e-travel-to Florence - Tourist Attractions & Sights

Santa Maria Novella

From its front view, the church of Santa Maria Novella is one of the city's most gorgeous buildings, and inside it has yet more fabulous Renaissance frescoes, by Uccello, Ghirlandaio and others.

Ponte Vecchio Florence

The most famous bridge in Florence and also the oldest, this structure with three stone arches replaced a wooden bridge which had crossed the Arno River at this spot since Roman times. The upper side of the bridge, known as the Vasariano corridor, was designed by Vasari to link the Palazzo Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery to the Pitti Palace; today it is an art gallery.
The bridge is inhabited. Originally the sides held food shops but by the end of the 15th century the shops were assigned to goldsmiths and silversmiths. An opening midway across the bridge offers views of the river and shore.
Special recommended hotels Ponte Vecchio

Palazzo Vecchio (Old Palace) - Piazza della Signoria, Florence

The Palazzo Vecchio was completed in 1322 and it still serves its original role as Florence's town hall. The tall and imposing bell tower was built to announce city meetings or to warn of flood, fire or enemy attack. Much of the interior was remodelled when Duke Cosimo I moved into the palace in 1540, although it still retains a fairly medieval appearance. Both Leonardo da Vinci and Michelango were approached to redecorate, but it was Vasari who finally undertook the work, creating many elaborate features.

The Piazza del Signoria is a truly unique outdoor sculpture gallery and a cultural centre of Florence, surrounded by some of the city's most celebrated buildings. It has been at the heart of the city's politics since the 14th century and the many striking statues commemorate important events in the city's history
Special recommended hotels Piazza della Signoria

The Uffizi

The greatest art gallery in Italy - it's as simple as that.

Occupying the top floor of a large building erected by Giorgio Vasari between 1560 and 1580, the gallery has a large collection of Primitive and Renaissance paintings. Amongst the pieces are works by Botticelli, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raffaello, Giotto, Cimabue and Masaccio.

To reserve a Guided Visit to the Uffizi Gallery click here
Special recommended hotels near Uffizi

Bóboli Gardens

The Boboli Gardens (Giardino di Boboli) are rich and extravagant pleasure-gardens with large expanses to explore, and photogenic views over Florence. Designed by the Grand Dukes as a venue for extravagant parties and celebrations, the garden is dotted with statuary, fountains and a variety of features commissioned specially, or taken from the fabulous Medici art collections. The Boboli Gardens spread over the steep hillside behind the vast Pitti Palace, over the Arno from central Florence.

Accademia Gallery

Guided Visit to the Accademia Gallery Florence
Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of Michelangelo! The Accademia Gallery in Florence attracts visitors from all over the world to gaze upon masterpieces by famous artists, especially Michelangelo's most famous work - the statue of David. Other important works of art by Michelangelo include Prigioni and San Matteo.

There is also a collection of sculptures by the 19th century sculptors Lorenzo Bartolini and Luigi Pampaloni, as well as a section of Russian icons. Recently the Gallery has been further enriched by the collection of old musical instruments from the Cherubini Conservatory, the Museum of Musical Instruments.
Special recommended hotels near Accademia Gallery

Brunelleschi's Dome

What Masaccio did for painting, his contemporary Brunelleschi did for architecture; he created the cathedral's amazing dome, which offers a stunning view of the city.

Palazzo Medici-Riccardi

Via Cavour 11, Florence

This town mansion on Via Cavour was built for Cosimo I Vecchio by Michelozzo over 500 years ago and its famous classical Renaissance facade has served as a model for many other well-known Italian palaces. Over the years the palace has been host to countless famous individuals, including royalty and artists. The palace was the residence of the powerful Medici family until 1540, when Cosimo I moved into the Palazzo Vecchio. Across the road are the stunning Medici Chapels, built to serve as mausoleums to this family, showing their immense wealth and influence.
Special recommended hotels near Palazzo Medici-Riccardi

San Miniato al Monte

Walk across the Ponte Vecchio and turn left to reach the marble-fronted church of San Miniato - the building itself is exquisite, and you get a classic view of Florence from its front door.

Palazzo Strozzi

Piazza Degli Strozzi, Florence

This striking Renaissance palace is one of the most magnificent palaces in the city. Construction began in 1489 for wealthy banker Filippo Strozzi, who sadly died two years later, after only the foundations had been laid. The sheer size of the Palazzo Strozzi is simply immense and 15 buildings were demolished to make room for it. Building was finally completed in 1536 and although it only has three storeys, each floor is as tall as a normal palazzo. Today, the palace is used for art exhibitions and also houses various institutes and a large library.

Benvenuto

Benvenuto looks more like a delicatessen than a trattoria from the street, but the groups waiting for a table give the game away; the gnocchi and arista are delicious.

Teatro Comunale (City Theatre)

16, Corso Italia, Florence

Near to the Piazza Vittorio Veneto is the Teatro Comunale, the most important concert hall in the city. Over the years, countless famous names have performed on the stage, such as Maria Callas, Pietro Mascagni, Richard Strauss, Igor Stravinsky, Luciano Berio and many others. Originally the Politeama Fiorentino, an open-air amphitheatre, the existing building was designed by Telemaco Bonaiuti in 1862 and the main theatre area can seat around 2,000 people. There are many concerts, operas, festivals and events held in this theatre throughout the year, including the famous Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.

Santa Croce

Santa Croce is a wonderful Gothic basilica containing superb frescoes by Giotto and others, with tranquil cloisters adjoining.

The parish church of the Pazzi family was one of the largest churches in Christendom, and second only in Florence to the Cathedral of Santa Maria itself. Some of the greatest Florentine architects, including Brunelleschi, designed chapels and cloisters for this sprawling holy complex. It quickly became a mausoleum for the greatest citizens of Florence - among them, Dante, Alberti, Michelangelo, Machiavelli and Galileo.
Special recommended hotels near Santa Croce

Palazzo Pitti / Giardini di Boboli

Piazza de' Pitti, Florence

The Palazzo Pitti is situated on the southern bank of the River Arno and was designed for the Pitt family by Brunelleschi. This huge palace is quite imposing and features some wonderful pieces of art by Raphael, Filippo Lippi, Tintoretto, Veronese and Rubens - all displayed in beautifully decorated rooms. The palace is also home to a modern art collection and a costume collection. Outside to the rear is the stunning landscaped Boboli Gardens, with ponds, fountains and formal clipped hedges. This is one of the top tourist attractions in this part of Florence.

Palazzo dei Congressi

14 Viale Filippo Strozzi, Florence

Housed in the 18th-century Villa Vittoria, which was built by the Strozzi family, the Palazzo dei Congressi has become the best exhibition and modern international conference centre in Florence. Situated next to the Santa Maria Novella, the Villa Vittoria offers superb facilities for large events and has 13 rooms and an open-air amphitheatre. Outside there are also beautifully landscaped gardens.

The Brancacci Chapel

Encapsulating the dawning of the Renaissance, Masaccio's set of frescos in the Brancacci Chapel of the Carmini church is worth a visit, however long you have to wait to get in.

Stazione Centrale - Santa Maria Novella

Piazza di Santa Maria Novella, Florence

Opened in 1935, Florence's Santa Maria Novella (SMN) railway station is part of the major Italian north-south train network and high-speed trains run regularly between Milan and Rome, stopping in Florence. The station features a large atrium covered by a glass cascade and is one of Italy's most important landmarks in modern architecture. It was built outside the beautiful Santa Maria Novella church, which is where its name originates.

Vivoli

Vivoli serves up the finest Florentine ice cream; search it out in tiny Via Isola delle Stinche.

Fiesole

The little hill town of Fiesole is a great place from which to survey the city of Florence; and you'll get a taste for the more bucolic pleasures that await elsewhere in Tuscany.