Florence – Guide to Historic Firenze

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore: You absolutely can’t miss seeing this iconic cathedral in Florence. This massive structure towers over the city with multiple beautiful sections to explore. The line to go inside the cathedral is usually quite long and I believe it is a paid entrance – but we didn’t go inside this way. Read the next point to see how we go in! 

 Climb the Duomo: I hope you didn’t skip leg day because you’ll need your strength to climb all 463 stairs to the top of the Duomo. Climbing the cupola gives you incredible views of the city as well as a unique perspective on the inside of the cathedral. On the climb up, you actually get to walk around the ledge of the upper dome from the inside, looking down over the whole cathedral. On the exit of the climb, you also get to see the inside of the cathedral. Compared to some of the other cathedrals we saw in Italy, the inside was just ok. The doors and the exterior of the cathedral were more stunning, in my opinion. We booked this ticket for 15 Euro per person which is a timed entrance for the Duomo climb and also gives you access to the museum, baptistery, Santa Reparata, and the Bell Tower. 

Accademia Gallery (The David): A must-see when in Florence, don’t miss Michelangelo’s “David” in the Accademia Gallery. The “David” is definitely the highlight, but there is more to this museum including a large collection of paintings and sculptures. It took us about an hour to make our way through the museum. I highly recommend buying a timed entry ticket online ahead of time because the non-timed entry line is always massive. Print out your ticket receipt and bring it to the ticket office across the street from the entrance. There, they will trade in your receipt for your actual tickets, then you can get in the line to enter.

Mercato Centrale: Check out the bustling Mercato Centrale to pick up an grocery items or a quick bite! On the first level, you’ll find butchers, pasta shops, little restaurants, produce and more. One the second level you’ll find a big open hall with a bunch of restaurant vendors and a couple bars. Surrounding the mercato the streets are lined with vendors of all sorts from fabrics to leathers, from souvenirs to books. 

Piazza della Signoria: This is the most politically important square in Florence because it houses the city council and any important figures. This square is also visually stunning. Real marble statues stand in the square for all to marvel. You will also find the only replica of the statue of David (and it’s smaller than the original).

Uffizi Gallery: This was, in my opinion, the best museum in Florence. The museum features incredible artwork, most notably, ‘Birth of Venus’ and ‘Spring’ by Sandro Botticelli, ‘The Annunciation’ by Leonardo da Vinci, ‘Madonna Del Cardellino’ by Raphael, and more. We spent about 3 hours in this museum and brought our “Rick Steves” guide book to explain more about the works of art. I recommend buying the PassePartout 5 Day combo ticket. This gives you access to the Uffizi Gallery, the Boboli Gardens, and the Palazzo Pitti.  Your Uffizi Gallery entrance will be timed so you have to get your receipts traded in for tickets at the ticket office before entering the gallery for your timed entry.

Boboli Gardens and Palazzo Pitti: We visited the palace and gardens right after the Uffizi Gallery – and it was a lot. I highly recommend splitting the visit into two days, Uffizi on the first day, Boboli Gardens and Palazzo Pitti on the second. The Palazzo Pitti has multiple small museums within the palace that you can explore. After a long morning at the Uffizi, it all started to look the same and I didn’t appreciate it as much as I should have. Strolling through the gardens was lovely, but I recommending making a plan! The gardens are huge so if you just start strolling, you’ll be walking forever and not see the main sights. Grab a map ahead of time and plan out your route. 

Piazzale Michelangelo: Plan a visit to this beautiful plaza with incredible views of Florence. It is a decent hike uphill to get to the top, or there is a road where you can take a taxi to the top. Bring a pizza or buy some drinks at the stands located on top of the hill to relax and enjoy the view.

Ponte Vecchio: This bridge crosses the Arno river and is lined with jewelry shops. The bridge is always crowded with tourists and shoppers alike. Take in the great views of the river from this bridge. 

Piazza della Repubblica: Swing by one of the main squares in Florence to see The Column of Abundance and peruse the surrounding shops and restaurants. You’ll find a lot of upscale shopping in this area. It’s very lively square, especially at night, and a beautiful spot for people watching.

Santa Croce: About 800 meters away from the main Duomo, check out the Santa Croce Basilica. It is also known as the ‘Temple of the Italian Glories’ because it is the burial place of multiple notable italians such as Michelangelo and Galileo. We just admired the basilica from the outside and relaxed on the steps out front. 

Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio: The oldest market in Florence, the Sant’Ambrogio is a covered market full of traditional italian products. You can grab a bite to eat or find some delicious local goods. It’s not a necessity, but if you’re looking for some true local people watching and food, this is it!