Get the most out of your trip to Florence

Piazza del Duomo

With the Cathedral, Baptistery and bell tower, the Piazza del Duomo is, along with the Ponte Vecchio the most famous sight in all Florence.

The Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square) should be the first and last stop when visiting Florence. The square houses the city’s Cathedral, the Campanile di Giotto and the Battistero di San Giovanni, all of which make up Florence’s most famous landmarks, along with the Ponte Vecchio.

If the Piazza della Signoria is considered the symbol of Florence’s civic life, the Piazza del Duomo is undoubtedly the religious and spiritual centre of the city.

One of the most peculiar parts of the Piazza is located in the intersection of the Via dei Calzaioli with the Piazza del Duomo. Here is found the Loggia del Bigallo, which is a construction built during the fourteenth century for the Compagnia della Misericordia (Company of Mercy), one of Florence's oldest brotherhoods which sheltered abandoned and orphaned children.

The Museo dell’Opera del Duomo is situated east of the Duomo. This museum features, among many other interesting artworks, the original sculptures that once upon a time embellished the Piazza del Duomo.

Piazza della Signoria

If the Piazza del Duomo is the city's religious centre, the Piazza della Signoria is the centre of civil power and the liveliest area of the city.

During the Roman Empire, the square had thermal baths, but these were abandoned at the beginning of the Middle Ages and the square was gradually taken over by artisans.

The Piazza della Signoria in its current form dates back to the thirteenth century. It was paved at the end of the fourteenth century and it has always been treated as the civic and political hub of Florence.

The Piazza della Signoria is not only the most exquisite square, but it is also the liveliest place in Florence. All year round, and especially on the hottest nights, locals and tourists come together to listen to the street artists, who use this area as their own personal stage.

Uffizi Gallery

With paintings such as Botticelli's Birth of Venus, or the Adoration of the Kings by Da Vinci, this gallery is the most visited place in Florence.

The Uffizi Gallery houses one of the most impressive art collections in the world. It also features Greek and Roman statues and drawings.

The various halls of the museum are in chronological order and the structure of the museum makes it very easy to explore without getting lost. The most famous part of the museum is dedicated to the Italian Renaissance period and includes works of art by outstanding artists such as Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael or Titian.

The building was commissioned in 1560 by Cosimo I de’ Medici. It was to replace the Palazzo Vecchio as the administrative and judiciary offices of Florence. The building was completed in 1581 and that same year, Cosimo’s son set up a private collection of artwork and sculptures made up of the Medici’s numerous art objects.

Pisa

Pisa is an old port city located on the west coast of Italy, in Tuscany. It became famous worldwide because of its unusual leaning tower, the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Hometown of the renowned astronomer and physicist, Galileo Galilei, Pisa is a city proud of its history and monuments. The city also offers tourists the necessary commodities to make the visit extremely agreeable.

Pisa is replete with monuments, most of which are built in a distinctive Pisan Romanesque style. The most famous attractions are the Duomo and the Baptistery. These two magnificent constructions make up an excellent ensemble with the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

The Tower of Pisa is the bell tower of the city and has become the symbol of the city and one of the most famous landmarks in Italy. The construction began in 1173 and took 177 years to complete. Renowned due to its unintentional tilt, the campanile began to slant while it was being built.

Galleria dell'Accademia

With a large collection of sculptures, paintings and musical instruments, the academy gallery is known for housing inside one of the most famous sculptures of all time: Michelangelo's David

The Accademia Gallery (Galleria dell'Accademia) is the second most visited museum in Florence after the Uffizi Gallery. The museum was opened in 1784 so that fine art students would have material to study.

Palazzo Vecchio

With decoration harking back to the palaces of Venice, and an architectural style which defines the city, the Palazzo Vecchio is one of the most interesting sights in the city.

The most impressive building in the Piazza della Signoria is the Palazzo Vecchio. The palace is built like a fortress with crenelated walls and a 309 ft (94 m) tower. It is one of the city’s most important symbols.

The palace was founded between 1299 and 1314 and was used as a residence and place of work for the ruling body of the Republic of Florence. Throughout the centuries the palace had several uses and its name changed according to its usage. From Palazzo della Signoria it was later renamed Palazzo Vecchio by Cosimo I de’ Medici, when the court was removed to Palazzo Pitti.

Above the front entrance, there are two enormous statues, on the left hand-side is a copy of the white marble statue of David by Michelangelo (the original is currently located in the Accademia), on the right hand-side is the white sculpture called Hercules and Cacus by Baccio Bandinelli.

Ponte Vecchio

Ponte Vecchio with its hanging houses and shops, the Ponte Vecchio is one of the most famous bridges in the world, and what's more this "Old Bridge" is the oldest stone brige in Europe.

The Ponte Vecchio is Florence’s most legendary symbol, just like the Colosseum is the most famous landmark in Rome. It is also considered by many as the most romantic spot in Florence.

The first bridge was made of wood and replaced by one made of stone in 1333. A few years later it was destroyed by the river, and it was later reconstructed in 1345. The stone structure still stands to this day, making it the oldest stone bridge in Europe.

The houses built along the overpass were mainly butcher’s shops during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries but, when the court was moved to the Palazzo Pitti, Ferdinando I de’ Medici ordered the shops to be closed because of the bad odour. Since then, the shops have been owned by goldsmiths and jewellers.

The “Old Bridge” also houses the Vasari Corridor, a passageway that runs along the east side of the bridge and connects the Palazzo Vecchio to the Palazzo Pitti. This curious architectural design was commissioned by Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici. It is currently a museum, but closed to the general public.

During World War II, the Ponte Vecchio was the only bridge in Florence not to be mined by the German troops. Many believe that Hitler himself had given strict orders not to touch it.

Florence Cathedral

The Florence Cathedral (locally known as the Duomo) is one of the most lag churches in all Christendom. It has a delightful white and green marble facade, and a dome 45 metres in diameter.

Il Duomo di Firenze (Florence Cathedral) and its enormous dome and tall Campanile dominate the city’s outline. Both buildings are located very near the Battistero di San Giovanni (Florence Baptistery) in the Piazza del Duomo. The Cathedral is officially called Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore.

The construction of the Cathedral began in 1296, over two centuries after the cathedrals of nearby cities like Pisa and Lucca were built. The temple was completed 72 years later, in 1368. The architect of the Florence Cathedral was Arnolfo di Cambio.

The dimensions of the church make it one of the largest Christian temples in the world. It is 525 ft (160 metres) long, 141 ft (43 m) wide and its transverse aisle is 300 ft (90 m) long. The dome is over 328 ft (100 m) tall.

Near the main entrance is a small descent leading to a crypt, where visitors can see the resting place of Brunelleschi, renowned Italian designer and architect who is responsible for the structure’s dome. The tomb was discovered in the mid-twentieth century.

Basilica di Santa Croce

The Santa Croce is, as well as being the largest Franciscan church in the world, the real pantheon of Florence. Inside are housed nearly 300 tombs, including those of Michelangelo and Galileo.

The Basilica di Santa Croce is the largest Franciscan church in the world. Measuring 377 ft (115 m) long and 124 ft (38 m) in width, it is the second biggest temple in Florence, exceeded only by the Cathedral.

The church was established in 1294 on the same site where a small chapel had previously been built to commemorate the death of Saint Francis of Assisi. When the construction of the Basilica was completed, the principal Dominican church, Santa Maria Novella, was sidelined.

Although the interior of the church is not as remarkable as Santa Maria Novella, which has wooden beams on display, the sculptures and the paintings that decorate the walls of the church are highly valued. The Basilica’s chapels house various frescoes by remarkable artists like Giotto, Brunelleschi and Donatello.

The Santa Croce square is not only packed with street artists on a daily basis, but is also where activities take place throughout the year.

Piazzale Michelangelo

Sitting high on a plateau to the south of the Arno river, Piazzale Michelangelo is without doubt one of the best places to admire Florence in all its splendour.

The Piazzale Michelangelo offers one of the best panoramic views of Florence, where you will be able to contemplate the whole city in all its splendour.

The large piazza houses a replica of Michelangelo’s David in bronze. It also has numerous restaurants and cafés, where you can sit and enjoy the views. If you don’t want to spend very much money you can also purchase good Italian ice-cream or snacks from any of the refreshment stands in the square.

10 unmissable sights in Florence