Five Perfect Day Trips from Florence, Italy

Its central location in the picturesque region of Tuscany makes Florence a great place to be! After living in Italy for nearly half a year, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite day trips from Florence, Italy!

Andiamo!

Padua

Located in Northern Italy’s Veneto region, Padua is off the beaten path for many tourists, making it a great place to visit for a day trip! Art historians, like myself, know of this city for one specific thing (and one thing only!): Giotto’s frescoes in the Scrovegni Chapel. However, beyond the intricately frescoed biblical scenes of the 14th century artistic wonder, lies one of the oldest Northern Italian cities. Padua has a deep history worthy of exploration.

According to Virgil’s Aeneid, Padua saw its origins take root in 1183 BC with Trojan prince Antenor leading his people from modern day Turkey to modern day Padua. A sarcophagus discovered in the 13th century confirmed the city’s origins. Through various successes and losses, the Northern city was eventually usurped by the Huns, the Gothics, and finally, the Lombards, until its destruction by Lombard king, Agilulf, in the 7th century.

Much like ancient Rome, scattered ruins of the city’s past dapple the landscape of modern Padua. The 11th century saw inklings of democratic ruling with the D’Este family rising to power. With great power oftentimes comes tyranny, and peace efforts weakened when tyrant Ezzelino da Romano wreaked havoc on the city’s inhabitants. Hope was not lost, however. In the 13th century, with the help of Pope Alexander IV, Padua experienced a period of quiet prosperity, allowing the city to establish one of the oldest universities in Europe. The handoff of Padua from Venetians to Austrians continued up until the unification of Italy in the late 1800s, when Padua finally joined the Kingdom of Italy, with the rest of Veneto.

The best way to learn about the city is to walk its streets! A walking tour of Padua is a great way to understand its unique history! 

As for its art, Padua’s most notable landmark is the Scrovegni Chapel, a Sistine Chapel equivalent (dare I say, competitor?) with some of the earliest known Renaissance frescoes. Commissioned by Enrico Scrovegni to atone for his sins of usury, the chapel represents the dramatic artistic shift from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. Giotto di Bondone was called to paint elaborate scenes from the Stories of the Life of the Virgin and Christ along the chapel’s interiors. The first notions of perspective and emotion in art established Giotto as an excellent painter and a father of early Renaissance artistic styles. Because of its ostentatious interiors, the chapel has been deemed a UNESCO World Heritage site. When visiting the Scrovegni Chapel, I highly recommend booking advance tickets prior to your arrival in Padua. Tickets sell-out rapidly and time slots are required for entry!

In addition to your visit to the chapel, I also recommend strolling through the Basilica of St. Anthony, and walking through the botanical garden at the University of Padua!

Pisa

When the city of Pisa is mentioned, there should be one landmark on your mind! La Torre de Pisa! Visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa is usually at the top of everyone’s Italy bucket list. And it’s no surprise why! At 185 feet high, the tower looks like a stacked wedding cake “precariously knocked askew by a clumsy guest”. There’s truly no better way to describe it! Construction on the tower began in 1173, but continued throughout a series of wars, for nearly two-hundred years. Designed as a circular bell tower, constructed with ornate white marble, the tower wasn’t originally leaning. But as construction continued, the tower began to tilt due to soft soil settling beneath the heavy stone. In 1990, the Leaning Tower of Pisa reached a maximum ten-degree tilt, baffling architects, historians and tourists. 

Is it worth the hype? Absolutely! The Leaning Tower of Pisa is an architectural wonder and something “you have to see to believe”. Less than an hour by train from Florence, visiting the city of Pisa and its architectural wonders, including the adjacent Duomo di Pisa, is a great way to spend a half or full day!

Bologna

Less than two hours from Florence by scenic train, Bologna is a city of culinary, architectural and artistic wonders. “La dotta, la grassa, la rossa”, the city’s unique nickname summarizes its bountiful cultural offerings.

Bologna is referred to as “la dotta”, “the erudite”, because here lies one of the oldest universities in Italy, Università di Bologna, which has been an intellectual haven since 1088. The university gives the city a vibrant, youthful energy, disguising its rich, ancient history under the guise of a modern city. A walking tour of the city will showcase the unique complexity between ancient and modern Bologna.

“La grassa”, “the fat”, represents the city’s substantial food scene. My first weekend living in Florence, I took a day trip to Bologna after hearing whispers about its world-renowned food scene. As a travel foodie, one of my favorite things about exploring a new country is eating my way through the culture. I knew that I needed to “eat my way around Bologna” to assess the city’s claim of being Italy’s culinary capital. Tortellini in Brodo is a common dish in Bologna characterized by meat-filled tortellini in broth. The rich broth and hearty pasta is adored by tourists and locals alike. But perhaps as notable as the Parmigiano Reggiano we top on everything here in America, is Bologna’s tagliatelle al ragu, meat bolognese. The best way to explore the culinary capital’s delectable food scene is to do a culinary city tour (Taste Bologna) or a cooking class in the city. Always save room for dessert!

The possibilities are endless for a full day in Bologna, but for those wanting to explore the architecture of the ancient city, one can spend a full day marveling at Bologna’s vibrant colors. “La rossa”, “the red” refers to the striking colors decorating the city’s skyline. The best way to see Bologna’s red roofs is to climb the Torre degli Asinelli, one of two tall towers transcending above the city. During the middle ages, the construction of a tower represented familial power. Today the tower is admired for its striking views, an emblem of the magical city beneath it.

Cinque Terre

Strikingly resembling the Disney animated movie Luca (it’s SERIOUSLY one of my favorite Disney movies!), is a set of quaint and colorful towns scattering the Northern Italian Riviera. Cinque Terre is a magical place accessible only by train. Directly translating to “five lands”, the oceanside fishing communities consist of five picturesque towns with dramatic coastal scenery, vibrant colors, and cliffside views. I spent one spectacular day exploring the cliffside villages of Cinque Terre, and I fell in love with every aspect of it (especially the rolling tide of the Mediterranean sea!). 

Monterosso is the medieval historic center of Cinque Terre, named after the striking red hair of the wealthy ruling family living there at the time. The largest of the five seaside villages, Monterosso has a plethora of dining options, and a sprawling beach for soaking up the sun. My most memorable study abroad experience was skipping group lunch with my program to swim in the crystal blue water of the Mediterranean sea! Bring your swimsuit!

Manarola is believed to be one of the oldest villages of the five. Known for its extensive vineyards, which produce sweet Sciacchetrà wine, vines seem to wrap around this village in a protective embrace.

Vernazza is perhaps the most picturesque of the villages, an amphitheater-shaped traditional fishing village with colorful architecture that kisses the sea. At all hours of the day, boats decorate the small harbor. Vernazza is one of my favorites!

Closest to the train station, La Spezia Centrale, connecting Cinque Terre to the rest of Italy is Riomaggiore. This village cascades into the sea, a romantic postcard of Italian life.

Lastly, the agricultural village, Corniglia, is the quietest village of the five, making it a great place for hiking and relaxing. 

Because of their proximity and connectivity via La Spezia Centrale, Cinque Terre is a perfect (and beautiful) seaside Italian region to explore!

Rome

Rome is one of the most culturally and artistically rich cities in the entire world. There’s nothing short of things to do when you travel to Rome! Whether you enjoy strolling around the romantic, narrow alleyways of Piazza Navona, or you love to marvel at Italian sculpture and painting, first-time travelers and experienced wanderers will enjoy everything Rome has to offer!

As one of the oldest European cities, Roman antiquity hides just beyond the surface of a modern day city. Roman ruins scatter the streets of Rome, and monumental structures remind tourists of an ancient city that once held great power over its empire. But despite its age, Rome’s modern day infrastructure proves that the superpower that once dominated ancient history still holds great power to this day. 

Rome is a great place to visit in a single day! You’ll be busy exploring the Roman ruins, marveling at art in the Vatican museums, and searching the city for the best tiramisu!

Have fun exploring Italy!