Even just the center of Florence is one continuous attraction, and many tourists come here without a clear plan - just to walk. However, later, upon returning home, many discover how many interesting places were missed and often regret that they were literally around the corner and passed. To prevent this from happening with you, BlogoItaliano has prepared a selection of TOP-10 places in the center of Florence, which will help you better plan your visit and see all the most important.
1. Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is so magnificent that it literally stuns travelers. Whenever you find yourself in the square in front of the temple, there will be a crowd of people with their heads bulged up, looking at the magnificent facade in amazement.
Do not miss the opportunity to enter the temple, because how beautiful the Cathedral of St. Mary is outside, it is just as magnificent inside. The walls of the sanctuary contain such masterpieces as The Mourning of Christ by Michelangelo and Maria Magdalene by Donatello.
The cathedral was erected for several centuries, and today it is one of the most beautiful buildings in all of Italy - with marble bas-reliefs on the facade and a magnificent dome that seems to soar above the center of Florence.
St. Mary's Cathedral is beautiful outside and luxurious inside
Climbing the dome of the cathedral, you can admire Vasari's frescoes and views of the entire city from a height of more than 100 meters.
The museum complex Santa Maria del Fiore also includes
- Museum: it is there that you can see the original works of Michelangelo and Donatello, copies of them are installed in the cathedral,
- Baptistery of San Giovanni: the oldest building in Piazza Duomo (5th century) with an unusual octagonal shape, the eastern gate of which Michelangelo himself called the "Gate of Paradise".
- Campanila Giotto: having overcome 414 steps, you can climb to the top of the tower and admire not only the city, but also the famous dome of the cathedral by Brunelleschi
- Crypt of Saint Reparat: not only Florentine priests are buried in the underground premises of the church, but also the creators of the Cathedral of Brunelleschi and Giotto.
Address: Cathedral: Piazza del Duomo. Museum: Piazza del Duomo, 9
Opening hours:
- Cathedral: Mon-Sat 10: 00-16: 30, Sun 13: 30-16: 45, the first Tuesday of the month - day off
- Dome: Mon-Fri 8: 30-19: 00, Sat 8: 30-17: 00, Sun 13: 00-16: 00
- Baptistery: Mon-Fri 08: 15-10: 15/11: 15-19: 30, Sat 08: 15-18: 30, Sun 08: 15-13: 30)
- Campanila: Mon-Fri, Sun 08: 15-19: 00, Sat 08: 15-19: 00
- Crypt: Mon-Wed, Fri 10: 00-17: 00, Thu, Sat 10: 00-16: 30, Sun
- Museum: Mon-Fri, Sun 09: 00-19: 00, Sat 09: 00-17: 00
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2. Piazzale Michelangelo
The main advantage of Piazzale Michelangelo is the view that opens from here to the whole center of Florence. The steps of the stairs leading to the hill, where the square is so well located, are never free.
A copy of the statue of Michelangelo “David” in the square
Below the slope from the east and west sides of the square you can find two flower gardens - irises and roses. And on the square itself - a copy of the marble statue of Michelangelo “David” and sculptures symbolizing morning, day, evening and night.
- Address: Piazzale Michelangelo
- Opening hours: around the clock
- Tickets: free admission
3. Ponte Vecchio
The oldest bridge in Florence today looks exactly the same as almost 700 years ago: since its construction in 1345, it has never been rebuilt or restored. Unless you can’t find a butcher shop today, but you can’t count the jewelry.
Over the buildings of the Ponte Vecchio bridge in 1565, the Vasari corridor was built, which eventually turned into an art gallery. The Vasari corridor was originally intended for Duke Cosimo I and served as a passage from the Palazzo Vecchio to the Palazzo Pitti.
The bridge, built in 1345, has been preserved in its original form.
Today, here you can find over 1,500 self-portraits of the most famous painters of Italy and other countries (including Orest Kiprensky, Boris Kustodiev, Marc Chagall, as well as Rafael Santi, Peter Paul Rubens, Diego Velazquez and others).
- Address: Ponte Vecchio
- Opening hours: around the clock, Vasari corridor - only with a guided tour
- Tickets: admission is free, you can get into the Vasari corridor by ticket to the Uffizi Gallery
4. Uffizi Gallery
The most visited museum in Italy is famous for its queues no less than a collection of sculptural and pictorial masterpieces. Even before the official opening of the gallery in 1769, noble persons were invited by special applications to inspect the collection of paintings and statues.
Initially, the building, where the Uffizi Gallery is located today, was conceived as an administrative, but almost immediately after the construction was completed in 1581, it was deposited with the family collection of the Medici family.
The Gallery houses a priceless collection of paintings and sculptures
“Spring” and “Venus” by Botticelli, “Adoration of the Magi” by Leonardo da Vinci, “Madonna and Carduelis” by Rafael, “Bacchus” by Caravaggio and other world-famous canvases of Italian painters are stored here, so as was bequeathed to the last representative of the Medici clan Anna Maria Louise, never leave hometown.
The Uffizi Gallery is one of those sights of Florence that are better to be visited with a guide so as not to miss anything. You can find the contacts of a proven Russian-speaking guide in Florence and our positive feedback about getting to know him in this article.
- Address: Piazzale degli Uffizi, 6
- Opening hours: Tue-Sun 08: 15-06: 50, Monday - day off
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5. Boboli Gardens
Suffice it to say that the Boboli Gardens, broken by decree of the wife of Duke Cosimo I of Medici, became a model for all the royal gardens of Europe, including Versailles. The very first Italian operas were staged in the amphitheater located in the park.
Sculptures, grottoes, fountains and gazebos are scattered throughout the park, preventing visitors from getting bored. In addition, the park has an observation deck from where you can enjoy panoramic views of Florence.
Boboli Gardens became a model for all the royal gardens of Europe
By the way, with tickets to Boboli Gardens you can also see the porcelain museum in Pitti Palace. However, to view all other exhibits in the Palazzo Pitti, you will have to buy a separate ticket.
- Address: Piazza Pitti, 1
- Opening hours: Mon-Sun from 08:15 to 16:30 (November-February) / 17:30 (March) / 18:30 (April-May, September-October) / 18: 50 (June-August); The first and last month of each month is a day off.
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6. The Palazzo Pitti
The huge palace dates back to the 16th century, when a certain banker, Luca Pitti, conceived to outdo the Florentine dukes by ordering to build a palace in the courtyard of which any of the houses of the Medici could fit.
Ironically, the Medici themselves completed the huge building, having bought an unfinished palace from the banker's family, which went bankrupt after the death of the head of the family.
The Palazzo Pitti houses the largest collection of works by Raphael
Today the Palazzo Pitti houses the largest collection of Raphael (11 paintings), as well as works by Titian, Dyck, Tintoretto, Velazquez and other eminent Italian artists. The Pitti Palace also features a collection of contemporary art.
- Address: Piazza Pitti, 1
- Opening hours: Tue-Sun 08: 15-06: 50, Mon - day off
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7. Piazza Signoria and the Palazzo Vecchio
One of the most famous squares not only in the historical center of Florence, but throughout Italy. Once Signoria Square served as the heart of the political life of the Florentine Republic, and in the Palazzo Vecchio located here, the most crucial decisions for the city were made.
Although the Palazzo building from the square looks a bit dark, be sure to go inside to be amazed at the luxurious interior decoration.
The Palace building was erected in 1299, the tower in 1314.
The “Hall of Five Hundreds” makes a particularly strong impression on visitors, to the design of which the Florentine authorities invited Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. True, instead of their work today in the “Hall of Five Hundred” one can see the no less large-scale “Battle of Marciano” by Vasari.
Another noteworthy building on the square is Loggia Lanzi, serving today as an open-air museum with a collection of sculptures of ancient and mythological heroes.
- Address: Piazza della Signoria
- Opening hours: area - around the clock, Palazzo Vecchio: Mon-Wed, Fri-Sun 09: 00-19: 00, Thu 09: 00-14: 00 (October-March); Mon-Wed, Fri-Sun 09: 00-23: 00, Thu 09: 00-14: 00 (April-September)
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8. Academy of Fine Arts
When Cosimo I Medici established the Academy of Painting in Florence in 1561, nothing of the kind existed in Europe at that time. Giorgio Vasari himself stood at the origins of the Academy, and two centuries later, all the art schools of the city were subordinate to the Academy.
The famous “David” by Michelangelo
At some point, the number of people who wanted to study at the Academy and their creations exceeded the building's capabilities, then the educational institution was moved to another place, and a gallery was founded in the building of the now former Academy. This is where the original 5-meter sculpture of Michelangelo's "David" is stored.
- Address: Via Ricasoli, 58/60
- Opening hours: Tue-Sun 08: 15-18: 50, Mon - day off
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9. Basilica of Santa Croce
In addition to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, in the center of Florence there is another church, which can rightfully be considered one of the main attractions of the city - the Santa Croce Basilica.
In addition to being the largest Franciscan church in the world, the Basilica of Santa Croce has become the resting place of many famous Italians: among others, there are the tombs of Galileo, Machiavelli, Michelangelo, Rossini, Marconi.
Santa Croce is the largest Franciscan church in the world.
Only one sarcophagus remained empty, although the name of the one who was supposed to lie here was carved on it: Dante, expelled from Florence, was buried in Ravenna. Ravenna refused to return the ashes of the great poet to her homeland, defending the memory of the exile, who was desired in Florence only posthumously.
- Address: Piazza Santa Croce, 16
- Opening hours: Mon-Sun 9: 30-17: 30
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10. National Bargello Museum
A true paradise for fans of sculpture. It houses the “David” by Donatello, statues of Michelangelo, Benvenuto Cellini and other outstanding masters.
The museum is a real paradise for fans of sculpture
The museum also preserves the memory of the city as it was before the massive redevelopment in the 19th century: numerous valuable exhibits from demolished buildings were brought here.
- Address: Via del Proconsolo, 4
- Opening hours: Mon-Sun: 8: 15-17: 00, 2nd and 4th Sunday, 1st, 3rd, 5th Monday of each month - days off.
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Of course, the center of Florence is much more than 10 places. There are more than 70 museums in the city alone. But if you are going to the city for the first time, now you have a ready-made set of places that you need to see first.
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