Florence is one of Italy’s great cities. The historic streets seem to be packed with palaces, piazzas, churches, museums and galleries. This Tuscan city was once home to iconic names such as Michelangelo and Machiavelli.
We travelled to Florence for the day-trip from Rome. Our time in the city was quite limited. But lucky for us the city centre is smaller than we were expecting.
So if you’re planning on visiting Florence we’ve made this list of 10 things for you to see and do.
Duomo
Duomo probably tops everybody’s list of things to see in Florence. No doubt because of its famous red tiled dome and impressive marble facade.
You should visit the cathedral and baptistery first to get a feel for it. Then scale the 463 steps to the top of the dome. The views of the city truly are incredible up there.
Piazza della Repubblica
A nice place for you to buy a drink and to recover after climbing Duomo. Piazza della Repubblica has a choice of cafes and is situated right in the centre of Florence.
Palazzo Vecchio
Palazzo Vecchio or the ‘Old Palace’ is the town hall of Florence. A replica of Michelangelo’s David stands at the entrance. The original is now located inside Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze.
Ponte Vecchio
You’ll notice a number of art and jewellery shops on Ponte Vecchio. This medieval stone arched bridge crossing the Arno river is another must visit in Florence.
Museo del Bargello
Museo del Bargello has a significant collection of Tuscan sculptures. You’ll have the opportunity to see some of Michelangelo’s earliest work here. The square in the front of the building seems to attract an equally large collection of scooters!
River Arno
Enjoy a relaxing walk along the Arno river. What I like the most about the river is that its lined with beautiful buildings. You can cross from side to side on one of the many bridges.
Piazza della Signoria
Piazza della Signoria is an L-shaped public space that attracts thousands of tourists and locals. It’s where you can see the statue of Cosimo I as well as the Fountain of Neptune.
Piazza di Santa Trinta
A triangular square, Piazza Santa Trinita is named after the church of the same name. The main reason for your visit would be to see the ancient Roman column in the centre.
Pitti Palace
The vast Pitti Palace was once the residence of Coismo I. The statue of whom you saw in Piazza della Signoria. Nowadays a museum occupies its walls.
End your visit to Florence with a gelato
After all that walking around Florence you’ll be due a treat right? There’s no better way of achieving this than with a gelato. You’ll notice them all over the city.
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