventures in Florence for families…"
My Favourites:
Kids in shining armour
“It's Florence, so you have to visit a museum! There’s a few that are really child-friendly. I love taking my kids to see the armour at the Stibbert Museum. Kids like warriors and battles and it’s full of these things. It’s the private collection of a guy by the same name. It’s something very special because I’ve never seen so much armour in the same place. It’s only ten minutes by taxi from Hotel Savoy but it’s not very well known. For me, I find the armour from Asia particularly interesting; it’s not what you expect to see in Florence."
Explore Florence by bike
I like to travel around Florence by bike with my kids. During the high season, it’s better to go outside the busy central areas. Santo Spirito is a lovely neighbourhood to pedal around, full of local artisan shops selling handcrafted items, with far fewer tourists and high street brands. One place to visit is Castorina 1895, which made the sculpture in the hotel lobby – they are doing beautiful things with wood.
Get active, immersed in nature
Visit the Boboli Gardens, where children can run and play in the green spaces and secret green passageways while parents appreciate the beautiful sculptures and fountains. It’s a steep climb with lots of steps to the top which is a fun challenge for active families. I also really like the Bardini Gardens – in spring, there’s a gazebo full of white wisteria, a great photo spot for the family album. Both are perfect places to pause and spend some quality time in nature with your family.
Climb to the top of the dome
A visit to Florence isn’t complete without visiting the Cathedral. If you want to tire your kids out, challenge them to climb the 463 steps to the top of Brunelleschi’s Dome. It’s not for everyone, the stairs are narrow, but I did it once carrying my child, and the views of the city really are incredible. At one point, you’re inside the Duomo and you can see the frescoes of the dome from up close. They’re incredibly beautiful.
Floating on a Florentine barchetto
Step aboard this typical Florentine rowing boat, bigger than the Venetian gondola. On one of these, you can go under the Ponte Vecchio and get a different view of the famous bridge. Sometimes they even offer you an aperitivo, which is a drink and something to eat. Sunset is the best time to do this, it’s very romantic. Ask us about babysitting options and enjoy the experience with your other half.
Italian cooking class for budding chefs
Cooking pizza and gelato is a very Italian thing to do. We offer a great experience for families, about three hours long, that gets good feedback and is really fun. Kids can enjoy melting, stirring and preparing the food, then get to eat what they make. It’s a good way of learning as well as getting a taste of the real Italy. When it comes to gelato, buontalenti is a typical Florentine flavour, it’s simply cream with eggs. I go with my family to get it from my favourite gelato place, Eduardo. It’s a very small artisan shop in the Duomo square where they make all the ice creams on site, using organic ingredients. Delicious.
The Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio, Via de’ Tornabuoni… nowhere has neighbours like Hotel Savoy.
Phone Number*
Address
Piazza della Repubblica 7
50123 Florence, Italy
Florence
50123 Florence, Italy
Florence
The Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio, Via de’ Tornabuoni… nowhere has neighbours like Hotel Savoy.
Phone Number*
Address
Piazza della Repubblica 7
50123 Florence, Italy
Florence
50123 Florence, Italy
Florence
The Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio, Via de’ Tornabuoni… nowhere has neighbours like Hotel Savoy.
Phone Number*
Address
Piazza della Repubblica 7
50123 Florence, Italy
Florence
50123 Florence, Italy
Florence