Things to do in Florence
The entire Renaissance city of Florence is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, boasting countless churches, cathedrals, art galleries and museums. The wider region is also enchanting, and travellers should allow time to explore the stunning Tuscan countryside.
The Cattedrale de Santa Maria del Fiore is perhaps the most popular site. Construction began in 1296, and it was consecrated in 1436. Today, it holds 20,000 people and offers some breathtaking views over the city. The Baptistery of John the Baptist is one of Florence's oldest buildings, and travellers should visit to enjoy views over the Arno River, or stroll across the Ponte Vecchio to the Giardino di Boboli to enjoy the park, which is dotted with fountains behind the Pitti Palace. It's worth navigating the crowds at the Uffizi Gallery, the Bargello and the Florence Accademia, which exhibit some of the best art collections in the world.
Culture-lovers will enjoy a trip to Santa Croce, the largest Franciscan church in Italy. Among other things, it holds the tombs of Michelangelo and Dante. The Piazza della Signoria is another must as it's the heart of the historic centre and an open-air sculpture exhibit. Visitors can sip on a cup of coffee and watch the world go by from one of the surrounding cafes.
The Uffizi (Gallerie degli Uffizi)
The Uffizi is one of the world's greatest art galleries, with a collection of Renaissance paintings that includes the works of Giotto, Masaccio, Paolo Ucello, Botticelli, Leonardo,…
The Uffizi (Gallerie degli Uffizi)
The Uffizi is one of the world's greatest art galleries, with a collection of Renaissance paintings that includes the works of Giotto, Masaccio, Paolo Ucello, Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Titian and Caravaggio. The collection is housed on the top floor of a building designed as the offices of the Medici, commissioned by Duke Cosimo I. From 1581, Cosimo's heirs used the upper storey to display the Medici art treasures. Ancient Greek and Roman sculptures line the inner corridors of the gallery and a series of rooms showcases the chronological development of Florentine art from Gothic to High Renaissance and beyond.
The queues can get frustratingly long so it is best to arrive as early as possible. Ideally, visitors should be there when the museum opens at 8.15am, and avoid peak hours, which are between 10am and 12pm. It takes between three and four hours to properly explore the museum, so visitors should not arrive after 4pm, as they won't have enough time to fully appreciate the place.
Website www.uffizi.it/en/the-uffizi
Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square)
Florence Cathedral is set in the heart of the city, its most distinctive feature being the enormous dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. The Campanile was built according to Giot…
Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square)
Florence Cathedral is set in the heart of the city, its most distinctive feature being the enormous dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. The Campanile was built according to Giotto's designs in 1334, serving as an elegant prop to Brunelleschi's stout Cathedral. The tower is decorated with two garlands of bas-reliefs, strung around its pink, white and green marble exterior. Above, sculptures by Donatello of the Prophets and Sybils look down upon the city below.
The neighbouring Baptistry is one of Florence's oldest buildings, the gilded brass doors marking Florence's deliverance from the plague. It also contains the machines used in the construction of the cathedral's dome. Other noteworthy artefacts found in the museum include Michelangelo's Pieta and Donatello's Magdalene. In the anteroom are Andrea Pisano's panels from the first few levels of the bell tower.
The Bargello (Museo Nazionale del Bargello)
This Gothic Palazzo built in 1255 shelters a treasured national collection of Renaissance sculpture. It's one of the oldest buildings in Florence and has been the setting for some …
The Bargello (Museo Nazionale del Bargello)
This Gothic Palazzo built in 1255 shelters a treasured national collection of Renaissance sculpture. It's one of the oldest buildings in Florence and has been the setting for some important episodes of history, including sieges, fires and executions. The most famous of these involved Baroncelli, who was executed for plotting against the Medici and whose execution was witnessed by Leonardo da Vinci. An extensive collection of decorative art is on display, in addition to the magnificent sculptures of Michelangelo, Donatello and Giambologna.
The inner courtyard is ornamented with numerous coats of arms and the grand stairwell leading to the second-story loggia overflows with bronze birds created for the Medici's gardens. Other notable displays include an Islamic collection, an assortment of ivories and 16th-century majolica porcelain from Urbino, Faenza and Florence.
Website www.museumsinflorence.com/musei/museum_of_bargello.html
Santa Croce
Santa Croce, a magnificent Gothic church built in 1294, contains the tombs of many celebrated Florentines, such as Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli, as well as the famous comp…
Santa Croce
Santa Croce, a magnificent Gothic church built in 1294, contains the tombs of many celebrated Florentines, such as Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli, as well as the famous composer Rossini. The interior is graced by the radiant frescoes of Giotto and his pupil Taddeo Gaddi, and integrated into the cloister next to the church is Brunelleschi's Pazzi Chapel. The large square in front of the church is a great meeting place and there are some lovely restaurants and cafes about for refreshments.
Website www.santacroceopera.it/en/
Ponte Vecchio
The Ponte Vecchio's status as the oldest bridge in Florence saved it from destruction during the Nazi retreat from Italy in 1944. To one side of the bridge is the majestic bust of …
Ponte Vecchio
The Ponte Vecchio's status as the oldest bridge in Florence saved it from destruction during the Nazi retreat from Italy in 1944. To one side of the bridge is the majestic bust of the most famous Florentine goldsmith, Benvenuto Cellini, while perched above the overhanging shops is a secret passageway named the Vasari Corridor, providing an elevated link to the Palazzo Pitti via the Uffizi. It was the private walkway of the Medicis who wanted to move between the various residences without having to rub shoulders with the commoners. The Ponte Vecchio is charming at night, when it's lit up and the bright shops beckon visitors closer. It's an icon of Florence and an enduringly popular attraction.
Palazzo Pitti and Giardino Boboli
Once the property of the iconic Medici family and the one-time residence of the Italian king, the Palazzo is a grand structure boasting no less than seven museums. Among these are …
Palazzo Pitti and Giardino Boboli
Once the property of the iconic Medici family and the one-time residence of the Italian king, the Palazzo is a grand structure boasting no less than seven museums. Among these are the Medici treasures showcased in the Museo degli Argenti, the Museum of Costumes and the Porcelain Museum. The Galleria d'Arte Moderna provides a fascinating display from the Macchiaioli school, as well as a collection of Neoclassical and Romantic art. The collections in the Palazzo Pitti keep will visitors captivated for hours.
Extending behind the palace are the elaborately landscaped and beautifully maintained Boboli Gardens, well-known for their fountains and grottos. Their most celebrated treasure is the Grotta del Buontalenti, in which rests the sculpture Venus Emerging from her Bath. Another notable structure is the enormous amphitheatre, which contains a granite basin from the thermal Baths of Caracalla in Rome, and an Egyptian obelisk dedicated to Pharaoh Ramses II.
Website www.polomuseale.firenze.it/en/musei/pitti.php?m=palazzopitti
Pisa
A popular day trip from Florence, the famous town of Pisa is most well-known for its Leaning Tower. However, other equally notable charms include its long maritime legacy, its priz…
Pisa
A popular day trip from Florence, the famous town of Pisa is most well-known for its Leaning Tower. However, other equally notable charms include its long maritime legacy, its prized university and its status as the birthplace of Galileo Galilei, who's regarded as the founder of modern physics. The Pisans also created one of the most beautiful squares in the world in the Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles). Pisa is home to dozens of other historical churches and buildings such as the Museo delle Sinopie, the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo and the Museo Nazionale di San Matteo, with its range of Florentine art from the 12th to the 17th century.