Florentine sculptors became the founders of the realist style in architecture. Florentine artists developed the laws of perspective. And Florentine thinkers launched the Renaissance.
This city of art has given the world many brilliant people: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello, Niccolo Machiavelli, Dante Alighieri, Galileo Galilei. People go to Florence to be inspired by the beauty of the ancient streets and to see the works of the great creators in the original. Still wondering what to see in Florence? Let me give you the answers.
A word of warning: it is better to buy tickets to museums in advance, for example, on this website. They may not be available on the spot or you may have to wait in long lines at the ticket office. Entrance to the main galleries will cost about 20-30 euros, to the houses of nobility and temple expositions about 10-15 euros.
Five facts about the city
- Florence translates from Latin as "blooming".
- This place was founded half a century before Christ.
- The most colorful period in Florence's history is the 15th century. This is the time of the Medici dynasty, under which the city became the capital of the arts.
- Florence is the administrative center of the Tuscany region.
- Now there are about 400,000 people living here.
I suggest energizing yourself with the powerful energy of this majestic city by taking a walk along the itinerary that I have compiled. Its length is 4 km and it covers many sights. But I'm not sure it's realistic to visit all the museums in a day, which I noted - choose the most interesting places or stretch the enjoyment of art for several days. Anyway, my guide is for your attention.
Top 10 attractions in Florence
A. Palazzo Medici Riccardi (Palazzo Medici Riccardi)
The Medici family mansion, which made Florence the "cradle of the Renaissance", is the place to start exploring the city. This castle was built in the middle of the 15th century. It was the first building in the city in the early Renaissance style. A century later, the mansion came into the possession of the Riccardi family, whose surname is also in the name of the palazzo.
The building now houses the Prefecture of the city, so only part of the palace is open to tourists. The apartments available for viewing contain the Riccardi family's art collection. Be sure to check out the courtyard of the castle. There is a Medicean garden with marble statues and lemons in vases. Also visit the Chapel of the Magi, decorated with a fresco by Benozzo Gozzoli.
B. Church of San Lorenzo (Basilica di San Lorenzo)
This church was the parish church of the Medicis and became the tomb of the family. The basilica itself dates back to the 4th century. Its architecture was updated several times during the Middle Ages. While the exterior of the church is rather ascetic, the interior is opulent: the white and gold coffered ceiling, the dome is painted with the works of the best Renaissance architects, and Michelangelo himself worked on the statues in the Medici Chapel.
C. Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore)
Even those who have never been to Florence will recognize this temple. The city's calling card rises above the Duomo square. The construction of St. Mary's Cathedral took almost 150 years: from the end of the 13th century to the first half of the 15th century. Santa Maria del Fiore is an example of Gothic. The trick of the temple is in the decoration. It used Italian marble of three colors: white, red and green. The facade is decorated with bas-reliefs and statues. In the interior, the main role is played by paintings by Michelangelo and stained glass windows by Donatello. To understand the scale of the temple, imagine: it can accommodate 30 thousand parishioners.
The dome of the cathedral was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi and painted by Giorgio Vasari. To get to the observation deck, you have to climb 463 steps. For the panorama of Florence you can also go to the bell tower of the cathedral church - its height is 85 meters, 414 steps lead up to the top.
D. Piazza della Repubblica (Republic Square)
This piazza has been the center of the city since Roman times. In antiquity, it was home to the Forum, a marketplace and public meeting place. Even today, Piazza della Repubblica is bustling with life. There are many restaurants and cafes, a carousel and street musicians.
E. Palazzo Strozzi (Palazzo Strozzi)
And this mansion belongs to a clan opposed to the Medicis. The Strozzi's were banished from their native Florence for some time. When they returned, they decided to build a palace that would rival their rival's. The palazzo is decorated with wrought iron sculptures made by the blacksmith Niccolo Grosso. The central courtyard is surrounded by an arcade. The rooms of the mansion are now used for international exhibitions, fashion shows and other cultural events.
F. Ponte Vecchio (Bridge of the Vecchio)
This bridge over the Arno River was built in the middle of the 14th century. It is the only one to have survived after the Second World War. Originally, the sides of the Ponte Vecchio were used for butchers' shops - there were so many of them that they had to build extensions that protruded from both sides. A corridor was soon added to the top so that the owners of Palazzo Pitti could comfortably access the administration building.
In the 16th century, the Old Bridge was bought by jewelers. Nowadays they sell jewelry and souvenirs. The buildings on the Golden Bridge house one of the best art galleries in the world. It keeps original paintings of famous artists of the 16th-17th centuries.
G. Uffizi Gallery (Galleria degli Uffizi)
The Uffizi is the most popular museum in Italy. It is a real treasure trove of masterpieces by Michelangelo, Giotto, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Perugino, Raphael, Caravaggio, Titian, Rubens and other renowned masters from the Renaissance, Middle Ages and the present day. The majestic building in the shape of the Latin letter U was built by the Medici family to store their art collection. In addition to a gallery surrounded by hanging gardens, the palace also housed a theater.
H. Piazza della Signoria (Signoria Square)
You can see copies of Michelangelo's David Michelangelo's "David", Donatello's "Hercules" and "Judith" can be seen in Piazza della Signoria. There is also a marble fountain "Neptune", made in the 16th century according to Bandinelli's design.
In the square, the Palazzo Vecchio was the seat of government of the Republic of Florence (Signoria). Even now, it retains its reputation as the political center of the city - the late 13th-century palace now serves as the city hall. The 94-meter clock tower is named after the master who built the castle - Arnolfo di Cambio. For some time the castle was the residence of the Medici family. And, like all the houses of the Italian nobility, it boasts rich interior decoration and majesty of the interiors. That's why part of the Old Palace is now a museum.
I. Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica di Santa Croce)
The Church of the Holy Cross is the pantheon for many prominent Florentines: Galileo Galilei, Michelangelo, Niccolo Machiavelli, and Gioacchino Rossini. The construction of the temple began at the end of the 13th century and was finished in the middle of the 15th century. Giotto and Donatello participated in painting the walls of this church. The basilica was supposed to be the largest in the world. It didn't turn out to be. But it is the largest Franciscan temple in Italy.
J. Piazzale Michelangelo (Michelangelo Square)
There's no better place to watch the sunset. From here you can enjoy the most famous view of the city. The square itself was created in the 19th century during the large-scale reconstruction of Florence.
Five more places to see if time permits
Galleria dell'Accademia (Academy of Fine Arts Gallery)
The collection of this museum was conceived as a teaching aid for art students. This is where the original of Michelangelo's David by Michelangelo and four other statues. In the halls you can find many other works by famous Renaissance artists - Uccello, Ghirlandaio, Botticelli, del Sarto. Therefore, the Gallery is the second most popular museum in Florence. The institution itself was the first European academy of painting. It was founded in the 16th century with the support of the Medicis.
Museo Nazionale del Bargello (Bargello Museum)
Many works of famous masters are kept in this museum. The exposition is housed in the halls of a medieval castle. What this palace used to be: a prison, a barracks, a judge's residence, a magistrate's office.
Palazzo Pitti (Palazzo Pitti)
This palace is on the other side of the river. It was built in the mid-15th century for Luca Pitti. A century later, his family went bankrupt and the castle became another residence of the rulers of Florence. Today it houses several large exhibitions: the Palatine Gallery, the Gallery of Modern Art, the Silver Museum, the Porcelain Museum, the Carriage Museum and the Costume Gallery.
Boboli Gardens (Giardino di Boboli)
Behind the Palazzo Pitti is one of the finest parklands of the Italian Renaissance. Keep in mind that there is also an entrance fee. This garden was founded in the middle of the 16th century by the Medici family. Then many gardens of Florence were built in its likeness. Boboli Gardens became the prototype of many royal parks, including the French Versailles. Terraces and grottoes, fountains and pavilions, marble statues and an amphitheater - there is a place to relax from the bustle of the city.
Museo Galileo (Galileo Museum)
The Medici were no less interested in the development of science and technology than in art. The first floor of the building next to the Uffizi Gallery is home to the family's extensive collection. By the way, the museum itself used to be called the Museum of the History of Science, the name of Galileo was given to it after the restoration in 2010. The exposition does contain artifacts of Galileo himself, which once belonged to the Accademia Cimento. The second floor of the museum keeps the valuable scientific collection of another ruling Florence dynasty - Lorraine. The building also houses a library with 150 thousand scientific and historical works.
A little bit about food
Central Market (Mercato Centrale)
You can't get enough of art. I won't tell you about all the cool restaurants in the city, but I will focus on the main market. The first floor of the mercato is dedicated to commerce. Here you will find meat, fish, fruits, oil and much more. And on the second floor is the food court. Here you can eat pizza or pasta, as well as participate in cooking workshops.
Vivoli Gelateria (Vivoli Gelateria)
This is Florence's oldest ice cream parlor. It is run by the fourth generation of the same family. The homemade gelato is fabulous! And the prices are nice.
And lastly,the Bartolucci store
Carlo Collodi, author of The Adventures of Pinocchio, is from Florence. That is why the long-nosed boy is very much loved in the city - they have even organized a chain of wooden doll stores. I marked one of Bartolucci shops on the map. It is always nice to plunge into a fairy tale, and especially at Christmas.
If you are still going to Italy, we recommend reading this text. And we also told you about the benefits of traveling by train and we've compiled some tips for road trips..
