Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance movement, is the cultural center of Italy and a city that attracts more than 13 million tourists each year.
With a population of close to 400 thousand people, notable figures such as Michelangelo, Donatello and Machiavelli have emerged from the capital of Tuscany.
We invite you to get to know it more closely and for this we have prepared a list of the 30 best things to see and do in this city that includes the Dome of Santa María del Fiore, the Ponte Vecchio and the Accademia Gallery that houses the famous David by Miguel Ángel.
1. Florence Cathedral
Santa María de Fiore, known as Duomo, is the name of the majestic Cathedral of Florence, one of the most important and beautiful architectural works in Europe, whose construction began in 1296 and ended in 1998, 72 years later.
It is one of the largest churches of the Christian religion on the continent. Nothing more than the facade is 160 meters.
At the entrance, downstairs, you will find a crypt with the niche of Filippo Brunelleschi, who built the imposing dome almost 114 meters high and 45 meters in diameter almost a century after the original work.
Sobriety dominates the Cathedral. The exterior is covered with polychrome marble as is the interior floor.
What most attracts tourists is touring the dome that has different scenes painted that represent the Last Judgment. You have to climb 463 steps, the last part is almost vertical. The experience is unmatched.
To avoid a bad time and that they prohibit you from entering the Cathedral, wear clothes that do not leave much skin exposed.
2. Giotto's Campanile
On one side of the Cathedral is Giotto's Bell Tower. Although most people think that it is part of the church, it really is a free-standing tower that stands out for its majesty.
Its cladding is made of white, green and red marble, similar to that of the Duomo. The name is due to its creator, Giotto di Bondone, who died before completing the work completed by Andrea Pisano.
The construction began in 1334 and is divided in two. The lower part decorated with more than 50 bas-reliefs symbolizing the art and works of Luca della Robbia and Andrea Pisano. The upper one has niches with statues dedicated to the sacraments, the virtues and the liberal arts.
Although currently those exhibited in the bell tower are replicas, the originals can be seen in the Duomo museum.
To finish appreciating this work in all its splendor, you have to climb 414 steps to the bell tower, from where the view of Florence is spectacular.
3. Old Palace
The Palazzo Vecchio or Old Palace is shaped like a castle. Its name has been changed over the years until the current one.
Its construction, which began in 1299, was in charge of Arnolfo Di Cambio, who at the same time undertook the work of the Duomo. The purpose of this palace was to house high-ranking local government officials.
The austere building in decoration has fortified structures worthy of medieval times. Among the most impressive is the 94-meter tower that stands out at its top.
At the entrance of the castle are copies of the statues of Michelangelo's David, Hercules and Caco. Inside there are different rooms such as the Cinquecento, currently the largest of all that still retains its original use for conferences and special events.
4. Ponte Vecchio
It is the best known image of Florence. The Ponte Vecchio or Old Bridge is the only one that remained standing after the Second World War.
Its origin dates back to 1345 which makes it one of the oldest in Europe. The bridge, which runs over the narrowest part of the Arno River, is a meeting point for tourists because it is full of jewelers.
His photo is in numerous travel guides and it is no wonder, since those who visit him come to contemplate the magical sunsets, while listening to the city's musicians play.
A detail of Ponte Vecchio is the corridor that runs through the eastern part of the structure, from Palazzo Vecchio to Palazzo Pitti.
The more than 5 thousand padlocks closed on the bridge as a sign of love are one of the most respected traditions by couples.
5. Basilica of Santa Cruz
A must-see in Florence is the Basilica of Santa Cruz.
The interior of this simple church is in the shape of a cross and on its walls are images of the life of Christ. These are said to be the illiterate bibles of the time around 1300.
Only the Cathedral is larger than the basilica, whose construction began in the same place where years before a temple in honor of San Francisco de Asís began to be built.
What most attracts the attention of visitors are the almost 300 tombs where the remains of important characters in history rest, among them are:
- Galileo Galilei
- Machiavelli
- Lorenzo Ghiberti
- Miguel Angel
Donatello, Giotto and Brunelleschi left their signature on the sculptures and paintings that adorn the Basilica of Santa Cruz, a beauty of the time. An hour of travel will allow you to appreciate it in all its greatness.
6. Baptistery of San Juan
Located right in front of the Cathedral, the Baptistery of San Juan is an octagonal temple where baptisms were celebrated.
Its large dimensions were necessary to receive the crowds that attended on the only two days of the year in which the Christian ceremony was performed.
Its construction began in the 5th century and its design is similar to the Bell Tower of Giotto and Santa María de Fiore. It has also undergone modifications over the years.
Its walls were covered with marble and the dome and interior mosaic were built with images of the Last Judgment and other passages from the Bible.
The Baptistery of Saint John adds three significant bronze doors depicting the life of Saint John the Baptist, scenes from the life of Jesus, from the four evangelists and episodes from the Old Testament, in a Renaissance style. You cannot stop visiting it.
7. Uffizi Gallery
The Uffizi Gallery is one of the most important tourist and cultural attractions in Florence. Not for nothing has one of the most renowned art collections in the world.
Its most popular area is the one related to the Italian Renaissance which includes works by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Titian, Botticelli and Michelangelo, all geniuses of art.
The museum is a palace that began to be built in 1560 by order of Cosimo I de Medici. Twenty-one years later it housed the works that belonged to the impressive collection of the Medici family, which ruled Florence during the Renaissance.
The hundreds of people who attend the Uffizi Gallery every day make it a difficult place to enter. To enhance the experience, request a guided tour.
Click here to learn more about the International Festival where you sleep in hammocks hundreds of feet above the Italian Alps
8. Basilica of San Lorenzo
The Basilica of San Lorenzo, immense like others but less ornamental, is located near the Duomo. It has a huge terracotta dome and roof.
The current church was built on the original and taking care of the designs requested by the Medici family, in 1419.
Its interior is in the Renaissance style and the Ginori, Mayor and Martelli chapels are worth visiting. There are works by Donatello, Filippo Lippi and Desiderio da Settignano.
It has two sacristies: the old one built by Filippo Brunelleschi and the new one, another of Michelangelo's great works.
9. Square of the Lordship
The Piazza della Signoria or Piazza della Signoria is the main one in Florence: the heart of the city's social life.
You'll see dozens of men and women come together to hang out and enjoy the sculptures and activities on offer regularly.
The central element of the square is the Palazzo Vecchio, near the Uffizi Gallery, the Galileo Museum and the Ponte Vecchio.
The square has high-level decorative works such as the Marzocco, a posing lion that has become a symbol of the city, and the bronze Giuditta, emblem of the political autonomy of Florentina.
10. Accademia Gallery
The original David by Michelangelo is the letter of introduction to the Accademia Gallery, one of the most important works in the world.
The Accademia Gallery, located near the Piazza del Duomo and the Basilica of San Lorenzo, has rooms exhibiting other important sculptures and a compilation of original paintings.
There is also an exhibition of instruments or equipment with which music was made many years ago.
11. Pitti Palace
Located on the other side of the Old Bridge, the construction of this palace was undertaken by the Pitti, another of the powerful families of Florence, but it was left half and then it was acquired by the Medici, who made extensions and filled it with sumptuousness.
It is an imposing residence from the 1500s that now houses valuable collections of porcelain, paintings, sculptures, costumes and art objects.
In addition to the royal apartments, you can find the Palatine Gallery, the Modern Art Gallery, the Boboli Gardens, the Dress Gallery, the Silver Museum or the Porcelain Museum.
12. Boboli Gardens
The beautiful Boboli Gardens are connected to the Pitti Palace and its creation is due to Cosimo I de Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany who had it made for his wife, Leonor Álvarez de Toledo.
The lack of green areas in Florence is made up for by the 45 thousand square meters of the Boboli Gardens, which, although its entry is not free, it is a site that you must enter.
This natural park is full of pergolas, fountains, caves and a lake. In addition, it has hundreds of statues made of marble. To travel it you have to have 2 or 3 hours.
The Boboli Gardens have different entrances, but the ones used are on its east side next to the Pitti Square and the Roman Gate Square.
13. Miguel Ángel Square
If you want to take a good postcard of Florence, you have to go to Michelangelo Square, where you will get the best view of the city.
It is on a plateau near the Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens. Its central sculpture is a bronze replica of Michelangelo's David.
Although you can get there by walking from the south bank of the Arno River, the walk will be more pleasant from a bus and then descending on foot.
The place is ideal to relax, have lunch in one of the restaurants or eat a delicious ice cream in the small shops in the square.
14. Church of Santa Maria Novella
The church of Santa Maria Novella is, together with the Basilica of Santa Cruz, the most beautiful in Florence. It is also the main temple of the Dominicans.
Its Renaissance style is similar to that of the Duomo with a façade in white polychrome marble.
The interior is divided into three naves that have impressive works of art such as the fresco of The Trinity (by Masaccio), the Nativity of Mary (by Ghirlandaio) and the famous Crucifix (the only work in wood by Brunelleschi).
One particularity is that inside is the Santa María Novella Pharmacy, which is considered the oldest in Europe (it dates from 1221).
15. San Miniato al Monte
The church of San Miniato honors the homonymous saint, a Greek merchant or Armenian prince who, according to Christian tradition, was persecuted and beheaded by the Romans.
Legend has it that he himself collected his head and went to the mount, right where the temple was built on top of a hill from where you can appreciate the center of Florence, as well as the magnificent Duomo and Palazzo Vecchio.
The structure that began to be built in 1908 maintains harmony with the other Renaissance churches, thanks to its white marble facade.
Paintings await inside; Unlike the rest of the religious enclosures, the presbytery and the choir are on a platform that, in turn, is on the crypt.
16. Duomo Square
The Duomo Square is one of the main ones in the city. It has an impressive joint view of the imposing Cathedral, Giotto's Bell Tower and the Batistery of San Juan.
It is a must stop for tourists, because there are also a variety of restaurants and souvenir shops. A few meters away is the Loggia del Bigallo, where abandoned children were formerly exposed.
In this space you will find the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, with an exhibition of original sculptures that adorned the buildings in the square.
17. Vasari Corridor
The Vasari Corridor is linked to the history of Florence and the powerful Medici family.
It is an air passageway of more than 500 meters built so that the Medici, who ruled the city, could move without mixing with the crowd.
The corridor links two palaces: the Vecchio and the Pitti. It passes over rooftops and the Ponte Vecchio, passing through galleries, churches and mansions.
The fish sellers of the time, in the 1500s, were expelled by the Medici family for considering it unworthy of the nobility to cross that smelly area. Instead they ordered the goldsmiths to occupy the bridge which has remained that way ever since.
18. Fort Belvedere
Fort Belvedere is at the top of the Boboli Gardens. It was ordered to build strategically as a defense of the city by the Medici family.
From there you can see and control all of Florence, as well as the protection of the Pitti Palace.
Built in the late 1500s, the fantastic architecture and design of this Renaissance fortification can still be admired today, as well as why it was so strategically positioned.
19. Statue of David
If you go to Florence it is impossible not to go see the David by Michelangelo, one of the best known works of art in the world.
It was created between 1501 and 1504 on behalf of the Opera del Duomo of the Cathedral Santa María del Fiore.
The 5.17-meter tall sculpture is a symbol of the Italian Renaissance and represents the biblical King David prior to facing Goliath. It was welcomed as a symbol against the dominance of the Medici and the threat, primarily from the Papal States.
The piece is sheltered in the Accademia Gallery, where it receives more than a million tourists each year.
20. Bargello Museum
Located near the Plaza de la Señora, the castle-like building of this museum is in itself a work of art. At one time it was the seat of government of Florence.
Inside the Bargello the largest collection of Italian sculptures from the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries is exhibited, among which the David of Donatello or the Drunk bacchus by Miguel Ángel. In addition, weapons and armor, Medici medals and other bronze and ivory works are on display.
21. Bike ride
The best way to discover the wonders of the historic city of Florence is a bike ride. You don't have to carry or buy one, you can rent it.
One of the advantages of this tour on two wheels is to reach places that are difficult to enter by bus or private car.
Although it is a small city that can be explored on foot, there are emblematic places a little further towards its outskirts.
Although tours by bicycle they are very famous, if you do not want to pedal with strangers, take the following route:
- Start at Porta Romana, the original gate of Florence
- Continue to Poggio Imperiale, an ancient Medici village within the medieval district of Arcetri.
- Back in the center, the Basilica of San Miniato al Monte, the highest point in the city, awaits you. When you descend you will have the whole history of Florence at your feet.
22. The art in traffic signs
The streets of the city are a museum in themselves, but what many people do not know is the urban art that modifies the traffic signals, with the approval of the authorities.
Clet Abraham is a 20-year-old French in Florence who with peculiar stickers has been in charge of the alterations, mostly comic ones. It has become well known and won the hearts of the residents.
A crossing arrow to the right can become the nose of Pinocchio, the world-famous wooden puppet of the writer Carlo Collodi, the protagonist of the book The Adventures of Pinocchio. This exemplary storyteller is also from Florence.
23. The bourgeoisie at the Holy Door
One of the largest cemeteries in Italy is in Florence, right at the foot of San Miniato al Monte. It is in the Holy Door where the most elaborate tombs, sculptures and mausoleums of the city's elite are located.
Its location on the hill gives a privileged view on the outskirts of Florence.
In it lie the remains of characters such as Carlo Collodi, the painter Pietro Annigoni, the writers Luigi Ugolini, Giovanni Papini and Vasco Pratolini, the sculptor Libero Andreotti and the statesman Giovanni Spadolini.
The cemetery under Urban Landscape Protection is part of the cultural heritage and has a special attention commission for its conservation.
24. Picnic in the Rose Garden
This small garden is hidden between all the walls of Florence. It is a green haven close to Piazzale Michelangelo and San Niccolo, which becomes an escape from the wandering crowds in the city.
It is best to visit it in spring to enjoy more than 350 varieties of roses, a dozen sculptures, lemon trees and a Japanese garden. The view is spectacular.
In this one hectare area it is common to see tourists resting while eating a sandwich and, of course, tasting a delicious wine.
25. The celebrations of San Juan Bautista
The festivities in honor of the patron saint of Florence are the most important and attract hundreds of people who enjoy a day full of activities. If you are in the city on June 24, it will be a moment that will remain to be remembered.
There is everything from parades in historical costumes to medieval football matches, boat races, bonfires and a nightly marathon.
The fireworks display over the river is spectacular, but you have to get there early to get a booth with a good view.
26. The oldest cafe
The oldest in Florence is Caffé Gilli, which has been delighting the palate of residents and tourists for 285 years.
It is a classic of the city that has passed through three points since its creation by a Swiss family.
It started out as a patisserie a few steps from the Duomo in the days of the Medici. In the mid-1800s it moved to Via degli Speziali and from there to its current location, in Piazza della Repubblica.
You can order a coffee, an aperitif and even a main course, while you rest from your tour of Florence.
27. San Lorenzo Market
To get the best of the city's gastronomy, nothing better than going to the San Lorenzo Market, built very close to the basilica of the same name in the 19th century.
It is a huge food display with cheesemakers, butchers, bakers and fishmongers, ready to deliver the best of their products.
Local olive oil, honey, spices, salt, balsamic vinegar, truffles and wines are just a hint of what you can buy in this market very frequented by tourists.
If you prefer a more local place, you can go to the Mercado de San Ambrosio, where locals and visitors looking for better prices shop.
28. White Night
April 30, the one of the White Night or the first of the summer, is the night of the parties in Florence.
The streets are transformed and in each store and plaza you will find performances of bands, DJs, food stalls and all the attractions to spend a night of rumba. Even museums are open late.
The city becomes a single show until dawn and the best thing is that May 1 is a holiday, so you can rest.
29. Barrio Santa Cruz
This neighborhood revolves around the Basilica of Santa Cruz, where the remains of Galileo, Machiavelli and Miguel Ángel rest.
Although it is the main place of visit for tourists, it is not the only one. The small streets are lined with shops to buy souvenirs, as well as excellent restaurants and trattorias with appetizing menus.
Smaller and less known museums are added than those of the rest of the city, but which house important collections of paintings from the Renaissance period.
The best thing is that they are quieter and you can take your time to admire the works.
30. Borgo San Jacopo
A trip to the city of Florence would not be complete without dining at the Borgo San Jacopo restaurant, on the banks of the Arno River and with a beautiful view of the memorable Ponte Vecchio.
Sitting at an outdoor table on the terraces of this elegant establishment will be an incomparable gastronomic and cultural experience.
The dishes of Peter Brunel, a famous chef of Italian cuisine, tell beautiful stories that delight and surprise your guests. It is best to reserve days in advance to have an evening without mishaps.
Here are some activities to do and places to see in the beautiful Italian city of Florence, a complete guide that will prevent you from missing a museum or other important site on your visit to the capital of Tuscany.
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