While planning for a trip to Florence, I focussed on two specific aspects to make the most of the tour. I wished to soak in the sights and sounds of the historic hotspots of Tuscany’s capital but without tiring myself out while sightseeing on foot. Fortunately, I came across Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour of Florence on Activity Crest portal, and there was no looking back.
In hindsight, I realized that my decision to opt for the Florence sighsteening Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tor promoted by Activity Crest was opportune. As a matter of fact, there simply could not have been a better way of getting around Florence.
The entire process of reserving a seat on the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus on the website of Activity Crest was straightforward. I opted for a 48-hour ticket as I wished to enjoy the excursion in a leisurely and laid-back manner. My booking was confirmed in a jiffy, and since the phone voucher served as a valid pass, I did not need to print a ticket.
The bus driver simply scanned the virtual voucher on my smartphone for confirming the authenticity of my booking. Additionally I was able to personalize my hop-on hop-off tour as per my convenience once I downloaded their sightseeing app.
It was the hop-on hop-off bus tour’s versatility that got me hooked as I had the liberty to hop off and/or hop-on innumerable times. I really had it easy while making plans for the Florence tour as the bus had regular halts at almost all the key hotspots. These attractions included the Ponte Vecchio, Florence Cathedral, Santa Croce, Palazzo Vecchio, Piazzale Michelangelo, Uffizi Gallery, and Palazzo Pitti to name a few.
Whenver I embark on a tour, I always make it a point to gaze at the skyline, and capture bird’s eye views of the city. So the moment the hop-on hop-off bus made a stop at Fiesole, I hopped off the coach immediately. Fiesole, a commune in Florence, is an enchanting historic settlement, nestling on the Tuscan Hills, and offers riveting panoramic aerial cityscapes of Florence.
All holidaymakers who had reserved a seat in the Florence tour bus, had the option of tuning in to an audio commentary via Wi-Fi. The audio guide, broadcasted in various languages including but not limited to English, Italian, French, and Chinese, made my trip more memorable. I gained valuable insights about the city’s glorious past, thanks to the audio commmentary.
According to numerous historians and academics, Florence is regarded as the cradle of the Renaissance movement, and a hub of European commerce in the medieval period. The Tuscan capital gradually developed and evolved to become one of the major financial, economic, political, cultural, and artistic centers in Europe. I learnt significant details about the influential Medici family that reigned the city with an iron hand, marking a turbulent phase in Florence’s history.
Following are some of the places of interest that should be on your ‘must-see’ list when visiting Florence:-
§ Piazzale Michelangelo : A piazza or an open space atop a hill in the Oltrarno district that offers breathtaking and unique vistas of Florence.
§ Uffizi Gallery: A well-known art museum situated in the ‘Historic Center of Florence’, just besides Piazza della Signoria, archiving a priceless artwork collection, mostly from the Renaissance period.
§ Ponte Vecchio: Spanning across the Arno River, this medieval arch bridge is the ideal spot for taking a well-deserved break while savoring a gelato cone.
§ Florence Cathedral: The three buildings housed within the cathedral quadrangle have been declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The dome atop the basilica holds the record for being the world’s largest dome while the cathedral is regarded as one of the largest church globally.
§ San Miniato El Monte: Perched at a towering height, this basilica stands out as one of the best specimens of Romanesque architecture.
Not only did the buses arrive at regular intervals but the staff were very cooperative and supportive as well. Additionally, the leeway to select from different itineraries-based on the attractions I wished to visit-helped greatly. To say the last but not the least, the built-in tourism app, came in quite handy, allowing me to check waiting times and pickup points conveniently.
The Florence sightseeing hop-on hop-off bus tour is indispensable in case you’re considering touring Florence. The hop-on hop-off bus not only takes you to the most popular attractions in Florence but the ride is comfortable as well. All you need to do is log in at Activity Crest’s site to effortlessly book your seat on the tour bus for an eventful excursion.
