Florence is one of the most visited places in Italy and once you get there, it’s easy to see why. It’s a beautiful city with lots of history and stunning architecture. Starting with the iconic Duomo and Bell Tower. Other must-see attractions include the Baptistery, Palazzo Vecchio and Ponte Vecchio. All are located in the heart of Florence’s historical center, a must for any visit to the capital of Tuscany.
What’s more, Florence is home to some of the most prestigious museums in the world. There are also plenty of excellent restaurants to choose from.
Since most of the top places to visit in Florence are located within walking distance from the Duomo, this is an ideal area to stay. It’s also close to the train station which is convenient if you are arriving or continuing on to other destinations in Italy.
See our post: Getting Around by Train in Europe
Duomo of Florence
The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (or Florence Cathedral) is famous for its distinctive terracotta-tiled dome. Many refer to the cathedral’s octagonal double shell dome simply as Brunelleschi’s dome. Construction of the cathedral started in 1296 and was completed 140 years later in 1436.
By far one of the best ways to get a closer look at the cupola’s frescoes is to climb to the top. Do keep in mind that you will be climbing in-between the two walls of the dome and that the path gets narrower as you climb up. And there isn’t any way to turn back, it’s one-way only.
So, if you are a bit claustrophobic you may prefer to use binoculars instead to see the details of the frescoes. But climbing to the top is well worth the effort to get a bird’s-eye view of the beautiful marble floor as well as spectacular vistas of Florence.
In the crypt you can see artifacts and the remains of an old basilica found during an archeological dig that took place from 1965 to 1973.
Giotto’s Bell Tower (Campanile)
This 14th century bell tower is one of the top attractions in Florence. It’s a free-standing bell tower that’s part of the Duomo. It was designed in a Gothic style by Giotto. Like the cathedral’s exterior, it’s decorated with white, green and red polychrome marble encrustations.
The Campanile is almost 278 feet tall and 50 feet wide. And it’s possible to climb to the top but save your energy! Climbing the 414 steps isn’t necessary if you already climbed to the top of the Duomo, which is higher.
The Baptistery of St. John (Battistero)
The Baptistery is one of the oldest churches in Florence and dates back to the 11th century. It sits directly across from the cathedral on the other side of the historical Piazza del Duomo. It’s an octagonal building also decorated with white, green and red polychrome marble encrustations.
The interior is clad with splendid mosaics from the 12th and 13th centuries. But its most famous feature is its bronze panel doors on the eastern side of the Baptistery, dubbed the Gates of Paradise by Michelangelo.
The doors were designed by the sculptor Lorenzo Ghiberti and consist of five large rectangular reliefs depicting religious scenes. You can see the original at the Museum of Opera of Saint Maria of Fiore.
Palazzo Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria
The Palazzo Vecchio is a medieval town hall that was founded in 1299. It’s still in use today and also houses a museum. You can visit the lavishly decorated apartments. The Hall of the Five Hundred is absolutely breathtaking!
Another fun thing to do is to climb to the top of the tower where you will get a great view of the Duomo and of the Basilica of Santa Croce. Sometimes, the tower stays open late.
In front of the Palazzo Vecchio there’s the Piazza della Signoria which is an open-air art gallery with sculptures. There’s even a replica of Michelangelo’s David. The real one is housed at the Accademia Gallery.
In the square, there’s also the equestrian statue of the Cosimo I, Grand Duke of Tuscany and founder of the Medici dynasty. You’ll also find the Fountain of Neptune made of marble and bronze dating back to the 16th century.
Ponte Vecchio and Vasari Corridor
Florence’s most famous bridge is also one of the city’s most famous landmarks. The medieval stone bridge was built in 1345 and at the time, it was occupied by butchers, tanners and farmers. Now, you’ll find it occupied by jewelers and goldsmiths as well as art dealers and souvenir vendors catering to the many tourists.
Above the shops, you can see the Vasari Corridor which is a passageway that connects the Palazzo Vecchio to the Pitti Palace. Designed by Giorgio Vasari the one-kilometer long corridor was built in 1565 as a private passage for the Grand Duke to commute from his residence to and from the government palace.
It’s possible to walk through it but only with a guided tour. The entrance is inside the Uffizi Gallery (Since 2016, the Vasari Corridor as been under renovation with plans to reopen in 2021).
Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens
Located only a short walk away from the iconic Ponte Vecchio, the Pitti Palace is another important site to visit in Florence. It’s the former residence of the Medici family and is now a museum complex. The palace’s apartments are beautifully decorated and well worth the visit.
After admiring the interior, be sure to take a stroll through the Boboli Gardens. This is a lovely park with sculptures, fountains and grottos. From the belvedere, you will get a splendid view of the palace and gardens.
Make your way down the right side of the garden and be sure to peek inside the Buontalenti Grotto (also called, Grotta Grande), it’s worth it! The man-made cave is decorated with elaborate frescoes and sculptures.
Museums to visits in Florence
There are so many museums and galleries to see in Florence that it would it take weeks to see them all. With only a few days in the city we opted to visit the following:
Uffizi Gallery
Italy’s richest art gallery is housed in a beautiful 16th century building which in itself is well worth visiting. The famous museum has an outstanding collection of ancient sculptures and paintings including an impressive collection of Renaissance masterpieces.
To visit the Uffizi Gallery, booking in advance is essential to avoid a long queue, or disappointment. You can buy your tickets online or through your hotel concierge. We suggest you arrange this before arriving in Florence.
Accademia Gallery
This art gallery is home to Michelangelo’s David. This masterpiece is an impressive sculpture carved into a single piece of marble that symbolizes the power and freedom of the Florentines. The museum also houses other sculptures by Michelangelo as well as paintings by Florentine artists. We recommend booking in advance to avoid the queue. Tickets are available online or through your hotel concierge.
Museum of Opera of Saint Maria of Fiore
In this museum you will find many of the original works of art created for the Duomo of Florence, the Bell Tower and the Baptistery. It’s also a restoration center. Among other things the museum houses the real Gates of Paradise from the Baptistery and Michelangelo’s Pietà which used to be in the Duomo.
Museo Galileo
This museum is dedicated to Galileo Galilei, an Italian astronomer and physicist. On display are a large collection of scientific instruments as well as exhibits that explain the laws of physics and early astronomy. The museum is located near the Uffizi Gallery and Arno River.
House of Dante
As you explore the medieval neighborhood of Florence be sure to stop and visit Dante’s birthplace near the Duomo. Dante Alighieri was an Italian poet that lived during the Middle Ages. The Divine Comedy is his most famous work and a narrative about Dante’s view of the afterlife: Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise. Inside you will also find documents recreating medieval Florence.
Gucci Garden
The Gucci Garden, formerly known as the Gucci Museum, is dedicated to the well-known Italian fashion house. It showcases a collection of Gucci memorabilia and pieces over the years. There is also a shop and a restaurant. A must for fashionistas.
Famous churches in Florence
Obviously the most famous church in Florence is the Duomo, but many others are also interesting to visit. Starting with the Basilica of Santa Croce, a Gothic church dating to the 1300s which is famous for its tombs of well-known Italians such as Galileo and Michelangelo. Inside there is also a leather school where you can observe the artisans at work and purchase leather goods.
Another impressive church to see is the Basilica di San Lorenzo. Built in a Renaissance style the basilica was completed in 1470. It’s also one of Florence’s largest churches and the final resting place of the Medici family.
There’s also the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella which is the city’s principal Dominican church. It’s notable for its many frescoes and its marble façade. This great basilica is situated across from Florence’s main train station.
Piazzale Michelangelo
Piazzale Michelangelo is a public square with panoramic city views. If you are visiting Florence as part of a shore excursion with your cruise operator you will stop here on your way to Florence. But if you are already in Florence, it’s possible to walk from the historical center. It’s not that far, but it’s uphill, so you might prefer to take a taxi up and walk down instead.
Conclusion
Following our first visit we promised ourselves that we would be back. Because our first visit to Florence was much too brief to really appreciate it. We came with a ship shore excursion, combined with Pisa, and clearly it wasn’t enough time to really appreciate what this beautiful city has to offer.
Visiting Florence is like walking through an open-air museum and we simply had to come back and spend a few days exploring this enchanting city. And we would not hesitate to visit again!
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