Florence: A city that feels like a living museum

Exploring historic Florence

Florence’s historic center is surprisingly compact, making it easy to explore on foot. While most tourists rush straight to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, you don’t have to follow the crowd, especially if you’re staying overnight. Instead, just start walking in any direction, and within minutes, you’ll stumble upon a stunning church, a historic monument, or a world-class museum.

• Head south → You’ll find Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, and the Uffizi Gallery – home to some of the most famous Renaissance artworks.
• Go east → You’ll reach the Church of Santa Croce, where Giotto’s frescoes adorn the walls and Florence’s greatest minds – including Michelangelo and Galileo – are buried.
• Walk west → The Church of Santa Maria Novella awaits, with its beautifully decorated chapels filled with frescoes.
• Cross the Ponte Vecchio → You’ll enter the Oltrarno district, home to the Santo Spirito church and the grand Pitti Palace, which houses works by Raphael and Titian.

What you’ll need to explore Florence

Florence is packed with history, and the best way to see it all is simply by walking. So, make sure to bring:

• Comfortable shoes (Florence’s cobblestone streets aren’t high-heel-friendly!)
• A backpack with snacks and water (unless you prefer stopping at a café every hour – which, honestly, is tempting in Italy!). But if you’d rather bring your own, try some of my healthy, travel-friendly recipes for easy, nutritious bites on the go.
• Plenty of time (Trust me, you’ll want to soak in every moment).

Florence is one of those places that makes you fall in love with history, art, and Italian charm all over again. Whether you have a day or a week, the city never disappoints.

Exploring historic Florence: what to see in a day

Only have one day in Florence? Don’t worry – you can still see a lot! The city’s historic center is compact, making it easy to explore on foot. Here’s a quick guide to the must-see spots if you want to soak in as much of Florence’s history, art, and charm as possible.

Piazza della Signoria & Palazzo Vecchio

For centuries, Piazza della Signoria has been the political and social heart of Florence. The square is like an open-air museum, packed with statues that commemorate key moments in the city’s history:

• Michelangelo’s David (Replica) – A symbol of triumph over tyranny (the original is in the Uffizi).
• Perseus and Medusa (Cellini) – A striking bronze statue where Perseus holds Medusa’s severed head, a not-so-subtle warning to Cosimo I’s enemies.
• Fontana di Nettuno (Ammannati, 1575) – A grand fountain dedicated to the Roman sea god, celebrating Tuscan naval victories.

Right next to the square, Palazzo Vecchio still serves as Florence’s town hall. Built in 1322, it once housed a massive bell used to call citizens to meetings – or warn them of disasters like floods or enemy attacks.

Inside, you’ll find:

• Salone dei Cinquecento, home to Michelangelo’s Victory statue.
• Cappella di Eleonora, decorated with stunning frescoes by Bronzino.
• Sala dei Gigli, featuring Donatello’s Judith and Holofernes and Ghirlandaio’s frescoes of Roman heroes.

Hidden passageways and a museum for children – great if you’re traveling with kids!

Ponte Vecchio

Built in 1345, Ponte Vecchio is the oldest surviving bridge in Florence. Originally, blacksmiths, butchers, and tanners set up shop here, but in 1593, Duke Ferdinando I kicked them out due to the noise and stench. Their replacements? Jewelers and goldsmiths, whose sparkling storefronts still line the bridge today.

Fun fact: Ponte Vecchio was the only bridge in Florence that survived World War II!

Duomo and Baptistry

The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo) is Florence’s most iconic landmark, crowned by Brunelleschi’s massive orange-tiled dome. The cathedral is Europe’s fourth-largest church and remains the tallest building in the city.

Next door, the Baptistry is even older, dating back to the 4th century. Inside, its ceiling glows with 13th-century mosaics of the Last Judgment, while its bronze doors, created in 1401, were commissioned to mark Florence’s victory over the plague.

Santa Croce

This Gothic church is the final resting place of Florence’s greatest minds, including:

• Michelangelo
• Galileo
• Machiavelli

It’s also home to breathtaking frescoes by Giotto, making it a must-visit for art lovers.

San Lorenzo

San Lorenzo was the Medici family’s parish church, and inside, you’ll find:

• The Medici Chapels, featuring the Cappella dei Principi, a lavish crypt built for Florence’s most powerful family.
• The Biblioteca, designed by Michelangelo, with its beautifully crafted wooden desks and ceilings.

Santa Maria Novella

Built between 1279 and 1357, Santa Maria Novella is home to some of Florence’s most incredible frescoes:

• The Spanish Chapel, dramatically decorated with religious frescoes.
• Masaccio’s Trinity – A groundbreaking masterpiece of perspective and portraiture.
• Paolo Uccello’s Green Cloister, filled with vivid Renaissance scenes.

Cappella Brancacci

Inside the Church of Santa Maria del Carmine, you’ll find the Cappella Brancacci, one of the most famous fresco cycles in Florence. Created between 1425 and 1480, the frescoes depict The Life of St. Peter.

Masaccio’s use of perspective and dramatic realism was revolutionary – so much so that Michelangelo himself studied these paintings!

Palazzo Pitti

Originally built for banker Luca Pitti (who wanted to outshine the Medici but went bankrupt in the process), Palazzo Pitti later became the Medici’s main residence. Today, it houses:

• The Galleria Palatina, filled with works by Botticelli, Titian, Perugino, and Veronese.
• The Royal Apartments, with ornate stuccoed ceilings and lavish décor.
• The Boboli Gardens, a peaceful escape from the city’s crowds. If you hike to the top, you’ll reach Forte di Belvedere, where Galileo once made his astronomical observations.

Piazzale Michelangelo

If you want the best panoramic view of Florence, this is the place to go. The Piazzale offers breathtaking sunset views over the Arno River and the Tuscan hills. You’ll also find replicas of Michelangelo’s statues scattered around the square.

Spending two or more days in Florence: must-see museums

If you have more than a day in Florence, you’re in luck – there’s so much more to explore! From world-class art galleries to fascinating history and science museums, the city is packed with treasures. Here are some must-visit spots to add to your itinerary.

Uffizi Gallery: the ultimate Renaissance art collection

I didn’t get to visit the Uffizi Gallery because of the insanely long lines, but it’s at the top of my list for next time! If you’re planning a visit, I highly recommend booking tickets in advance to avoid the wait.

Why is the Uffizi worth your time? Simply put, it’s Italy’s greatest art gallery. Built between 1560 and 1580 as office space for Duke Cosimo I, it later became home to the world’s most extensive collection of Italian Renaissance art – along with masterpieces from Germany, Holland, and Spain.

The museum is designed to showcase the evolution of Florentine art, starting from Gothic works and moving through the Renaissance. If you go:

• Start on the 2nd floor for the earliest works, including Giotto’s Ognissanti Madonna (c. 1310) and Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus (c. 1485).
• Move down to the 1st floor to see Caravaggio’s Bacchus (c. 1589) and Titian’s Venus of Urbino (1538).
• Be prepared – it takes at least half a day to go through all 100+ rooms filled with artistic treasures.

Galleria dell’Accademia: home of Michelangelo’s David

Founded in 1563, the Academy of Fine Arts was the first school in Europe dedicated to teaching painting, drawing, and sculpture. Today, it houses one of the most famous sculptures in the world – Michelangelo’s David.

Standing at over 17 feet tall, this colossal marble masterpiece depicts the biblical hero David, moments before his battle with Goliath. Michelangelo’s work was groundbreaking, establishing him as the greatest sculptor of his time.

Aside from David, the museum also features:

• Plaster models by Lorenzo Bartolini, offering a behind-the-scenes look at sculpting techniques.
• Paintings by Filippino Lippi, Fra Bartolomeo, and Bronzino.
• The Salone della Toscana, which showcases 19th-century sculptures and artworks.

Museo Archeologico: a journey through ancient civilizations

This hidden gem is housed in a 17th-century palace built for Maria Maddalena de’ Medici. Inside, you’ll find an impressive collection of Etruscan, Greek, Roman, and Egyptian artifacts.

One of the highlights? The Chimera of Arezzo (4th century BC) – a bronze Etruscan sculpture of a mythical lion with a goat’s head and a serpent tail. If you love ancient history, this museum is a must-visit!

Bargello: the sculpture Lover’s Paradise

If you’re obsessed with Renaissance sculpture, you’ll love the Bargello Museum. It’s home to:

• Giambologna’s Mercury (1564), a stunning bronze sculpture that looks as if it’s floating mid-air.
• Donatello’s David, the first freestanding nude statue of the Renaissance.
• A massive collection of applied arts, including jewelry, armor, and tapestries.

The Bargello building itself has a fascinating past – it was Florence’s town hall in 1255, later transformed into a prison known for its public executions. After a major renovation, it became one of Italy’s first national museums in 1865.

Museo Galileo: a tribute to the father of modern science

If you love science and innovation, don’t miss Museo Galileo. Dedicated to the legendary Galileo Galilei (1564–1642), this museum houses:

• Galileo’s original telescopes, including the lens he used to discover Jupiter’s moons.
• Historic scientific instruments from the Medici and Lorraine dynasties.
• Antique globes, astrolabes, microscopes, thermometers, and barometers.
• A slightly creepy collection of 19th-century surgical tools and anatomical models (definitely not for the squeamish!).

Right outside the museum, you’ll find a giant bronze sundial, which you can use to tell the time and date – just like in Galileo’s time.

What else to see in historic Florence

Florence is packed with history, and beyond its famous landmarks, there’s so much more to explore. If you have extra time, here are some hidden gems – palaces, churches, museums, markets, and unique sights – that will give you a deeper appreciation of the city’s rich past.

Palaces: a glimpse into Florence’s aristocratic past

Florence is home to some stunning palaces that showcase the city’s architectural evolution and the wealth of its noble families.

• Palazzo Davanzati – Step inside this 14th-century townhouse, where original furniture and fittings recreate the life of a wealthy Florentine family from the Middle Ages.
• Palazzo Strozzi – Built on an ambitious scale to rival the Medici palaces, this massive structure required demolishing 15 buildings to make space. Its sheer size is still impressive today.
• Palazzo Rucellai (1446–51) – One of Florence’s most ornate Renaissance palaces, designed with striking symmetry and elegance.
• Palazzo Guadagni (1500) – The first palace in Florence to feature a rooftop loggia, an architectural trend that soon became popular across the city.

Churches: spiritual and architectural marvels

Florence’s churches aren’t just places of worship – they are works of art filled with history, frescoes, and fascinating stories.

• Badia Fiorentina – Founded in the 10th century, this abbey church is home to Filippino Lippi’s The Virgin Appearing to St. Bernard (1485).
• Ognissanti – This was the Vespucci family’s parish church – yes, as in Amerigo Vespucci, the explorer who gave his name to America!
• San Miniato al Monte – One of Italy’s most stunning Romanesque churches, built in 1018 over the shrine of San Miniato, an Armenian merchant beheaded in the 3rd century for his beliefs.
• Orsanmichele – Originally a grain market built in 1337, this building was later transformed into a church. The Gothic tracery from its market days is still visible on its bricked-up arcades.

Museums: art, history, and photography

If you’re an art lover or a history buff, Florence has plenty of fascinating museums beyond the Uffizi and Accademia.

• Museo Nazionale Alinari della Fotografia – This museum offers a vivid look into Florence’s 19th-century social history, displaying vintage cameras, photographs, and documents that trace the evolution of photography.
• Museo dell’Opera del Duomo – A must-visit for anyone fascinated by Florence’s religious landmarks, this museum houses sculptures and artworks from the Duomo, Campanile, and Baptistry.

Markets: a taste of local life

For a break from museums and churches, check out Florence’s lively markets – perfect for souvenir shopping or grabbing a bite to eat.

• Mercato Nuovo (1547) – One of the best places in the city to hunt for unique souvenirs while soaking in Florence’s historic atmosphere.
• Mercato Centrale (1874) – Florence’s busiest food market, housed in a massive cast iron and glass building. Whether you need a quick snack, a drink, or a full meal, this is the place to go.

Other unique sights in Florence

Florence is full of hidden corners and lesser-known landmarks, each with its own fascinating story.

• Convento di San Marco (13th century) – A historic convent that became home to Dominican monks in 1437.
• Spedale degli Innocenti – Europe’s first orphanage, opened in 1444, and named after Herod’s biblical Massacre of the Innocents.
• Santissima Annunziata – One of Florence’s most beautiful Renaissance squares, designed by Brunelleschi.
• Loggia del Bigallo (1358) – Once a place where abandoned children were left. If unclaimed, they were later sent to foster homes.
• Casa di Dante – A medieval house believed to be the birthplace of Dante Alighieri, the author of The Divine Comedy.
• Ponte Santa Trìnita – Originally built in 1290 from wood, it was later reconstructed in stone by Ammannati in 1567 to commemorate Florence’s victory over Siena.

Final thoughts

Florence isn’t just a city – it’s a masterpiece. Every street, piazza, and bridge tells a story of art, power, and innovation. Whether you’re gazing up at the Duomo’s breathtaking dome, standing in awe before Michelangelo’s David, or wandering through the Uffizi’s endless halls of Renaissance genius, the city has a way of making history feel alive.

But Florence is more than its famous landmarks. It’s in the small moments – the golden glow of sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo, the rich aroma of freshly brewed espresso in a tucked-away café, the quiet beauty of a hidden courtyard behind a grand palazzo. It’s the way art and daily life seamlessly intertwine, creating an atmosphere that’s both timeless and vibrant.

Whether you have one day or a week, Florence will leave an impression that lasts far beyond your visit. So, take your time, walk its cobblestone streets, soak in its beauty, and let yourself be transported to a world where history, art, and passion come together in perfect harmony.