Best Places to Visit in Florence

The magnificent Piazza del Duomo showcases Florence's artistic and architectural prowess in one breathtaking ensemble. Dominated by Brunelleschi's revolutionary terracotta dome that forever changed Renaissance architecture, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore dazzles with its intricate marble façade in shades of pink, white, and green. 

Climb the 463 steps to the top of the dome for panoramic city views or ascend Giotto's slender Campanile, a masterpiece of Gothic design standing 277 feet tall and adorned with exquisite bas-reliefs that tell the story of human civilization.

The Uffizi Gallery is a temple to Renaissance art, housing one of the world's most significant collections within a 16th-century palace commissioned by Cosimo I de' Medici. Across its chronologically arranged rooms, witness the evolution of Western art on an Italian Renaissance itinerary, from Gothic gold-ground paintings to the flourishing of Renaissance masterpieces. 

Highlights include Botticelli's ethereal Birth of Venus and Primavera, Leonardo da Vinci's unfinished Adoration of the Magi, Michelangelo's Doni Tondo, and Raphael's Madonna of the Goldfinch. The museum's long corridors lined with ancient Roman sculptures and stunning views over the Arno River provide welcome intermissions between galleries.

The Galleria dell'Accademia draws visitors from around the world primarily to behold Michelangelo's colossal David, a 17-foot marble masterpiece embodying Renaissance ideals of human perfection and civic virtue. Standing beneath this towering figure, you can appreciate the extraordinary anatomical details, the intense expression, and the sense of potential energy captured in stone. 

Beyond its famous centerpiece, the museum houses Michelangelo's unfinished Prisoners sculptures, powerful figures seemingly struggling to free themselves from marble blocks, alongside an impressive collection of Gothic and Renaissance paintings, historical musical instruments, and plaster casts that illuminate the artistic processes of the era.

Piazza della Signoria is Florence's political and cultural heart, an open-air museum where centuries of civic history unfold among extraordinary sculptures on a discover Italy tour. Dominated by the fortress-like Palazzo Vecchio with its soaring defensive tower, the square features the Loggia dei Lanzi, an open-air sculpture gallery housing masterpieces like Cellini's Perseus with the Head of Medusa and Giambologna's Rape of the Sabine Women. 

The piazza marks the spot where Savonarola held his "bonfire of the vanities" and was later executed, while a copy of Michelangelo's David stands where the original once did, alongside the imposing Neptune fountain by Ammannati. Here, tourists and locals mingle in the shadow of history, making it Florence's most vibrant public space.

The iconic Ponte Vecchio spans the Arno River as Florence's oldest and most distinctive bridge, dating back to 1345 and remarkably surviving World War II bombing while all other bridges were destroyed. Its distinctive structure, lined with hanging houses and shops that jut out over the water, creates a picturesque silhouette instantly recognizable worldwide. 

Originally hosting butchers and tanners, today the bridge gleams with fine jewelry shops housed behind wooden shutters that close like treasure chests each evening. The Vasari Corridor runs above the eastern side, a private elevated passageway built for the Medici to travel between the Uffizi and Pitti Palace without mixing with commoners below, while the central opening offers spectacular views along the river.

Piazzale Michelangelo will reward you if you climb its slopes for Florence's most spectacular panorama, a sweeping vista encompassing the entire historic center, the Duomo rising majestically above the terracotta rooftops. Created in 1869 as part of urban renewal during Florence's brief period as Italy's capital, this elegant terrace features a bronze replica of Michelangelo's David at its center. 

Particularly magical at sunset when the Renaissance city is bathed in golden light, the piazzale attracts photographers, lovers, and dreamers who gather to witness the city's timeless beauty while street musicians provide atmospheric accompaniment, making it worth every step of the uphill journey.

The Basilica di Santa Croce rises in solemn Gothic splendor as Florence's "Pantheon," housing spectacular funerary monuments to Italian luminaries including Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, and Rossini. Its vast, light-filled interior showcases extraordinary frescoes by Giotto and his school that revolutionized Western painting with emotional expressiveness and spatial innovation. 

Beyond the church, discover the Pazzi Chapel, a perfect example of Renaissance harmony designed by Brunelleschi, alongside atmospheric cloisters and the Leather School, where traditional Florentine craftsmanship continues to this day. During the devastating 1966 flood, waters here rose to 20 feet, leaving poignant markers that remind you of Florence's ongoing relationship with preservation and renewal.

Palazzo Vecchio stands as Florence's power center, its crenellated fortress exterior and soaring 311-foot bell tower projecting strength, while concealing sumptuous interiors that transition from medieval severity to Renaissance splendor. On a treasures of Rome, Florence, and Cinque Terre itinerary, discover the impressive Salone dei Cinquecento with its 39-foot ceilings adorned with Vasari's elaborate battle scenes and intimately scaled private apartments where the Medici family resided before moving to Palazzo Pitti. 

Secret passages and hidden chambers reveal the palace's complex history of intrigue. The building continues to serve as Florence's town hall, making it a living monument where Renaissance history and contemporary civic life seamlessly converge.

The Giardino Bardini offers a tranquil retreat from Florence's bustling center, its terraced gardens rising up the hillside to present spectacular views framed by ancient trees and architectural elements. The garden's magnificent Baroque staircase forms its central spine, while in spring, you will be treated to the enchantment of the wisteria tunnel in full purple bloom, a breathtaking sight that has become an Instagram favorite. 

Originally belonging to the wealthy Bardini family, the gardens showcase different historical styles, with formal Italian sections, English woodland areas, and agricultural elements that include historic fruit orchards that connect to Florence's rural traditions. Less crowded than the nearby Boboli Gardens, this hidden gem allows for quiet contemplation of the Renaissance city from a perspective few tourists discover.

The Medici Chapels showcase the boundless ambition and artistic patronage of Florence's powerful Medici family and house their monumental tombs within the San Lorenzo basilica complex. Michelangelo's hidden compartment, recently opened to the public within the Medici Chapels, contains sketches believed to be his that offer insight into a tumultuous period of his life when he sought refuge from the family. The discovery and limited access to this secret room add a compelling layer to understanding the way in which the family operated. 

The New Sacristy, designed by Michelangelo, contains his extraordinary sculptural ensemble for the tombs of Lorenzo and Giuliano de' Medici, where allegorical figures of Day, Night, Dawn, and Dusk recline on curved surfaces in poses of profound psychological tension. The adjacent octagonal Chapel of the Princes will overwhelm you with its sheer opulence, walls entirely covered in precious hard stones and semiprecious gems, creating one of the most expensive decorative projects ever undertaken. These lavish spaces reflect the family’s determination to project power through artistic patronage and their complex relationship with a city they served and dominated.

San Miniato al Monte crowns one of Florence's highest points, its striking green and white marble façade glowing in the Tuscan sun above the city since the 11th century. This exquisite Romanesque church honors the city's first Christian martyr and rewards pilgrims with spiritual treasures and breathtaking panoramas. Inside, discover an elevated choir with an exceptional inlaid marble zodiac floor, a mysterious crypt containing the saint's remains, and frescoes dating from various periods, including Spinello Aretino's scenes from the life of St. Benedict. 

The adjacent monastery still houses Olivetan monks who produce renowned honey and herbal products sold in their shop, while the monumental cemetery beside the church contains the graves of notable Florentines, including Carlo Collodi, creator of Pinocchio. Reaching this sacred site requires climbing significant steps beyond Piazzale Michelangelo, but the architectural beauty and tranquil atmosphere make it well worth the effort.

Santa Maria Novella presents one of Italy's most important Gothic-Renaissance façades, a harmonious marble composition begun by Fra Jacopo Talenti and completed by Leon Battista Alberti, who added the perfect proportions of the upper section. Inside this Dominican church, artistic treasures abound. Masaccio's revolutionary Trinity fresco demonstrates mathematical perspective and Ghirlandaio's frescoed Tornabuoni Chapel depicts contemporary Florentine society. 

Adjacent to the church stands the world's oldest operating pharmacy, Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella. It was founded by Dominican friars in 1221 and still produces exquisite perfumes and herbal remedies using traditional methods. You can find out more about these on our immersive Italian tour to Florence, Cinque Terre, and Sardinia tour. The complex's atmospheric cloisters and chapter house with The Spanish Chapel's frescoes make this site a comprehensive introduction to Florence's religious, artistic, and scientific heritage.

Florence's timeless beauty and cultural significance make it an essential destination for any traveler to Italy. While this guide highlights the city's most celebrated attractions, the true joy of Florence lies in allowing yourself to wander its ancient streets, discovering hidden courtyards, sampling local cuisine, and absorbing the artistic spirit that continues to define this Renaissance jewel. Each visit reveals new layers of history and beauty that keep travelers returning time and again.

For more detailed itineraries, seasonal events, and insider tips on experiencing Florence like a local, explore our comprehensive Florence travel guide. Further information is available in our  Italy travel guide or Tuscany travel guide.