Florence attractions

Florence is a moving symbol of Renaissance art and culture that revived emotions on canvas and in sculpture. The Medici family and its boundless love for aesthetic beauty has made every facet of Florence magnificent and surprising.

The city itself is couched in transcendental natural panoramas created by the Tuscan hillsides and the Arno River that crosses the city. If you walk through Florence's historic center, it will make a lasting impression on you, so get ready to feel enchanted!

Piazza del Duomo – The heart of the city downtown houses the Duomo of Florence, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. The church was designed by Arnolfo da Cambio in 1296 and consecrated by Pope Eugene IV on March 25, 1436, the first day of the year in the ancient Florentine calendar. Brunelleschi's absolute genius gave birth to the massive Cupola that crowns the skyline of Florence and can be seen from almost everywhere.

The adjacent Giotto’s bell tower has a staircase of 414 steps. If you wish to climb them, you can look closely at the dome created by Brunelleschi; you will also have a wonderful panoramic view of the city itself.

Another unique architecture of Piazza del Duomo is San Giovanni Baptistery. Built in Romanesque style, it's opposite the Cathedral and is one of Florence's oldest buildings; young Florentines have been baptized there for centuries. The octagonal structure boasts a succession of finely carved bronze doors; Michelangelo once described the ones by Lorenzo Ghiberti the "Gates of Paradise."

Piazza della Signoria - This solemn square is the point of origin of the Florentine Republic. Palazzo Vecchio, a massive, fortified castle that is also the town hall of Florence, dominates a real open-air museum: Within a few meters you can admire a copy of Michelangelo's David, a massive statue of Neptune and the “Loggia dei Lanzi” with its 13 bronze statues (including the famous Perseus by Cellini).

Uffizi Gallery - this U-shape gallery suspended over the Arno River shelters the invaluable treasures collected by the Medici family. Referred to as the first modern museum in Europe, the Uffizi Gallery was once Francesco I de’ Medici’s private walk among invaluable Renaissance masterpieces such as Sandro Botticelli's The Spring and The Birth of Venus, Leonardo Da Vinci's The Annunciation, and artworks by Michelangelo, Piero della Francesca, Giotto, Raphael, Mantegna and Caravaggio.

Hours of operation of the Uffizi Gallery:
Tuesday - Sunday 8.15am - 6.50pm;
closed on Mondays, January 1st , December 25th, and May 1st. 

Ponte Vecchio - one of the oldest legends in Florence states that if you want to make your love eternal, you have to chain a padlock to Ponte Vecchio and toss the key in the Arno River. The old Roman bridge that crosses the Arno is the most unforgettable and enchanting location in Florence. This is the only bridge in Florence that survived the bombing of World War II, allegedly by a direct order from Hitler, who wanted to preserve Ponte Vecchio’s exceptional beauty.

Bargello Museum - this fortress palace today houses works by Donatello and Michelangelo and a wide collection of Renaissance sculpture. The Bargello is the natural counterpart to the paintings of the Uffizi Gallery.

Hours of operation of the Bargello Museum:
Monday - Sunday 8.30am - 1.50pm;
Closed on the 2nd and 4th Monday and 1st, 3rd and 5th Sunday of each month.

Academy Gallery - the Academy Gallery shows works left unfinished by Michelangelo, such as St. Matthews and the Prisoners, and his world-renowned masterpiece, the David, symbol of Florence’s timeless pride and beauty.

Hours of operation of the Academy Gallery:
Tuesday - Sunday 8.15am - 6.50pm;
Closed on Mondays, January 1st , December 25th, and May 1st.