What should i see in florence

The gardens are part of a renaissance villa of the Bardini family. These curated gardens are home to phenomenal views of Florence.

The gardens are famous for two main attractions. First, a wisteria tunnel best viewed during the summer bloom starting in April and ending towards October. And second, a long medieval staircase that carries you to one of the best views of the city. Address: Costa San Giorgio 2. There are two ways to achieve this. First, get picked up by an Italian player with a Vespa or join a Vespa tour. We recommend the Vespa tour! Luckily Florence is a really cool but small town.

One of our partners in Florence runs a super-memorable tour that not only allows you to cruise around quite backroads on a Vespa , but also stops at vineyards and small towns along the way! Il Porcellino in Mercato Nuovo is a bronze copy of a bronze copy of a Roman marble copy of a Greek bronze statue of wild boar. Hard to digest?

Let me explain. When the Romans conquered Greece, Romans were superior warriors, they underwent Hellenization which basically means acting like the sophisticated and artistic Greeks. They would make marble statue copies of the greek bronze statues and often melt the marble to make weapons. The Medici Family procured the Roman marble copy in the 17th century and they or another family commissioned Pietro Tacca to create a bronze copy of the statue and turn it into a fountain.

The fountain was very popular and like many fountains, it has been surrounded by superstition. For such a small monument it is hard to believe, but amongst locals this is a top Florence attraction. Luckily, I am Italian and know this very well. There is a very fine grate over the water system and if the coin falls through it brings good fortune.

Address: Piazza del Mercato Nuovo. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a beautiful structure that would likely be famous even if the foundation had been poured correctly, but the fact that it was built incorrectly makes it a must-see. The tower leans 5. The tower takes its name after its hometown, Pisa, which is just over an hour from Florence by train and car.

If you are just going ot the tower, the train works and you can take a taxi from the train station to the tower. If you want to streamline the day, we have a great day trip from Florence to Pisa that includes transportation and tickets. Pisa is only a 4 hour stop so our trip includes a stop in Vinci. Yes, the hometown of Leonardo da Vinci. The stop includes admission to the Da Vinci Museums and finally a stop in Piazzale Michelangelo for the best view of Florence. This makes it a great day-trip option although we recommend spending a night or two there.

That said, vacation time has its limits and Italy has many things you will want to see. If you are unfamiliar, Cinque Terre consists of 5 principal towns and a few extra smaller towns that are connected by one road, a train, and lots of hiking trails.

The area is quaint, colorful, and as all-natural as it gets. Italy has abundant laws protecting the area to preserve its original charm which is why so many people want to come and visit.

It is a blast from the past. You can stay here for a few days, in which case take a look at our article on Where to Stay in Cinque Terre. Santo Spirito is a lively district of Florence which is home to shops, restaurants, and some pretty cool places to wet your beak. No trip to Florence is complete without visiting this area especially since it is home to the famed palace of the Medici dynasty. While this is definitely a bucket list item for Florence, this cheeky little bullet point is all about getting a meal and drinks while in the area.

I highly recommend Gurdulu Gastronomia for a meal if you want unique dishes and Osteria Cinghiale Bianco for the classics. I also would heavily recommend reserving in advance at La Loggia Rooftop Bar for some refreshing libations.

While it is definitely not a museum, the Brancacci Chapel is one of those places you walk into and immediately understand you are somewhere important. A silk merchant financially responsible for its creation, Felice Brancacci, lends his name to the chapel. If the chapel was located inside the Vatican Museums, it would likely see millions of visitors per year to the likes of the Sistine Chapel. While it is not a Florence Museum it is influential, important, and on the top of our list of recommendations.

A painter that would not be mentioned in conversation today but the likes of Michelangelo and DaVinci would have mentioned on a daily basis.

Masaccio started on the chapel underneath Masolino da Panciale but eventually, the student would become the teacher, and Masaccio is credited for most of the chapel. It is the first great work of art of the quattrocento the s. The chapel elaborated on a style Giotto started a hundred years prior with the Scrovegni Chapel and other works. Basically, artists started to consider the perspective of the viewer and other Earthly elements such as light coming in while painting.

Something the Romans were doing as early as the 1st century AD with the Arch of Titus but was lost in time when Europe went into darkness after barbarians took over.

The Chapel shows scenes from the old testament and new testament in glorious color. This playful museum is dedicated to the scientist and astronomer Galileo Galilei. Born in Pisa, the Pisaan has spent most of his life in Florence. The contemporary museum is devoted to scientific topics illustrated with ancient scientific instruments. It is also a tribute to Galileo, whose life is central to the museum's exhibits.

You can also see the scientific collections of families such as the Medicis and the Lorraine. More info ' Galileo Galilei Museum '. A convenient way to discover much of the Florence landmarks is by bicycle. Rent a bike yourself, or even better, go with a English-speaking guide along the sights of Florence.

In one half day you will see many highlights and hear interesting stories about the history of Florence. Highly recommended! The tours are popular, so we recommend booking in advance. More info biketours. The Museo Nazionale del Bargello is housed in a former Palazzo and is one of Florence's most important museums. It contains a collection of applied art and Renaissance sculptures.

The building was first a town hall and later a prison, but reopened in as one of Italy's first national museums. The museum has three floors, of which the Michelangelo Room is the best known. The Palazzo Medici-Riccardi is the former city palace of the Medici's, where this family actually lived.

In the palace was built for Cosimo de Medici the Elder by Michelozzo. It remained in the hands of the Medici family for a century, but after this the palace was sold to the Riccardi family with a number of beautiful rooms. The Porcellino fountain is one of the most famous fountains in Florence. The fountain is based on a legend in which a young man would remain a boar forever if his true love shared his secret with the outside world.

Hundreds of visitors pass by every year to stroke or kiss the boar's snout, assuming they would return to Florence. If you also want a dose of luck, throw a coin in one movement in the grid between the legs of the bronze boar. What was once one of Florence's slums is now one of the most famous squares in the city. You can also shop in chic shops, eat in cozy restaurants and stay in beautiful hotels. Are you in Florence for a few days and planning to visit many sights and top attractions?

Then the Florence Pass is ideal. The FirenzeCard can also be beneficial, but only if you want to visit a lot of museums. The admission prices in Florence are unfortunately very high or sometimes tickets at the box office have been sold out for a while. Are you particularly interested in the Uffizi Museum? Florence is a city of many churches.

For example, visit the Orsanmichele, a church located in the middle of the famous shopping street. Or plan a visit to the Medici's parish church, the San Lorenzo Church. If you are a fan of beautiful frescoes then the Santissima Annunziata is for you with frescoes by Del Sarto. Read about the other Florence churches. Besides the Accademia , Uffizi and Bargello there are many other museums to visit in Florence. The Palazzo Davanzati is a beautifully preserved medieval palace.

The Leonardo da Vinci museum is an interactive museum, entirely dedicated to scientist and artist Leonardo da Vinci. Fashion lover? Then visit the Gucci Garden. This article provides an overview of all the other Florence museums. From Florence there are several options for making day trips through Tuscany. Cities with great sights and landmarks such as Siena , Lucca and Pisa are at a reasonable distance from Firenze.

Natural areas such as the Tuscan hills, the sea and the Chianti region are all reasonably accessible from the capital of Tuscany. Do not forget to pay attention to the smaller places, such as Monteriggioni, San Gimignano and also Fiesole at only 10 kilometers. They're a great stop if you're short on time, a Michelangelo buff, or want to feel like a Medici prince or princess—even for an hour.

The site is truly mind-blowing. They'll make you want to delve even further into the history of the Medici family and Michelangelo. Context Travel's private Galileo and Science tours are great for anyone interested in learning about the science of the Renaissance, and it's especially great for families with kids.

Martino, the guide, is a complete professional, an introspective academic, a Dante scholar, and a philosophy PhD who clearly loves Galileo—and his enthusiasm is infectious.

The Renaissance is his playground, and he comes prepared, never dumbing down nor condescendingly responding to any questions. He is also passionate, professional, thoughtful, and witty. Museo di San Marco is set in a beautiful convent designed in the 15th century by architect Michelozzo, a favorite of Cosimo de' Medici. Located in the Oltrarno neighborhood, it feels like it's a secret though it's always been beloved for its standout frescoes.

This experience is full-immersion Renaissance: You're stepping into a time capsule. There's no curation, no seasonal exhibits, no pacing—nothing.

It's a beautifully preserved convent-cum-museum. Courtesy Gucci Garden. Topics city guides. Antica Torre di Via Tornabuoni 1. Il Salviatino. Brunelleschi Hotel. You will find the most famous viewpoint of the bridge right after passing the Uffizi Galleries.

In the morning there is relatively little activity here, so you can take great photos at this time of day. Also during sunset and at night the famous bridge of Florence offers many fantastic photo motives.

At the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore there are two of the most popular viewpoints in Florence: the dome and the bell tower of the Cathedral. Up there you can enjoy a spectacular view over the roofs of the city.

The most popular one is from the imposing dome of the Cathedral. This is an excellent viewpoint over the city, but you must expect latencies. Another fantastic viewpoint over Florence is the bell tower on the opposite side, the so-called Campanile.

From here you have a spectacular view of the dome, but it is clouded by a grille. One positive aspect though is that the bell tower is always less busy than the dome. Climbing the tower or the dome, and enjoying this amazing views is one of the best things to do in Florence and should not be missed on any trip. Tip : If you decide to climb up the dome, we recommend that you organize your online ticket in advance.

For many, probably the most beautiful place in Florence, if not of Italy as a whole, is Piazza della Signoria. It was built between and and has always been the political center of the city.

Unique and very worth seeing is also the Neptune Fountain on Piazza della Signoria. Built between by Bartolomeo Ammannati, it was the first public fountain in the city.

Another must-see are the Uffizi in Florence. Formerly the offices of the ministries, you can find a huge art collection here today with paintings and statues from antiquity to the late baroque. The imposing complex of buildings was built in the middle of the 16th century and the museum is now considered to be the main attraction of Florence , attracting almost 2 million visitors per year. No wonder, since some of the most famous works of art by artists such as Da Vinci, Rembrandt, Michelangelo and Botticelli are exhibited here in the Uffizi Gallery.

If you like, you can take a travel guide or audio-guide to get more information on the huge collection. Unique, apart from the art, is also the beautiful view from the Uffizi Gallery to the Ponte Vecchio bridge.

Tip : An online reservation for the Uffizi Gallery is highly recommended. Without a reservation, you will have to stand in line for hours. Tickets can be found here. Opening hours : from Tuesday to Sunday, from Admission : starting from 20 Euros per person. Basilica di San Lorenzo di Firenze is, after the Cathedral, the most important church in the city. The history of the Basilica goes back to the 4th century. Later, from , it was transformed into a magnificent Renaissance building by Filippo Brunelleschi.

The interior of the church can also be visited for a fee. Worth seeing is the altar vault with the starry sky, on which the sun, the moon and the planets are represented.