The historic and happening Oltrarno—which sits just across the Arno River from central Florence—is one of the city’s most dynamic neighborhoods. It’s home to Pitti Palace (Palazzo Pitti) and Boboli Gardens (Giardino di Boboli), as well as Brunelleschi’s Santo Spirito Basilica and Santa Maria del Carmine’s Brancacci Chapel, frescoed by Filippino Lippi. Panoramic Piazzale Michelangelo perches just above, and lively artisan workshops, restaurants, and wine bars line the district’s narrow lanes.
Florence’s Santa Croce Basilica has a grand piazza and an instantly recognizable neo-Gothic facade—but what’s on the inside is even more impressive. One of the most important churches in the city, the 13th-century basilica is a treasure trove of Renaissance artwork and history, with masterpieces by Brunelleschi, Donatello, and Giotto. It’s also the final resting place of luminaries, including Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli.
Dominated by the Basilica Santa Croce, the sweeping Piazza Santa Croce is one of the largest squares in Florence’s historic center. Created in grand style to accommodate more churchgoers in medieval times, the square now serves as the pitch of the annual calcio storico—the spectacle of a combative (and even brutal) 15th-century game that suggests soccer, rugby, and wrestling, which takes place in the square every June.
It may not have an ornate marble facade like the neighboring Duomo, but the Basilica of San Lorenzo (Basilica di San Lorenzo) is one of the oldest and most important Renaissance churches in Florence. Commissioned by Cosimo the Elder—patriarch of the Medici dynasty—the church is home to magnificent sculptural and architectural works by Michelangelo, including the Medici Chapels and Laurentian Library.
Florence’s 19th-century Central Market (Mercato Centrale) has all the gastronomic variety you’d expect from the city’s largest covered market. Some Florentines still do their daily shopping on the ground floor—a great place to sample Tuscan cheeses and Chianti wine, then stock up on gourmet goods to take home. Upstairs, a modern food court offers everything from fresh pasta with truffles to burgers made with local Chianina beef, as well as a cooking school.
For a glimpse into the sumptuous life of Florence’s powerful Medici family, look no further than the Medici Riccardi Palace (Palazzo Medici Riccardi). Designed by the architect Michelozzo for Cosimo the Elder, the 15th-century palace is now a museum displaying masterpieces collected by members of the Medici and Riccardi families. Get a feel for the palace’s Renaissance glory with Filippo Lippi’s Madonna With Child, then see its baroque era in the lavishly frescoed Mirror Gallery.
With so many cultural treasures in Florence, San Miniato al Monte, perched high up on a hilltop outside the city, would be easy to skip. However, this handsome church is considered among the finest examples of Romanesque architecture in Tuscany. Its intricate exterior stonework, 13th-century apse mosaic, and sweeping views over Florence make the effort to reach it worthwhile. Be sure to visit the church’s crypt, decorated with frescoes by Taddeo Gaddi.
The image of Michelangelo’s David—one of the world’s best-known works of art—is so ubiquitous in Florence that it’s become a symbol of Italy’s Renaissance capital. Carved between 1501 and 1504, then installed at the custom-built Accademia Gallery (Galleria dell’Accademia) in 1873, the sculptural masterpiece symbolizes the liberty of Florence and the beauty of the human form.
If one structure embodies the resilience of Renaissance humanism, it is this 16th-century bridge in the heart of Florence. All but destroyed by retreating Nazis during World War II, the Ponte Santa Trinita was painstakingly rebuilt with original stones salvaged from the Arno River. Ponte Santa Trinita is often overshadowed by Ponte Vecchio, just downriver; however, its elegant elliptical arches and dramatic history make it one of Florence’s most beloved landmarks.
A literal walk through history, the Vasari Corridor (Corridoio Vasariano) was the Medici family’s private passageway through central Florence. Giorgio Vasari designed the elevated, covered walkway over the Arno River in the 16th century, allowing the Grand Dukes to discreetly get from work at the Palazzo Vecchio to their home in the Pitti Palace. You can follow in their footsteps today—and admire the views from the corridor’s windows atop the Ponte Vecchio.
The oldest known pharmacy in the world, the Pharmacy of Santa Maria Novella, is hidden just around the corner from Florence’s Basilica of Santa Maria Novella. Dominican friars established the apothecary in 1221, and it continues to use traditional techniques to produce soaps, cosmetics, and fragrances—including a perfume created for Catherine de’ Medici. Come to shop for Florentine souvenirs, and stay to see the boutique-museum's frescoed ceilings and original apothecary equipment.
The deconsecrated church of Santo Stefano al Ponte Vecchio is now Cattedrale dell’Immagine—a venue for digital art exhibitions in the heart of Florence. While live music concerts take place here during evenings, by day, visitors come to be immersed in exhibitions, many of which feature projections onto the walls and floor of the former church, virtual reality experiences, and video footage.
Palazzo Strozzi once was a lavish private residence, belonging to the aristocratic Strozzi family in the 15th century. After a makeover, it opened to the public in 1940 as Florence’s largest exhibition space. Today, the trendy museum and cultural center is still going strong, regularly hosting blockbuster shows and retrospectives from contemporary art world A-listers such as Tracey Emin, Anish Kapoor, and Damien Hirst.
Palazzo Gucci showcases more than a century of Gucci history in Piazza della Signoria. Get to know the story of the fashion house—born in Florence in 1921—in the Gucci Galleria exhibits, which display everything from luxe evening gowns to leather accessories. The site’s shop sells fashion books and ready-to-wear Gucci couture, while two restaurants are destinations in their own right: the high-end Gucci Osteria and Gucci Giardino, an all-day café and cocktail bar.
The Mall is Tuscany’s premiere luxury outlet shopping area, where goods made by dozens of high-fashion designer brands are sold at discounted prices. Come for gorgeous clothing, shoes, and accessories from world-famous fashion houses like Armani, Burberry, Stella McCartney, Fendi, Versace, Valentino, Balenciaga, Yves Saint Laurent, and many more.
Stretching 150 miles (241 kilometers) from Tuscany’s Mt. Falterona to the Ligurian Sea, the Arno River is the best-known river in central Italy after the Tiber. While the river flows through Pisa, it is most often visited in Florence, where it divides the city into two and serves as a meeting point for locals. Florence’s bridges—including the famous Ponte Vecchio, the oldest bridge in the city—are renowned for their Arno views.
Every day, countless crowds marvel at the cathedral, bell tower, and baptistery in Florence’s Piazza del Duomo—without knowing that many of the monuments’ original artworks are housed steps away in the Opera del Duomo Museum (Museo dell'Opera del Duomo). This masterpiece-filled gallery is where you can see Lorenzo Ghiberti’s bronze Gates of Paradise, carved for the Baptistery of St. John, as well as the unfinished Pietà Bandini that Michelangelo intended to cover his own tomb.
The Basilica of Santa Maria Novella is one of Florence’s star Renaissance attractions. Its Gothic geometric marble facade in green and white immediately draws the eye, yet you’ll find the most important artwork inside. Just a few highlights include Masaccio’s Holy Trinity, a crucifix by Giotto, Domenico Ghirlandaio’s frescoes of the Virgin Mary, and works by Botticelli, Brunelleschi, and other masters from the 13th to 15th centuries.
Dedicated to the great Italian poet, writer, and philosopher Dante Alighieri, this house museum is set on the foundations of his family’s 13th-century home. Here you can see reproductions of early manuscripts of The Divine Comedy, along with interactive displays that provide some background on Dante’s life and Florence in the 13th century.
If Florence is the capital of the Italian Renaissance, then the National Museum of Bargello (Museo Nazionale del Bargello) is the capital of Italian Renaissance sculpture. One of five sites that comprise the Bargello Museums, the National Museum of Bargello (often referred to as the Bargello), offers an impressive collection with four Michelangelo works, standout Donatello sculptures, and other masterpieces by household names of the 14th–16th centuries—all displayed in the beautiful Palazzo del Podestà.
Italian style is loved and emulated worldwide, and one of the country’s most recognized fashion houses is Prada. Head to the Prada Outlet to find the label’s chic bags, shoes, clothing, and accessories—including pieces from Prada-owned brands such as Miu Miu—at discounts of up to 50 percent off retail prices. Also known as the Space Outlet, the shopping destination is just an hour outside of Florence.
With its beautiful grassy expanses and Renaissance basilica of Santa Maria Novella, Florence’s Piazza di Santa Maria Novella is beloved by Florentines and visitors alike. The centrally located square, lined with historic townhouses, restaurants, and cafés, has been a popular gathering place for 800 years.
Two life-size stone lions flank the stairway to the Loggia dei Lanzi (also called the Loggia della Signoria), an open-air gallery situated between the north end of the Uffizi Galleries (Gallerie degli Uffizi) and Piazza della Signoria. Though strikingly realistic, the lions are overshadowed by the masterpieces beneath the loggia’s three Gothic arches, including Benvenuto Cellini’s Perseus with the Head of Medusa and Giambologna’s Rape of the Sabine Women.
The 15th-century Pitti Palace (Palazzo Pitti)—one of the grandest Renaissance buildings in Florence—houses the Palatine Gallery, which showcases over 500 paintings dating from the 15th century that were collected by the Medici family. The collection features works by Italian masters, including Titian, Raphael, Caravaggio, and Pietro da Cortona, as well as Rubens and Velázquez.
Pit yourself against the genius of Leonardo da Vinci at this museum that spotlights his engineering and mechanical feats. Working models of the Italian luminary’s inventions, from the hydraulic saw to the printing press, bring his original sketches to life, while a workshop gives you the chance to do some building of your own. With multimedia exhibits and hands-on displays, the Leonardo Interactive Museum® is a fun stop for both kids and adults.
With a hilltop vantage point overlooking Brunelleschi’s Dome and the city beyond, the Bardini Garden is home to one of the most beautiful green spaces in central Florence. Tree-lined gravel paths, pretty fountains, and lots of flower varieties make the garden well worth visiting any time of year. For the best photo ops, head to the grand baroque staircase and a wisteria pergola that blooms in the spring.
In a city filled with artistic masterpieces, the San Marco Museum (Museo di San Marco) has the distinction of being home to the world’s most important collection of paintings by Fra Angelico. The 15th-century former Dominican convent—restored by Michelozzo and a well-preserved example of Florentine Renaissance architecture—is also home to works by Fra Bartolomeo, Domenico Ghirlandaio, and Lorenzo Ghiberti, as well as a library containing a collection of historic illuminated manuscripts.
The energetic city of Naples can be daunting, with its warren of scooter-clogged streets and lanes teeming with open-air vendors that stretch from the bay to Mt. Vesuvius. Luckily, you can enjoy the best of what Naples has to offer by simply concentrating on the UNESCO-listed historic center, one of the most captivating in Italy.
Visit Sant’Ambrogio Market, which traces its roots back to 1873, and you’ll find more locals shopping than tourists. That’s because it’s an authentic alternative to the tourist-heavy Central Market, supermarket groceries, and fast-food lunch options. Here, you’ll find flavorful produce sourced straight from the Tuscan hills, and sold by local vendors. While the main draw is undoubtedly food, the market sells clothes, homewares, and flowers, too.
Piazza della Santissima Annunziata is one of the most elegant squares in Florence, and is considered to be an important Italian historical and cultural site. Located in the city’s historic center, it is lined on three sides by the Renaissance porticoes of the Basilica della Santissima Annunziata, the Ospedale degli Innocenti, and the Loggia dei Servi di Maria. Tour the piazza to admire its architecture, Giambologna’s Grand Duke Ferdinando I de' Medici equestrian statue at its center, and twin fountains.
