MONUMENTS
Florence boasts an unparalleled artistic, architectural, historical, and cultural heritage. Here, we have chosen to talk about eight iconic places in the city.
CATHEDRAL OF FLORENCE
The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, completed in 1436, is the third-largest church in the world, and its dome was designed by Brunelleschi. Inside, you can find the largest surface ever decorated with frescoes, covering 3600 square meters, painted by Vasari and Zuccari. It combines various styles such as Gothic and Romanesque, along with an unmistakable Renaissance taste. The exterior, featuring polychrome marbles, is of modern origin.
For information and tickets, visit: https://duomo.firenze.it/en/home
BAPTISTERY OF SAN GIOVANNI
Located in Piazza del Duomo, in front of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Baptistery of San Giovanni is a splendid example of Italian Romanesque architecture. It has an octagonal plan and its walls are adorned with an alternation of white and green marbles, interrupted only by the three entrance portals and twenty-four windows. Inside, the vault and walls are covered with mosaics in Byzantine style, completed by Tuscan artists such as Comabue, Meliore, and Coppo di Marcovaldo.
The visit to the Baptistery of San Giovanni is included in all the passes available for purchase online to visit all the monuments in Piazza del Duomo (Brunelleschi, Giotto, and Ghiberti).
GIOTTO’S CAMPANILE
The bell tower of Florence’s Duomo has a square base of 15 meters and a height of almost 85 meters. Its construction was entrusted to Giotto in 1334; however, he passed away several years later, leaving the continuation of the works to Nicola Pisano and then to Francesco Talenti, who completed them in 1359. The tower can be visited from the inside by climbing the 414 steps that lead to the top, where visitors can enjoy a splendid view of the city.
PALAZZO VECCHIO
Located in Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio is currently the seat of the municipality, while from 1865 to 1871, it housed the Parliament of the Kingdom of Italy. Even earlier, it was the scene of the conflict between the Guelfs and the Ghibellines. The visit includes the Roman theater excavations, the tower, and the walkway, as well as the monumental rooms adorned with noteworthy frescoes and sculptures. Especially remarkable are the Salone dei Duecento and the Salone dei Cinquecento.
You can purchase tickets online, but make sure to check the days and opening hours beforehand, as Palazzo Vecchio, being an institutional site, may have extraordinary closures due to special events.
PALAZZO PITTI
It was purchased in 1550 by the Medici family, who turned it into a symbol of grand-ducal control over Tuscany before becoming the residence of the Habsburg-Lorraine and later the Savoy. Today, it houses several museums: the Treasury of the Grand Dukes and the Museum of Russian Icons, the Palatine Gallery and the Imperial Apartments, the Palatine Chapel, the Gallery of Modern Art, and the Museum of Fashion and Costume.
For information and tickets, visit: https://www.uffizi.it/en/palazzo-pitti
GIARDINO DI BOBOLI
Extending behind Palazzo Pitti, the Boboli Gardens are the most renowned example of an Italian garden, serving as a model for many European courts and attracting 800,000 visitors each year. A true open-air museum, it is rich in sculptures and architectural-landscape beauties, including caves, obelisks, and large fountains like the Fountain of Neptune, the lemon house, the Prato delle Colonne, and numerous statues depicting Roman emperors and deities.
For information and tickets, visit: https://www.uffizi.it/en/boboli-garden
PONTE VECCHIO
It is the iconic bridge of Florence, dating back to the Roman era and, until 1218, it was the only bridge crossing the Arno River. Over the centuries, it has been destroyed and rebuilt several times. The current structure dates back to the mid-1300s. In the 1400s, Ponte Vecchio was a sort of marketplace with butcher shops and fruit and vegetable vendors on its sides, taking advantage of the river to dispose of waste. After the mid-1500s, the Vasari Corridor, designed by Vasari himself, was built above Ponte Vecchio, connecting Palazzo Pitti to Palazzo Vecchio, enabling Cosimo I de’ Medici to move conveniently between his private residence and the government palace. This led to the banishment of the stalls and the establishment of the famous goldsmith shops that still adorn the bridge today.
Ponte Vecchio is always open, while the Vasari Corridor is currently undergoing restoration. It is advisable to check its opening status on the website before planning a visit: https://www.uffizi.it/en/vasari-corridor
PIAZZALE MICHELANGELO
It is the most panoramic spot in Florence, offering a splendid view of the city and the Arno River. Built in 1869 by the architect Giuseppe Poggi to celebrate the greatness of Michelangelo and his works, the square was originally meant to house various works by Michelangelo in a loggia. However, it never became a museum, remaining famous for its beauty. The Piazzale Michelangelo can be reached on foot by climbing the stairs of the Rampe dei Poggi.