Travel Insights

The capital of Italy’s Tuscany region, Florence, was the birthplace of the Renaissance, and its diverse selection of galleries and palaces is a haven for art and history lovers. Whether you’re an art buff or a gastronome, Florence should definitely be in your list of places to visit.

If you’re already one step ahead and currently planning your trip to Firenze, here are the best things to see and experience in this charming Italian city.

1. Piazza della Signoria

This L-shaped piazza has witnessed many historic events over the centuries, including the return of the Medici in 1530 and the Bonfire of the Vanities. The artworks in the piazza are also testaments to its varied and rich history.

Prominent things to see here are:

1. A copy of Michelangelo’s David (the original is in the Accademia Gallery), which was placed in the plaza by the public in protest of the Medici’s tyrannical rule
2. The Fountain of Neptune which depicts the Medici family’s maritime ambition
3. The statue of Perseo holding Medusa’s head insinuating the fate of people who crossed the Medicis
4. Loggia dei Lanzi, a building with a series of beautiful, wide Corinthian arches in the plaza.

2. The Duomo

Florence’s cathedral is a magnificent Gothic structure, named in honor of Santa Maria del Fiore, features a striking dome designed by aster architect Filippo Brunelleschi. This cathedral is the fourth largest in the world and was built on the 7th century site of the church of Santa Reparta.

The facade of the duomo is an exquisite display of pink, green, and white marble and the interiors feature Vasari’s frescos of the Last Judgment.
Once you’ve admired the interiors, don’t forget to climb to the top of the top of cupola, which gives you a lovely view of the plaza. You can also spot Giotto’s bell tower, a free-standing bell tower or Campanile in the plaza with to-die-for panoramic views of Florence. If you can’t resist a good view, get ready to climb the 414 steps to the top of the tower!

3. Palazzo Vecchio

The Vecchio palace or the Palazzo Vecchio is a delectable mix of Medieval fortress, Roman ruins, and incredible art. The palace was built on the ruins on the ruins of a Roman colony dating back to 1 AD – and yes, you can explore the ruins.

The Palazzo is also unique in the sense it allowed two masters of the Renaissance – Da Vinci and Michelangelo – to work side by side, even though the artworks (the Battle of Anghiari by Da Vinci and the Battle of Cascina by Michelangelo) were never really completed.

You can also explore the palace in depth, especially the second floor, which features the classy Apartments of Eloneora of Toledo, the Apartments of Elements, the Hall of Priors as well as innumerable chapels and chambers with beautiful frescoes. Other interesting corners to explore are Duchess Bianca Capello’s private chambers and the Hall of Maps.

If you’re planning to visit Uffizi Gallery next, take the Vasari Corridor, which was initially built as Duke Cosimo I de Medici’s private passage and now houses a unique collection of self protraits as well as stunning views of the river Arno.

4. Uffizi Gallery

Duke Cosimo de’ Medici trusted Vasari with the task of building a magnificent structure beside the palace to host dignitaries as well as house art, host theatre, and convene judiciary offices (in Italian, “uffizi” means office).

The gallery cum museum is now arranged in a series of labyrinthine rooms featuring striking art, which are mostly displayed in a chronological order.

Prominent things to see here are:

1. Titian’s Venus of Urbino
2. Botticelli’s Primavera and Birth of Venus
3. Filippo Lippi’s Madonna and Child with Two Angels

The gallery also features early Renaissance works of Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Fra Angelico, and Rembrandt.

5. Accademia Gallery

Most tourists flock to Accademia Gallery to witness the timeless beauty and glory of Michelangelo’s David, which he carved out of a single block of marble when he was just 26!

However, there is much to discover beyond David here: art symbolism, music, painting techniques and even botany!

You should also look out for these artworks in the gallery

1. Giambologna’s Rape of the Sabines
2. Botticelli’s Madonna and Child and Madonna of the Sea
3. Michelangelo’s David and Prisoners

6. Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens

Originally built for the Pitti family by Brunelleschi, this palace was later sold to the Medicis and became their primary residence. Now, the Pitti Palace houses the most important museums of Florence:

• Treasury of the Grand Dukes, which was earlier known as the Silver Museum or Museo degli Argenti, on the first and mezzanine floors. This gallery houses delectable treasures that once belonged to the Medicis.
• The first floor has the Palatine Gallery which houses artwork from the 16th and 17th centuries.
• The top floor has the Gallery of Modern Art, featuring 19th and 20th century Tuscan art.

You should also venture out into the Boboli Gardens, whose upper slopes houses the Porcelain Museum and the Costume Gallery. The Boboli Gardens is essentially an open-air museum that looks beautiful throughout the year, but especially during fall.

Other prominent exhibits of the Garden are Garden of the Cavaliere, the Koffeehouse, and Grotta Grande.

7. Bardini Gardens and Museum

The Bardini Gardens is a tranquil spot in the heart of Florence, and its most highlight is the baroque stairs that lead up to a viewpoint of Florence. Other prominent structures here are the six fountains with mosaic bottoms as well as its collection of della Robbia ceramics and artworks by Donatello.

8. Churches in Florence

You will never run out of churches and chapels to admire in the birth place of the Renaissance. After all, it was a matter of pride for the royals and other affluent Florentine families to have their residences as well as family chapels and churches adorned by commissioned work of the masters.

Here are some churches you shouldn’t miss (apart from the Duomo):

1. Medici Chapels, which feature beautiful originals by Michelangelo
2. Santa Maria Novella Church, which carries the emblem of the Medicis and houses many treasures donated by wealthy patrons.
3. Florence Baptistry, which is dedicated to the patron saint of Florence and houses artworks like Gates of Paradise by Ghiberti and the Beheading of St. John by Vincenzo Danti.
4. The Brancacci Chapel, which sparked the Renaissance movement with Masaccio’s frescoes.

9. Museu Galileo

Museo Galileo, which was formerly the Institute and Museum of the History of Science, owns the world’s largest collection of scientific instruments. The museum’s permanent collection includes Galileo’s own instruments, including the telescopes that helped him discover Jupiter’s moons. The museum also conducts ongoing research in the history of science and technology.

10. Palazzo Medici-Riccardi

This was the main Medici palace in the early days and is now famous for its frescoed chapels. The small family Chapel of the Magi and the impressive Galleria nearby are testaments to the baroque styles patronized by the Medicis.

11. Palazzo Strozzi

Rivaling the Medicis, the palace of the Strozzi family was deliberately built to be bigger than the Medici palace. And, since it was created, the Strozzi family strived to make Florence a contemporary city and improve its economy.

Now, the palace houses large halls with exquisite displays of artwork from yesteryears to the present day. It also has a dedicated contemporary art program and also hosts many temporary interactive exhibits, the most famous of which were The Peggy Guggenheim, Gustav Glint, Botticelli, and Cezzane exhibitions.

Other experiences you shouldn’t miss in Florence

1. The St John the Baptist celebrations that include parades in historic costumes to medieval football matches (June 24)
2. Exquisite red wine tasting at the Chianti Classico subregion
3. Angelic choral music at St. Mark’s English Church
4. Coffee and pastries at Caffé Gilli (this cafe has been running since 1733!)
5. Organic gelato made with locally sourced products at Grom’s icecream.