Florence is one of the few cities around the world whose entire
historical centre is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its
museums, palaces, and churches house some of the greatest artistic
treasures in the world. The most popular and important of these include
the Cathedral, the Baptistery, the Uffizi, the Bargello, and the
Accademia. The churches of Santa Maria Novella and Santa Croce are
veritable art galleries, and the library of San Lorenzo is a
magnificent exhibition of Michelangelo’s architectural genius. If all
this sounds up your street, be sure to set aside time to see the vast
and varied art collection housed in the Pitti Palace. When you grow
weary of museums and monuments, you can head outdoors. Spend a day at
the Boboli Gardens or climb the hill to the church of San Miniato al
Monte to experience an enchanting view of Florence.
The main railway station is in the north west of the city, it takes
around 15 minutes to walk into the central city area from it. Maps of
the city are avaible at the railway station. The historic centre of
Florence is easily walkable, so as long as you stay in the centre
you’ll be able to get to all the main sights on foot. Whether you are a
first timer or you’ve visited Florence before, we recommend a wander
through some of the oldest streets in the city until you reach the Arno
River, cross the Ponte Vecchio, and experience the newest area of
Florence, the Oltrarno.
What we’ve listed here are the key activities and places that will
give you a taste of what Florence is all about. If your time in
Florence allows you to see more, we recommend you check out the Visit
Florence website for itineraries and further suggestions.
Visit Florence
Uffizi Gallery
For lovers of art, a visit to the Uffizi Gallery is always top of
the list of things to do in Florence. It’s easily the best collection
of Italian paintings on earth, and for the art lover, there’s no better
way to while away an hour or four in room after room full of Botticelli
paintings and the like all over the walls. It’s a surreal experience.
The pleasure of this self indulgence however comes with a price, and I
am not referring to the cost of admission – but to the endlessly long
queues filled with art lovers like you who have come to this place for
the same reason you have. At the height of summer it is not unknown for
people to have to stand in queues for over 4 hours. You fare somewhat
better if you have bought your tickets in advance, but be warned – if
you have paid a preium price for ‘jump the queue’ tickets, you’ll
probably still have a long wait in the ‘jump the queue’ lines too,
because there are just as many people paying the premium price to get
in quicker as there are those who don’t.
Piazza della Signoria
This gorgeous open piazza is the focal point of the origin and of
the history of the Florentine Republic since the 14th century, and
still maintains its reputation as the political hub of the city. It is
the meeting place of Florentines as well as the numerous tourists,
located near Ponte Vecchio and Piazza del Duomo and gateway to Uffizi
Gallery. It fronts what was once the ruling Medici family’s home
– the Palazzo Vecchio, which has a replica of Michelangelo’s
famous David statue standing at its entrance. Located in front of the
Palazzo Vecchio is the Palace of the Assicurazioni Generali (1871,
built in Renaissance style). The square is also shared with the Loggia
della Signoria, the Uffizi Gallery, the Palace of the Tribunale della
Mercanzia (1359) (now the Bureau of Agriculture), and the Palazzo
Uguccioni (1550), with a facade attributed to Raphael, who however died
thirty years before its construction.
This piazza was the scene of great triumphs, such as the return of
the Medici in 1530 as well as the Bonfire of the Vanities instigated by
Savonarola, who was then himself burned at the stake here in 1498 after
he was denounced by the Inquisition as a heretic. A marble circle
inscription on the piazza shows the location where the monk Savonarola
was burnet at the stake.
Michelangelo’s David (left) and Bandinelli’s Hercules and Cacus
The sculptures in Piazza della Signoria bristle with political
connotations, many of which are fiercely contradictory. The David (the
original is now in the Galleria dell’Accademia) by Michelangelo was
placed outside the Palazzo Vecchio as a symbol of the Republic’s
defiance of the tyrannical Medici. Bandinelli’s Hercules and Cacus
(1534) to the right of the David was appropriated by the Medici to show
their physical power after their return from exile. The Fountain of
Neptune (1575) by Bartolomeo Ammannati celebrates the Medici’s maritime
ambitions and Giambologna’s equestrian statue of Duke Cosimo I (1595)
is an elegant portrait of the man who brought all of Tuscany under
Medici military rule.
The graceful Loggia dei Lanzi, which sits to the right of Palazzo
Vecchio consists of wide arches open to the street, three bays wide and
one bay deep. It functions as an open-air sculpture gallery, was
designed by Orcagna in 1376. Its curved arches foretell Renaissance
classicism. The statue of Perseo holding Medusa’s head, by Benvenuto
Cellini (1554), is a stark reminder of what happened to those who
crossed the Medici. Together with Giambologna’s Rape of the Sabines,
these are two of many beautiful sculptures found under the arches of
the Loggia dei Lanzi. Right behind the Loggia dei Lanzi is the Galleria
degli Uffizi, also known as the Uffizi Gallery, Italy’s top art museum.
The Fountain of Neptune (1575) by Ammannati has suffered a great deal
of damage during the centuries. It was used as a washbasin for laundry
at the end of the 16th century. It was vandalized on January 25, 1580.
A satyr was stolen during the carnival in 1830. It was damaged again by
the Bourbon bombardments of 1848. Consequently, it has been the object
of several restorations and substitutions. The statue of Neptune we see
today is actually a copy made in the nineteenth century, while the
original is in the National Museum.
Ponte Vecchio
This Medieval stone closed-spandrel segmental arch bridge over the
Arno River has become somewhat of an icon representing Florence itself,
just as the Sydney Harbour Bridge symbolises Sydney. What sets the
Ponte Vecchio apart from most other medieval bridges is it still has
shops built along it, which was once quite common. Butchers initially
occupied the shops; in 1593, Ferdinand I decreed that only goldsmiths
and jewellers be allowed to have their shops on the bridge in order to
improve the wellbeing of all, including their own as they walked over
the bridge. Consequently, a tradition of proposing to one’s true love
on the bridge, then buying the engagement and wedding rings from one of
the jewellers here, has developed. There is a relatively recent custom,
in which couples, presumably unable or unwilling to afford the high
prices of the jewellery sold here, declare their eternal love by
placing a lock on Cellini’s monument (see below). The keys must then be
thrown into the river Arno, who will become the custodian of their love
for eternity. Much to the delusion of sweethearts, this tradition has
forced the local administrative powers to impose heavy fines on anyone
attaching a lock on the monument.
A stone with an inscription from Dante (Paradiso xvi. 140-7) records
the spot at the entrance to the bridge where Buondelmonte de’
Buondelmonti was murdered on behalf of the Amidei, in 1215, initiating
the urban fighting of the Guelfs and Ghibellines. In 1900, to honour
and mark the fourth century of the birth of the great Florentine
sculptor and master goldsmith Benvenuto Cellini, the leading goldsmiths
of the bridge commissioned the most renowned Florentine sculptor of the
time Raffaello Romanelli to create a bronze bust of Cellini to stand
atop a fountain in the middle of the Eastern side of the bridge, where
it stands to this day.
It doesn’t matter what time of the day or time of the year you visit
the Ponte Vecchio, it will probably be wall to wall with people either
strolling along or stopping to buy that extra special piece of
jewellery. If the crowds bother you, then you can always find a spot
along the banks of the Arno River on either side of the bridge and take
in the view of this delightful piece of olde worlde architecture. At
sunset it looks particularly calm and serene. Maybe that is why, during
World War II, Adolph Hitler ordered that it be spared by the retreating
German troops in 1944. Instead of destroying it, they simply isolated
it by blowing up the bridge’s access points to the city.
Florence Duomo
A visit to Duomo Square should be on everybody’s list of “must-see”
Florence experiences. No matter which direction you approach it from,
turning the corner into the square and seeing the Florence Duomo for
the first time in all its artistic glory is one of those unforgettable
“Wow” moments. Work on Florence’s cathedral began at the end of the
13th century by Arnolfo di Cambio, and the dome, which dominates the
exterior as well as the city built around it, was added in the 15th
century on a design of Filippo Brunelleschi. It took two centuries for
the cathedral to be deemed finished and when you take a close look at
the intricate detail of its finely crafted exterior, it become clear
why it took so long. The exterior is covered in a decorative mix of
pink, white and green marble. The interior, by contrast, is pretty
stark and plain but quite enjoyable, particularly on warm summer days
since the temperature inside tends to be cooler. The mosaic pavements
are certainly its main attraction within.
Entrance into Florence’s cathedral remains free and for this reason
you’ll at times find a long line to get in. Please note the clock above
the entrance on the inside of the church. It was designed in 1443 by
Paolo Uccello in accordance with the ora italica, where the 24th hour
of the day ended at sunset … and it still works!
The two big sights in the square are the Duomo (obviously) and the
Baptistery, but the main attraction of the Baptistery is actually on
the outside. The set of doors that faces the front of the Duomo was
designed by Ghiberti in the early 1400s, and a young Michelangelo
thought they were so beautiful that they could be the Gates of
Paradise. The original panels are now kept in the Duomo Museum, but the
replicas on the Baptistery are still gorgeous and still attract quite a
crowd.
In Duomo Square you can take advantage of the height of two of its
structures to get great views of the historic city centre. The dome of
the Duomo, designed by Brunelleschi, not only offers a lovely view but
also a quick lesson in architecture as you climb the slanty staircase
between the two layered domes – while the top of the bell tower,
designed by Giotto, gives you city views that include a close-up of the
dome as well. Anyone interested in design and architecture will want to
climb the dome for the history. These climbs are enough to give anyone
both vertigo and claustrophobia, whether you’ve had them before
or not, so proceed with care.
Piazzale Michelangelo
If you’d like a picture postcard view of Florence in all its
archritechural and cultural glory, take a bus through Florence’s less
than scenic neighborhoods on the other side of the river, or put on
your walking shoes and head for Piazzale Michelangelo, which overlooks
the city on the hills above the Oltrarno. Here you’ll find one of
Florence’s many ‘David’ replica at the centre of the square, but it’s
the view across the city that will quickly capture your attention.
Surrounding area
Florence is a great starting point and base for a tour of Tuscany.
Attractive day trips include Pisa, Lucca, San Gimignano, Arezzo,
Fiesole, Lucignano, Siena, and of course the wine zone of Chianti.
Greve in Chianti is the market town of the Chianti zone and it is in
the hills surrounding Greve that you can rent a room or a small
apartment on a working vineyard for less than a hotel in Florence. The
SITA Pullman buses take you to Greve and Panzano in about an hour. From
then on you see few cars and many cypress and olive trees.
Pisa
Synonymous for the Leaning Tower, Pisa is actually one of the most
important historic and artistic places in Italy. It has its very own
“Field of Dreams” – the Campo dei Miracoli; okay, so literally “field
of miracles.” Here you’ll find not only the noted inclined monument,
but the beautifuly baptistry and the wedding cake-like cathedral, all
clustered in a row on a grassy field. The Leaning Tower is surely the
symbol of this city, and the reason many people flock here. The
structural oddity was started in 1277 and thanks to a foundational
defect started to lean even before it was completed. While the tower
draws people in, the other sights of this lovely city will win them
over! It has an historic center with medieval atmosphere, great
restaurants, fun bars, and nice museums. It is a lively university
town, adding a hip vibe and energy to the mix.
Lucca
Lucca is a charming medieval walled town at the border, between the
ancient Etruscan and Ligurian lands, whose origins date back to
unspecified epochs. To the north lies the Garfagnana region, a
mountainous area popular with walkers and rich in old fortresses and
castles. To the south is the Serra Mountain which divides Lucca from
Pisa. Situated in a great position, at a few
minutes from the sea and just an hour from Florence. Lucca is one of the most beguiling, undiscovered treasures of
Tuscany, dating back to the time of Caesar, Pompey and Crassus, as well
as the Renaissance era. Major sights to see include the
Romanesque-style Duomo, built in the 13th century; the Museo Nazionale
di Palazzo Mansi; and the San Michele in Foro, with its bustling,
fabulously atmospheric piazza.
A favourite activity in Lucca is simply poking around the narrow
streets, investigating gorgeous gardens, and shopping with locals and
tourists alike. Active types can rent bikes and cycle atop the
Passeggiata della Mura, the ring of ramparts that enclose the walled
city.
Parma
Parma is a sensational city that is a feast for the senses, from the
golden hues to the aromas of the cheese, to the decadent tastes of the
delicacies produced here. It is a city to see and experience, with a
buzzing life thanks to its university, one of Europe’s oldest, and the
pride of place that its residents hold. It is best known as a food town
– think Parma ham (air-cured prosciutto) and Parmigiano cheese, and
handmade pastas filled with these tasty treats. Wash it down with
frothy Lambrusco or fruity Sangiovese wines produced in the area, and
you’ll be hard-pressed to find better dining elsewhere in Italy. But
Parma is also a cultural city with monuments and palaces,
elaborately-decorated churches and world-class museums. Parma is 1 hr
41 mins by train from Florence.
Carrara
Carrara isn’t just another Tuscan hill town; it’s the undisputed
marble capital of the world. Sitting at the point where the Apuan Alps
descend to the Mediterranean Sea, the quarries of Carrara have been
excavated since Roman times. Its prized stone comes in milky white and
slatey-gray, and has been used in the most important monuments,
churches and sculptures in Italy for more than two millennia. You can
visit the quarries to see how the stone is extracted and moved down the
mountain. There are plenty of examples of the stone around town, too,
between the piazzas, fountains and monuments. The cathedral of
Sant’Andrea Apostolo is made almost entirely of marble. Carrara is also
home to a Marble Museum, which exhibits the culture, extraction,
working and final products of the town’s most revered product. Carrara
is 2 hours by train from Florence.
Massa
Massa is a town in northwestern Tuscany, located on the western
slopes of the Apuan Alps, about 5 km from the Ligurian Sea. The city is
overlooked by a hill on top of which stands the Malaspina castle, which
dominates the surrounding plain. Although the archeological studies of
the area have confirmed that Massa was already inhabited in the
Paleolithic and Neolithic times, like other Tuscan towns, it is
believed that the it has Roman origins, dating back roughly to the
first centuries AD. Massa is 2 hrs by train from Florence.
Pietrasanta
Pietrasanta, also called “The Small Athens”, offers a great cultural
and artistic heritage. The town dates back to the Roman era and had a
wall as defence, mostly gone now. The extraordinary beauty of the old town centre perfectly combines with
the marble craftsman’s studios, the renowned bronze foundries and art
workshops where to find marvellous mosaics appreciated all over the
world! Via Mazzini is the main street that has most of the shops to
purchase local items and for tourists. The medium sized town of 25,000
people allows you to casually shop, while not worrying about tourists
crowding the areas.Massa is 1 hr 40 mins by train from Florence.
San Gimignano
San Gimignano is a pretty medieval walled city in Tuscany, famous
for its beautiful towers and great art. It is small enough to be
effectively visited as a day trip from nearby cities like Siena and
Florence, but it has a different atmosphere at night that many
travelers find it worthwhile to experience. Encircled by 13th-century
walls, its old town centres on Piazza della Cisterna, a triangular
square lined with medieval houses. Other medieval features include
fountains and towers, such as the stone Torre Grossa. The Duomo di San
Gimignano is a 12th-century church with frescoes by Ghirlandaio in its
Santa Fina Chapel. A visit to the museum (San Gimignano 1300) is an
ideal opportunity to learn about the architectural, social, and
historical aspects of the middle Ages in Tuscany. Located in the heart
of the city itself, the museum offers a massive reconstruction of the
city of San Gimignano dated between the 13th and 14th Century. Open
every day. Free entrance.
Arezzo
Situated in Tuscany’s east and bordered by the Apennines, the
Province of Arezzo encompasses the areas of Casentino, Valdarno,
Valtiberina and Val di Chiana. Each of these, comprising unique
landscapes where natural beauty blends harmoniously with historic
heritage and masterpieces of art. Arezzo is an extraordinary city of
art renowned for its goldsmiths and antiques traders. The old town is
home to valuable monuments including the imposing Medici Fortress, the
Cathedral, the Diocesan Museum and the Basilica of San Domenico. The
Archaeological Museum showcases many a valuable find, recalling the
city’s importance during the Etruscan heyday, while the State
Museum of Medieval and Modern Art provides an overview of the artistic
production in the area from the Middle Ages to the 20th Century. Arezzo
is 1 hr 3 mins by train from Florence.
Fiesole
The mystical beauty of Fiesole, less than 10 km outside of Florence,
encompasses centuries of history and it is amazing well preserved.
Largely unknown this small town hides a wealth of surprises: the
massive stones that make up the Etruscan walls, the remains of Roman
baths, the green hilltop where Leonardo da Vinci first experimented
with the concept of flight, and the Roman amphitheater that still
serves as a stage for the Estate Fiesolana summer events. The small
city centre is home to a wide range of historical sites, churches and
parks where you can spend some time escaping from the hustle and bustle
of Florence. Fiesole is 14 mins by bus from Florence.
The first recorded mention on the town dates to 283 BC, when the
town, then known as Faesulae, was conquered by the Romans. Fiesole was
the scene of Stilicho’s great victory over the Germanic hordes of the
Vandals and Suebi under Radagaisus in 406. It was an independent town
for several centuries in the early Middle Ages, no less powerful than
Florence in the valley below, and many wars arose between them; in 1010
and 1025 Fiesole was sacked by the Florentines, before it was conquered
by Florence in 1125, and its leading families obliged to take up their
residence in Florence. Dante reflects this rivalry in his Divine Comedy
by referring to “the beasts of Fiesole.
Lucignano
Lucignano is a magical and well-preserved medieval hill town in
southern Tuscany. It is characterized by an oval or elliptical shape.
It has a population of around 3,500 and stands at 400m. above sea level
in the middle of an agricultural area producing olives, grapes, cereals
and sunflowers. The town is small and can be easily seen on foot.
Florence, Siena, Arezzo, Chianti, Cortona and Perugia are all within an
hour or so, together with a host of smaller, but equally fascinating,
places. Lucignano is 2 hrs 32 mins by train and bus (bus from Arezzo)
from Florence.
Siena
Siena, a medieval city in the region of Tuscany, is some 70 km south
of Florence. The city sits over three hills with its heart the huge
piazza del Campo, where the Roman forum used to be. The centre of Siena
is accessible only on foot. Cars (other than taxis, police, etc.) are
strictly prohibited; motorcycles and scooters are OK, though. Siena’s
heart is its central piazza known as Il Campo, known worldwide for the
famous Palio run here, a horse race run around the piazza two times
every summer. Movie audiences worldwide can see Siena and the Palio in
the James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace. Siena is 1 hr 28 mins by train
from Florence.
Chianti wine region
The Chianti area in Tuscany is one of the most beautiful in the
whole region, as well as the most well-known and appreciated by
visitors from across the world. The borders of the Chianti region are
not clearly defined but in general it extends over the provinces of
Florence and Siena, covering all of the area between the two cities and
extending to the east toward the Valdarno and to the west to the Val
d’Elsa. The Chianti wine area extends further beyond the two cities,
all around Florence and even toward Arezzo, Pistoia and Montepulciano.
Chianti offers a unique landscape, with green, gentle hills covered
with wide fields of vineyards and olive groves, small stone villages,
characteristic parishes and countryside homes in stone. The Chianti
landscapes are so beautiful and particular that they inspire many
photographs which then become postcards and calendars distributed
across the globe.
Livorno
For most visitors arriving at the port of Livorno by cruise ship,
Livorno serves as a jumping-off point for day trips elsewhere, however
the city has plenty of attractions of its own to make a visit
worthwhile. Livorno is known for its seafood, Renaissance-era
fortifications and modern harbour with a cruise ship port. Its central
Terrazza Mascagni, a waterside promenade with checkerboard paving, is
the city’s main gathering place. The bastions of the 16th-century
Fortezza Vecchia face the harbour and open onto Livorno’s canal-laced
Venezia Nuova quarter. The magnificent Monday-Saturday morning Mercato
Centrale market off Piazza Cavour is where Livorno’s housewives
come to stock up; nearby in Via Buontalenti is the clothes market.
Friday morning’s street market in Via dei Pensieri is a colourful
mish-mash of food, clothes, accessories and household items.