This article presents a list (with photos, descriptions, addresses and websites) of the main and most striking sights and museums of Florence that are worth visiting first or if there is little time allocated to the city (1-2 and 3 days).
If you need the most complete and detailed list of attractions, museums, parks, palaces, observation decks, significant objects and interesting places in Florence, then you can view it here →
You can visit the sights and museums of Florence, including the TOP ones, as well as travel outside of Florence and see the beautiful Tuscany, both on your own and with excursions.
Excursions in Florence and outside the city (in Tuscany)
TOP attractions and museums in Florence
Duomo Complex
The Duomo complex or Santa Maria del Fiore complex is the main ensemble and the most famous landmark of Florence.
The main ensemble is dominated by the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and related objects.
The Duomo complex includes:
- Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore;
- crypt - the underground remains of the former Cathedral of Santa Reparata (Cripta Santa Reparata), located under the cathedral;
- the dome of the cathedral with an observation deck, called "Cupola del Brunelleschi";
- terraces of the cathedral, which offer views of both the cathedral itself and Florence;
- detached Giotto's bell tower (Giotto's Campanile, Campanile di Giotto) with viewing platforms;
- Baptistery of San Giovanni or Baptistery of St. John (Battistero di San Giovanni), which has the status of a minor basilica;
- The Museum of the Opera Duomo (Museo dell'Opera del Duomo), which is a museum complex of the Cathedral of Florence.
The complex is located in the historical heart of Florence, on the Duomo and San Giovanni squares.
Duomo website: duomo.firenze.it. More about the Duomo complex and its visit…
The Vecchio Bridge with the Vasari Corridor and the Arno River
Arno - a river in the region of Tuscany in Italy, which flows, including through Florence.
There are streets (Lungarno) with embankments along the river, historical buildings, palaces, churches, squares, cafes, restaurants, shops and accommodation facilities (hotels, apartments)
In some areas, there are no embankments near the waters of the river, and the buildings come directly to the river, which enhances the impression of the river and Florence as a whole. More about the Arno River in Florence…
There are bridges across the Arno River, among which one of the unique in the world is the medieval Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge), with characteristic jewelry stores in houses built right on the bridge, and thanks to which the bridge is also called "Golden". More about Vecchio Bridge…
Near the bridge and over the Vecchio bridge passes part of the Vasari Corridor (Corridoio Vasariano), built in 1565 and representing an elevated covered gallery connecting Palazzo Vecchio (Palazzo Vecchio) with Pitti Palace (Palazzo Pitti).
Today, the corridor is part of the Uffizi Museum complex (Museo degli Uffizi) and it can be visited. More about the Vasari Corridor…
Signoria Square (Piazza della Signoria): Palazzo Vecchio, Loggia of the Signoria, Fountain of Neptune
Signoria Square (Piazza della Signoria) is one of the main and most The most visited squares of the historic center of Florence, where the main attractions of the city are concentrated, there are palaces, museums, a fountain, statues and sculptures.
One of the best in the Piazza della Signoria:
- Palace of Vecchio (Palazzo Vecchio, which translates as "Old Palace") - the town hall of Florence, one of the most significant and famous buildings of the city.
Externally, the Palazzo Vecchio looks like a small fortified castle, and the Arnolfo tower only enhances the appearance of the entire structure.
Today, the Vecchio Palace can be visited, there is a museum with courtyards and beautiful historical halls. There is an observation deck in the Arnolfo Tower.
Entrance to the palace museum and ascent to the observation deck in the towers are paid.
Website of the Palazzo Vecchio: museo-di-palazzo-vecchio. Read more about Palazzo Vecchio with a museum and an observation tower…
- Loggia of Lanzi (Loggia dei Lanzi) or Loggia of the Signoria (Loggia della Signoria), which is a gallery open on both sides with an arcade on columns, and which houses valuable sculptures from the collection of the Uffizi Gallery , including the Medici Lions, Perseus by Cellini and The Rape of the Sabine Women by Giambologna.
There is a cafe on the roof of the loggia, which offers views of Piazza della Signoria. More about the Lanzi Loggia and sculptures…
- Neptune Fountain (Fontana del Nettuno), which is one of the main ones in Florence and has sculptural decorations.
The fountain was created between 1560 and 1574 by order of Grand Duke Cosimo I de' Medici in honor of the wedding of his son Francesco de' Medici I and Grand Duchess Joanna of Austria.
The fountain is made of bronze and marble and includes a number of mythological figures and iconographs that symbolize both the power of Cosimo I de' Medici and the union of Francesco and Joanna.
The central figure of the fountain is a large marble statue of Neptune standing on a horse-drawn chariot in the shape of a shell. More about the Neptune Fountain…
Uffizi Gallery
The Uffizi Gallery (Galleria degli Uffizi), located in a beautiful historical building, is the most famous art museum in Florence, which houses a collection of priceless works of art, especially from the Italian Renaissance period.
Entrance to the Uffizi Gallery is paid.
The address of the Uffizi Gallery: Piazzale degli Uffizi, 6, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy.
Uffizi Gallery website: gli-uffizi. More about the Uffizi Gallery…
Bargello
Bargello is a palace museum, which is the oldest public building in Florence.
The building is considered an example of the "vernacular style" and has a strict jagged appearance, arched windows and a former watchtower.
Now the palace is the Art National Museum of Bargello (Museo Nazionale del Bargello), which houses some of the most important sculptures of the Renaissance, including masterpieces by Donatello, Luca della Robbia, Verrocchio, Michelangelo and Cellini, mainly from the collection of the Medici Grand Duke.
Entrance to the palace museum is paid.
The address of the Bargello Museum: Via del Proconsolo, 4, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy.
Website of the Bargello National Museum: bargello. More about the Bargello Palace Museum…
Academy Gallery (David Michelangelo)
The Galleria dell'Accademia is one of the best art museums in Florence, with rich collections of paintings, sculptures, icons and musical instruments.
One of the most famous exhibits of the gallery is the famous statue "David" by Michelangelo. Therefore, the museum is known as the "Michelangelo David Sculpture House".
Entrance to the Academy Gallery is paid.
Address of the Academy Gallery: Via Ricasoli, 58/60, 50129 Firenze FI, Italy.
Academy Gallery Website: galleriaaccademiafirenze.it. More about the Accademia Galleries in Florence…
Palazzo Medici Riccardi
Palazzo Medici Riccardi (Palazzo Medici Riccardi) is a historical Renaissance palace, which was the first residence of the Medici family, and after that, the Riccardi family, who expanded the palace.
The palace was built between 1444 and 1484 by the architect Michelozzo di Bartolomeo. Famous masters and artists such as Michelozzo, Donatello, Michelangelo, Paolo Uccello, Benozzo Gozzoli and Botticelli worked in the palace.
Today it is a famous museum with halls with exhibitions, a chapel of the Magi, a courtyard and an adjacent garden.
Entrance to the Medici-Riccardi Palace is paid.
Address of the Medici Riccardi Palace (entrance): Via Cavour 1, 50121 Firenze.
Website of the Medici-Riccardi Palace: palazzomediciriccardi.it. Read more about the Medici-Riccardi Palace…
Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens
Pitti Palace (Palazzo Pitti) is the largest and one of the most visited palaces in Florence.
This is a magnificent Renaissance palace, the construction of which dates back to 1458 and which was the main residence of the Medici Grand Dukes of Tuscany, then it was the Habsburg-Lorraine House during the Grand Duchy of Tuscany (since 1737), and after it was owned by the Savoy Dynasty (since 1860).
Today it is a complex museum with an adjacent building, a courtyard with a terrace, a grotto, sculptures and a fountain. There are: the Treasury of the Grand Dukes, the Palatine Gallery, the Imperial and Royal Apartments, the Gallery of Modern Art and the Museum of Fashion and Costume.
Entrance to the Pitti Palace Museum is paid.
Address of the Pitti Palace: Piazza de' Pitti, 1, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy.
Pitti Palace Museum website: palazzo-pitti. More about Pitti Palace…
The Pitti Palace is adjacent to the Boboli Gardens (Giardino di Boboli), which together with the palace represent an outstanding palace and park ensemble, as well as the largest museum complex in Florence, widely known in Italy and abroad .
The gardens have a green area divided in a regular way, on which there is an amphitheater, an obelisk, statues, fountains, decorated grottoes and pavilions, also in the gardens there are alleys and paths for walking, there are flower beds, and from the open terraces of the garden there are beautiful views of the city of Florence.
Entrance to the Boboli Gardens is paid.
Address of Boboli Gardens: Piazza de' Pitti, 1, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy.
Boboli Gardens website: giardino-boboli. More about Boboli Gardens…
Garden and Villa Bardini
The Bardini Garden and Villa Bardini (Giardino Bardini, Villa Bardini) is a historic Italian Renaissance complex in Florence, consisting of a villa and a garden, together representing a beautiful ensemble.
The garden offers beautiful panoramic views of Florence, and in the garden itself is Villa Bardini, which houses the Annigoni Museum (Museo Annigoni) and hosts temporary exhibitions.
Entrance to the garden and to the villa is paid.
Entrance to the Bardini Garden from Via dei Bardi 1 red and Costa San Giorgio 2.
Website of the villa and gardens of Bardini: villabardini.it. More about Villa and Bardini Gardens…
Michelangelo Square
Piazzale Michelangelo (Piazzale Michelangelo) is one of the best and most famous viewing platforms of the city, which offers beautiful panoramic views of Florence.
On the square there is a copy of the sculpture "David" by Michelangelo.
There are also panoramic cafes and places to relax.
The square is open 24 hours a day, visiting is free.
Coordinates of Michelangelo Square: 43°45'46.0"N 11°15'54.0"E (43.762778, 11.265000). More about Michelangelo Square and views…
Republic Square (Piazza della Repubblica)
Republic Square (Piazza della Repubblica) is located in the historic center of Florence and is one of the main and most visited squares in Florence.
The center of the square is decorated with a historical column of Abundance. Also notable on the square is the arch, which in the Middle Ages served as an entrance / exit, and the Tuscan carousel.
In the buildings around the square there are cafes, restaurants, shops and accommodation facilities (hotels, apartments)
Republic Square is available for visits 24 hours a day.
Coordinates of the Republic Square: 43°46'17.0"N 11°15'14.0"E (43.771389, 11.253889). More about Republic Square…
Santa Croce
Santa Croce or the Holy Cross (Basilica di Santa Croce) is one of the oldest religious buildings in Florence and one of the largest Franciscan churches in the world, famous for its works of art and burials.
Santa Croce is a monumental complex, which includes: the Basilica of Santa Croce with chapels, frescoes by famous artists, including Giotto, sculptures by Benedetto da Maiano, Desiderio da Settignano and Canova, numerous tombs of great people of Italy, including Michelangelo, Galileo, Foscolo and Machiavelli; as well as monasteries with the museum, the sacristy, the crypt, the chapels of the Pazzi and the Medici.
Thanks to the abundance of tombs, the basilica is called the "Florentine Pantheon", and thanks to the halls of fame and memory - the "Temple of Italian Glory".
Entrance to the Santa Croce complex is paid.
The Santa Croce complex is located in the historical center of Florence, on the eponymous Santa Croce Square, at the address: Piazza di Santa Croce, 16, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy.
Santa Croce website: santacroceopera.it. More about the Santa Croce complex…
San Lorenzo
San Lorenzo or St. Lawrence (Basilica di San Lorenzo) is the oldest Florentine Cathedral and one of the largest churches in the city, which was the city cathedral and the parish church of the Medici family.
San Lorenzo is a monumental complex that can be divided into three sites: a basilica with an old sacristy, monasteries, a treasure museum and a crypt; the Medici library, created by Michelangelo; the new sacristy and the Medici chapel, created by Michelangelo as the tomb of an influential family.
The complex is decorated with beautiful frescoes, sculptures, sarcophagi, altars, stucco, marbles and semi-precious stones.
Entrance to each of the three parts of the San Lorenzo complex is paid.
The San Lorenzo complex is located on the eponymous San Lorenzo Square, at the address: Piazza di San Lorenzo, 9, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy. Learn more about the San Lorenzo complex, its visits and sites…
Santa Maria Novella
Santa Maria Novella (Basilica di Santa Maria Novella) is a historic monumental church in Florence, which was founded by Dominican monks and built in the 13th-14th centuries, and which is one of the most important in Florence and has famous frescoes of the Gothic and Renaissance eras.
Santa Maria Novella is a complex that includes: the basilica itself with chapels and a sacristy, adjacent monasteries, the chapter house, the Avelli cemetery with a chapel, the abode of the Dead (the former lower underground cemetery), a refectory, museum exhibitions and an old perfume and pharmaceutical workshop called the Pharmacy of Santa Maria Novella.
Entrance to the complex is paid. A pharmacy is located nearby and is available for visits.
The complex is located on the square of the same name Santa Maria Novella, at the address: Piazza Santa Maria Novella, 18, 50123 Florence, Italy.
Website of the Santa Maria Novella complex: smn.it. More about the Santa Maria Novella complex, its visit and pharmacy…
San Miniato al Monte
San Miniato al Monte (Abbazia di San Miniato al Monte) is a famous historical basilica with a crypt, an old sundial, a monumental cemetery and a beautiful panoramic terrace, which are part of the monastery complex of the Abbey of San Miniato.
San Miniato is one of the best examples of the Romano-Florentine style in Florence.
The Basilica is located on one of the highest points of Florence - on the Mountain of the Cross (Monte alle Croci, Monte alle Croci). Thanks to this, panoramic views of the city open from the terrace near the basilica.
Visiting the basilica, crypt and panoramic terrace is free.
The address of the basilica is Via delle Porte Sante 34, 50125 Florence FI, Italy.
The Basilica's website: sanminiatoalmonte.it. More about the Basilica of San Miniato al Monte...
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