Spring to Autumn beautiful Florence is a haven for visitors, for all the obvious reasons. Winter not so much, also for the obvious reasons. But, for me, that is exactly the reason for visiting Florence also in off-season of winter.
Though rain and snow, cold temperatures, weather dropping below 30s, might be offputting, just bring the proper clothing, and enjoy the less crowded season of Florence. Buy an umbrella when you arrive, leave it for someone else. Apparently it´s not ok to take umbrellas onboard planes any more, and who wants the hassle of trying to figure out how to pack an umbrella too large to fit into a checked luggage?
Tuscany still gets that gorgeous warm lemony-yellow sunshine even in winter. Having coffee outside, or an actual meal, is just as wonderful in wintertime, and will still be under cover.
You´ll hear more Italian, and have more opportunity to use your Italian, or to study, as there are mostly only locals, who are outside more as they´re not trying to escape the heat. There are less travelers, tourists, and visitors, making the streets less crowded, and more enjoyable to explore. Wintertime is just as enjoyable, in many ways.
Museums and other attractions will have less waiting time, if any.
You can ice skate, and ski at various indoor and outdoor places (see previous posts for a few options). Some are open til midnight. Most are accessible by walking, or bus.
Many enjoyments of warmer months are still just as enjoyable in wintertime. Free things, such as listening to the organ music of the Santa Maria de Ricci (church), Via del Corso. Walking around, wandering, or enjoying the architecture of the buildings, museums, churches, bridges, etc around the city. A moonlight walk along any of the bridges, especially the Ponte Vecchio, or along the river from bridge to bridge including the low waterfall or overlooking views.
Outdoor walks in Fiesole, or Piazza Michelangelo. You can walk up there also, or take the city bus, then walk down, meandering though whatever parks and paths you enjoy, leading back down to the city and/or along the river, with many unexpected parks, sculpture gardens, small marshy bird sanctuaries, walks down on the river along the street above, etc. See what you can find.
An outdoor sculpture walk, such as what I often do when in Norway. Florence has endless sculptures, parks with sculptures, squares with sculptures. Beside the Uffizi, the Piazza della Signora´s loggia dei lanzi, is effectively an open-air covered sculpture gallery, link. Just be respectful and don´t walk around with gelato or other food or drinks around the sculptures:).
tbc
