My first stop was the imposing Palazzo Vecchio, built in the late 13th century for the Signoria - the florentine government. While I was left wanting more (mostly because it was so beautiful, I was hoping for more rooms to visit!), the palace was an amazing visit. I particularly loved the frescoes.

Originally built for civic ceremonies, the loggia now houses copies of some of Florence's most iconic works of art, making it an free-access open-air museum.

...and walking to the Duomo.

The Duomo, one of the symbols of Florence - packed with people - I was lucky to catch a moment when the queue was very small, which was not what I remembered from my previous visit (and not what I saw every other time I walked by the cathedral, so definitely very LUCKY). And while I am glad I went inside, it was quite disappointing (compared to the beautiful marble exterior and the many churches I have visited). The painted dome was quite impressive though and well worth the visit (maybe not the queue, though).

I had visited this museum back in 2008, but I really loved it and it has since been completely revamped, so I had to go back!

It's really well put together and the new museography is great (although I did like that some of the statues had a more neutral lighting that made them easier to really look at in the old layout).

What I especially like about this museum though, it the re-creation of the original medieval facade by Arnolfo di Cambio.

One of the oldest buildings in Florence, the baptistery is famous for the gilded doors that ornate it's exterior, the South created by Andrea Pisano, the North and East doors by Lorenzo Ghiberti. Very badly damaged during the dramatic flood of 1966, the doors have been replaced by copies and the originals restored, and are displayed in protective cases in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo.

However, the interior is absolutely breathtaking, covered in byzantine style mosaics featuring a majestic Last Judgement.