Florence is packed with the coolest sights! I have compiled a list of the best places that will make you fall in love with this incomparable city.
What do you know about Florence? A once rich republic with powerful Medici, scandals, intrigues, investigations, a lush flourishing of the arts: Renaissance, da Vinci, Raphael and Michelangelo, Boccaccio, Dante, Petrarch and other powerful names that thundered all over the world. While preparing for the trip, I got to know the history and architecture of the city better - and fell in love with it. Fall in love too! Just look at how wonderful the photographs are. No wonder Niccolo Machiavelli and Dante Alighieri were so attached to Florence.
Find out what tourists think of Florence.
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
You can sing a lot of praises to this beautiful cathedral, the dome of which made me fall in love at first sight. Probably, this dome of fire is the most replicated photo of Florence!
I will not load you with history and architectural terms - you can read all these boring details on Wikipedia. I'd better tell you what interested me - the bull. Yes, yes, one of the columns on the left side of the building is crowned with the head of a bull. Look for it from Via Ricasoli.
Of course, there were some legends. It is believed that the bricklayer took revenge on his rival, a wealthy merchant, with whose wife he had an affair. The merchant found out about this and dashed off a complaint straight to the church court. Here is a bricklayer and placed the bull's head exactly opposite the rival's store.
By the way, the builders knew astronomy very well! Come to the temple on June 21, the longest day of the year, and you will see a ray of sun pass through the dome and fall on a round marble medallion on the floor.
There is no need to pay for a visit to La Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore. Feel free to get in line and you will get inside pretty quickly. But the museum and observation decks are paid - a complex ticket costs 18 €.
Signoria Square
Walk 200 m south and you will find yourself in the small L-shaped square, Piazza della Signoria. It's incredible, but it looks almost the same as in the painting by Giuseppe Zocchi from the 18th century! Perhaps there were groups of tourists busily scurrying back and forth.
All tourists inevitably get to the square, because there is a 13th century palace - Palazzo Vecchio, where the most important decisions were made, political treaties were concluded and the rioters were executed. Now Palazzo Vecchio is a museum, where you can go for 14 €. The price is rather big, but it's worth it: I would only go for the Hall of Five Hundred, which was painted by da Vinci and Michelangelo (and after - Vasari) and just stunning ceilings, from which I am a fan. I wouldn’t break my neck while contemplating all this beauty!
There is also a free attraction on the square - Loggia Lanzi. The corner gallery displays antique and medieval sculptures. Most tourists crowd in front of Michelangelo's "David". Everyone knows that this is a copy, but the Old Testament king is so beautiful that passing by is a crime!
Academy Gallery
Where to look at the original "David"? The immortal creation of Michelangelo is exhibited in one of the main attractions of Florence - Galleria dell'Accademia, along with the immortal paintings of Florentine masters.
This museum differs from other art collections in that it was conceived as a teaching aid for students. Perfect works were supposed to inspire future masters to create masterpieces.
Take a closer look at the toes on David's left foot! Traces of chips are barely visible on them. In 1991, the sculpture was attacked by a vandal with a hammer. Before the guards tied the intruder, he managed to chop off several pieces of marble.
Ticket price at the box office - 12 €. Spend a little more - € 21 and buy your admission ticket online to skip the line.
Republic Square
Another square in the city center is closely related to the history of Florence. In ancient times, the Piazza della Repubblica was the site of the Roman Forum, and in the Middle Ages, a densely populated Jewish ghetto.
In the 19th century, the square was expanded and turned into a public space. Today, there are many restaurants and cafes here, a colorful carousel is open for children, and street musicians perform in front of the public.
Look for excursions in Florence on Tripster and Sputnik8, the most popular excursions are:
- Daily walk around the city - 20 € / person.
- Group excursion for 2.5 hours - 30 € / person
- Individual excursion for 2.5 hours - from 185 € for 1-10 people.
- From Florence to Tuscany by Chianti Tour - 110 € / person.
- A fascinating walk around Florence - 140 € for 1-10 people.
Dante's house and the church of St. Margaret
The main attractions are located in the center of Florence, so I invite you to continue your journey through the ancient streets of the city. Chiesa di Santa Margherita dei Cerchi was built in the 13th century. The old ascetic church is notable for the fact that the beloved of the great Dante is buried in it.
Beatrice Portinare died early, at the age of 24. A simple tombstone is always decorated with flowers. Traditionally, people put notes on it asking for help in love affairs. A few steps away is the Casa di Dante - the poet's house-museum. The entrance to the museum costs 4 €. You will be admitted to the church for free.
Ponte Vecchio
Any city guide has pictures of the unusual medieval bridge. Initially, Ponte Vecchio housed butchers' shops, but now they sell jewelry with might and main. The old bridge over the Arno has its own secrets. At the very top is a covered gallery that connects Palazzo Vecchio and Pitti Palace.
Uffizi Gallery
The world-renowned collection of masterpieces is housed in an opulent palace built by the Medici. The most famous art museum in Florence has a magical effect on people. Even those who are far from the art world, after visiting Galleria degli Uffizi, begin to reason like a real connoisseur of Italian painting.
Be sure to visit this landmark in Florence to see "The Birth of Venus" by Sandro Botticelli, "The Annunciation" by Leonardo da Vinci and "The Holy Family" by Raphael Santi! From March to October, a ticket to the gallery costs 20 €, and from November to February - 12 €.
Find out more about the Uffizi Gallery.
Davantsati Palace
In the top attractions of Florence, one cannot but include the palazzo, which is often called the cherry on the cake of the city. Palazzo Davanzati was built in the XIV century, and in the XVI century it was acquired by the influential Davanzati family.
Everything in the magnificent palace has been preserved as it was 500 years ago. In the halls of the museum, you can get acquainted with the traditions, customs and political subtleties of medieval Florence. The entrance is inexpensive - only 2 €.
Boboli Gardens
As beautiful as the streets of Florence are, after a few hours of walking you will tire of stone walls and pavements. To relax, go to one of the beautiful corners of the city - Giardino di Boboli near the Pitti Palace.
The old park was laid out by the order of the wife of Cosimo I Medici. Many park ensembles in Europe were modeled after the Boboli gardens. A lot of beauty awaits you: green paths, flower beds, picturesque grottoes and park sculptures. The Boboli Gardens offer a wonderful panoramic view of Florence! In high season, the entrance ticket costs 10 €.
Learn more about Boboli Gardens.
Basilica of San Lorenzo
The necropolis of the all-powerful Medici clan is located in one of the oldest landmarks of Florence - a picturesque church from the 4th century. The austerity and severity of the Basilica di San Lorenzo is emphasized by the rough stone walls, the absence of windows and the clear straight lines of the nave.
Michelangelo himself worked on allegorical statues in the Medici Chapel. It took the sculptor about 15 years to complete the order of Giuliano Medici.
The entrance to the temple and crypt costs 4.5 €. To see the Laurenzian library, you need to pay 3 €, and for a complex ticket - 7 €.
note... Raise your head and look at the fresco depicting the starry sky on the dome in the apse. This is what the sky above Florence looked like on the night of July 3-4, 1442.
Basilica of Santa Croce
Agree, it would be unforgivable to come to Florence and not bow to the ashes of the most famous residents of the city. In the pantheon Basilica di Santa Croce rest the Italian astronomer and mathematician Galileo Galilei, the philosopher and politician Machiavelli, the brilliant sculptor Michelangelo Buonarroti and the composer Gioacchino Rossini. Honor the memory of the greats and admire Giotto's colored stained glass windows and frescoes! The entrance costs 8 €.
Palazzo Strozzi
The history of the construction of the palace is associated with the struggle between two powerful clans - Medici and Strozzi. After several years in exile, Strozzi returned to his native Florence and built a palace that was in no way inferior to the mansions of his rivals.
Today, museum collections are exhibited in a beautiful three-story mansion. On the ground floor, in the Hall of the Nobles, exhibitions of classical art are held. The entrance costs 10 €. A ticket to the Contemporary Art Center costs 2.5-3 €.
Church of Santa Maria Novella
If you have arrived in Florence by train, then surely do not miss the openwork façade of the ancient temple, which combines the traditions of the Gothic and Renaissance. The Basilica stands right at the station square, Piazza Santa Maria Novella.
Inside the main Dominican church in Florence, you can see works of art from the 14th-16th centuries - tombstones, bronze crucifixes, colored stained glass windows and frescoes. The entrance to the temple costs 7.5 €.
Florentine pharmacy
Don't rush to go far from Santa Maria Novella! Nearby there is a pharmacy, which was founded in the 13th century by Dominican monks. Surprisingly, all this time, homemade perfumes and medicines are sold here. Among the outlandish bottles, frescoes and copies of ancient documents on the walls, it's easy to feel like a medieval alchemist!
Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella is admitted free of charge. Handmade soap starts at € 10 and perfume starts at € 90.
Observation Decks
A true pleasure is to go upstairs and look at the city from a bird's eye view. You can be sure that beauty will make your head spin!
There are several places from where you can see all the main attractions of Florence at once. The best viewpoints are considered the Arnolfo Tower (Torre di Arnolfo) on Piazza Signoria, Campanile di Giotto on Piazza del Duomo, Piazzale Michelangelo, Bardini gardens (Giardino Bardini) and Forte di Belvedere fortress ).
Some observation decks are paid - 10-18 €.
Theater Verdi
Even if you don't know Italian, a visit to the famous theater will be remembered for a long time. The history of Teatro Verdi began in the middle of the 19th century. The famous tenor Enrico Caruso began his career on the Florentine stage. Sting, the favorite of millions, sang here and magician David Copperfield performed tricks.
Tickets for the show can be bought at the box office and at the Boxoffice Toscana on Via delle Vecchie Carceri.
San Lorenzo Central Market
If you are in Florence for just one day, the city's Central Market is worth a look. This is a place where every self-respecting Florentine hostess visits at least once a week. Mercato Centrale sells the freshest ingredients for Tuscan dishes: milk, cheeses, vegetables, herbs, meat, poultry, fish and seafood.
The second floor sells the famous Tuscan wines. I could not resist and definitely try!
note... The market recently opened a food court serving Tuscan cuisine. Grab a hearty boiled beef sandwich with a spicy sauce for a snack - panino con bollito.
Find out where to eat deliciously and inexpensively in Florence.
Want to see Florence as the Florentines themselves know it? The locals are not only proud of the historical past, but also love flowers very much. Near Piazzale Michelangelo there is a gate that leads to an amazing garden with roses. The entrance is free.
Giardino delle rose was broken up in the second half of the 19th century and opened to the public in 1895. You will see park sculptures and many flowering bushes. The hillside offers a magnificent view of the city. Mmm, what a scent!
You don't have to go to the famous galleries and museums to fall in love with Florence. The Italian city is a real work of art, so just walk the streets and look around carefully! One of Florence's unusual landmarks is on the wall of the Palazzo Vecchio. This is the profile of an unknown person carved in stone.
Florentines believe that the author of the work is Michelangelo himself. The artist painted near the palace. A stranger approached him, who began to distract the master with stories about his family and relatives. A talkative traveler interfered with Michelangelo's work, and he scrawled a portrait of "annoyed" on the wall out of annoyance.
Adults and children alike love Carlo Collodi's tale of the long-nosed and resourceful Pinocchio. Take a look at the cozy Bartolucci shop and you will give yourself a pleasant childhood memory! At the entrance, guests are greeted by Pinocchio himself. First of all, he invites guests to take a selfie.
Not only wooden dolls are sold here. On the shelves there are cute walking clocks, funny sharpeners, miniature models of cars and motorcycles. It will be difficult to leave without shopping! Find out what to bring from Italy.
In the city center, Bartolucci stores are located at Via Borgo dei Greci, 11, and Via della Condotta, 12. Across the Arno River, at Via Guicciardini, 6 / R.
