The city, which is the capital of the Tuscany region in Northern Italy, is not only the cradle of the Renaissance, but also one of the best art cities of Europe and Italy with its open-air museum appearance, and therefore one of the country's important tourism centers such as Rome and Venice , so much under the title of Florence Travel Guide . You shouldn't be surprised that it's full of advice and information. Home to Giotto's frescoes, Michelangelo's David, Botticelli's paintings, Leonardo da Vinci and many other masterpieces in the Uffizi Gallery, Florence has so much art and architecture that it's time to decide where to start your trip. It is an issue in itself. ChiantiLocated close to the vine-covered hills of Florence, Florence is also a historic city with a deep-rooted culinary tradition and vibrant nightlife, and is a must-see Italian city with its interesting shops selling quality handicrafts, not lagging behind in opera, classical music and contemporary art.
Florence (Firenze) in a nutshell
Even if your time is limited in Florence, you should definitely spare time for masterpieces such as Michelangelo's David, the magnificent works of Botticelli, Da Vinci and Caravaggio in the Uffizi, the Duomo with its striking dome by Brunelleschi, the Piazza della Signoria or the Ponte Vecchio bridge. In your spare time, you can take a short stroll in the Oltrarno neighborhood full of artists' workshops, stop by Mercato Centrale, the lively district of the city, taste local delicacies in trattorias and osterias , drink in wine bars and gelato in your favorite flavors and colors from Italy's famous ice cream shops, gelateria.you can buy. In addition, Florence is a city surrounded by tree-covered hills on three sides, and you can escape from the noise of the city and the tourist crowd in a few minutes, especially in high season, to the Tuscan countryside full of olive groves. From Ponte Vecchio, head towards Costa de Magnoli, up Costa San Giorgio and continue along Via San Leonardo, crossing Viale Galileo Galilei to enjoy the Tuscan sun and nature.
When to go to Florence
Florence is beautiful from late spring to early autumn, as it is one of Italy's most vibrant summer tourist destinations in terms of outdoor dining and drinking opportunities and open-air concerts. However, since this is the high season in terms of tourism, it should be kept in mind that hotel prices are at the highest levels and there are long queues in front of the Uffizi Gallery . Although the city, which is scorching hot in July and August, is equally cold in winter, if you like to dress thickly, January and February can be preferred because of cheap accommodation and relatively secluded places to visit. In addition, music lovers can enjoy Florence's Teatro del Maggio Musicale , one of the world's most important classical music and opera venues.You can kill two birds with one stone during your Florence tour by reviewing the exhibition calendar of the world-famous art center Palazzo Strozzi.
Must-See Places in Florence
Florence Cathedral, Duomo
Florence Cathedral, Duomo, Duomo di Firenze or Santa Maria del Fiore is the cathedral built in the city of Florence between 1296-1436, its construction started in Gothic style by Arnolfo di Cambio, and it was finished by Filippo Brunelleschi, who designed the dome, the exterior surface in the 19th century by Emilio De Fabris. It was renovated in Gothic style. Located in the Duomo Square (Piazza del Duomo), the cathedral complex also includes the baptistery and the Giotto Bell Tower, and all three buildings are on the UNESCO World Heritage list .is located. Brunelleschi's massive 15th-century tiled dome of the cathedral is considered the largest wall dome in the world. Inside the cathedral, you can see the famous fresco of Paolo Uccello's 14th-century British mercenary, Sir John Hawkwood, as well as the Baptistery's glittering mosaic ceiling. To get one of the best views of Florence, if you're not claustrophobic and not afraid of height, as well as narrow stairwells and steep steps, you can climb 414 steps to reach Giotto's bell tower, where you can get a bird's-eye view of the city's panorama and roof tiles. Opening hours: Monday-10:00-17:00 Sunday 13.30pm-16.45. Entry into the cathedral is free. Florence Cathedral Website
Signoria Square
L-shaped Signoria Square (Piazza della Signoria), located in the center of the city of Florence, is the old city in front of which it was named during the Florentine Republic.
It takes its name from the administration building (Palazzo Vecchio or Palazzo della Signoria) and is famous for its pool that houses the statue of Neptune and the statue of David. In the center of the square, which has the 14th century Palazzo Vecchio and its crenellated tower, there is also the Loggia della Signoria, the Uffizi Gallery, the Tribunale della Mercanzia (1359, today the 'Agriculture Office'), the Renaissance-style Palace of the Assicurazioni Generali (1871), and the façade was mistaken for Raphael's. Palazzo Uguccioni (1550), which is attributed to Just as the Duomo was once the spiritual center of Florence, the Signoria Square was at the center of everyday life, and even today it is constantly crowded and lively with a mix of Florentines and tourists. Loggia dei Lanzi, located on the south side of the square,Florence City Museums (Musei Civici Fiorentini) Website
Old Bridge, Ponte Vecchio
Florence's most famous bridge is the 14th century Ponte Vecchio, located at the narrowest point of the Arno River, and it houses many jewelery shops.
contains. While the original shop owners were butchers, blacksmiths and tanners, jewelers were placed in 1593 during the reign of Ferdinando I. It would be best to set the clock and go early in the morning to find the bridge, which is crowded almost every hour of the day, secluded, especially if you are a photography enthusiast, to capture the most beautiful state of the light reflected on the Arno surface.
Uffizi Gallery
The Uffizi Gallery (Galleria degli Uffizi), one of the oldest and most famous art museums in the world, is located adjacent to the Piazza della Signoria. Gentile da Fabriano's Magi, Botticelli's Primavera and the Birth of Venus, the twin portraits of Piero della Francesca's Duke and the Duchess of Urbino, and Michelangelo's Tondo Doni are hard to see in one day. enthusiasts should consider going several days in a row. If you don't want to wait in line for hours, you should book online in advance. If you're not an art buff and just want to take a look at the museum, you can get in quickly as there is no queue just before it closes. Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday 08.15 – 18.50. During special exhibitions, an extra fee is charged to enter the museum, apart from the ticket price.Uffizi Gallery Website
Galleria dell'Accademia
Galleria dell'Accademia or Galleria dell'Accademia di Firenze (Florence Academy gallery) is an art museum that houses works by Florentine artists from 1300 to 1600. The world's most famous nude sculpture, Michelangelo's David , is exhibited in the tribuna of the Accademia Gallery.
and when you follow the people wandering around the block, it will appear in all its glory. As Michelangelo's David was originally intended to stand high in the Duomo, a 5 m high Carrara marble statue and pedestal were carved together. You may notice that the right arm of the statue of David is larger than the other parts of its body, that the "manu fortis" (strong hand) is a frequent emphasis in the sculptures of the period. It is said that a chair that he threw to his rebels during a cyan against the Medici family on April 26, 1527 crashed into the statue in Palazzo Vecchio, breaking his left arm. According to Giorgio Vasari, the arm was attached to the body with copper nails. 5, Other than the statue of David, which weighs 660 kg and weighs more than 80 adult men, don't miss the other collections, which also include Michelangelo's statue of the Four Slaves and a magnificent collection of musical instruments. Summer is the high season of tourism and you need to make a reservation in advance so that you don't have to wait in line. Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 08:15 – 18:50.Galleria dell'Accademia website
San Marco Museum
The monastery section of a religious complex consisting of a church structure and a monastery in the city of Florence has been turned into a museum under the name Museo di San Marco. century
The artist Fra Angelico not only lived in this monastery between 1438 and 1444, but also left his famous paintings here. Note the frescoes on the walls of the priest's chamber, and the Annunciation, the most famous of all religious paintings, on the top of the stairs, and my paintings of the Linaiuoli Tabernacle and the Last Judgment in the room where the poor pilgrims came to the monastery. Opening hours: Monday – Friday, 08:15 – 13:50 Saturday and Sunday, 08:15 – 16:50 (sometimes closed on Sunday and Monday). Museo di San Marco website
Boat Tour on the Arno River
In order to get a very different perspective on your trip to Florence, you can join the tours organized between May and September on the traditional wooden boats barchetti , which used to transport construction materials on the Arno river in the past. You can see the Uffizi Gallery, Ponte Vecchio, the huge Palazzo Corsini and many other structures on the river, accompanied by an English-speaking guide, on boat tours that last approximately 50 minutes with the participation of 12 people and get information about them. If you book the VIP Sunset Tour package , you can watch the sunset over Flosan with an aperitif . Florence Town Boat Tour Website
Santa Croce Basilica
The most important church of the Franciscan denomination in Florence, the Basilica of Santa Croce (Basilica di Santa Croce) is located in Santa Croce Square, about 800 meters south of the Duomo. Many of Florence's most distinguished citizens are buried in this church, including Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Ugolino della Gherardesca (braineater in The Divine Comedy), and Galileo. The Basilica of Santa Croce is also famous for its frescoes, the frescoes in the Peruzzi and Bardi chapels by Giotto, those in the Baroncelli and Castellani chapels by Taddeo and Agnolo Gaddi, respectively. Opening hours: Monday – Saturday 09:30-17:00; Sunday 14:00 – 17:00. Santa Croce Website
Bargello Museum
The building, known as the Bargello Museum (Musei del Bargello, Museo nazionale del Bargello), Bargello Palace or Palazzo del Popolo, is used as a city hall, a prison with barracks and torture rooms in the past, and today as an art museum. In the museum, which houses Florence's most important Renaissance sculpture collection, there are also two statues of David and Saint George by Donatello, such as Giambologna's Mercurius (Hermes) and Michelangelo's Drunken Bacchus . During the summer, various cultural events such as music, theater and dance performances are held in the courtyard of the museum. Opening hours: Monday – Friday 08:15 – 13:50; Saturday and Sunday 08:15 – 16.50 (sometimes closed on Sunday and Monday). Bargello Museum Website
Basilica of Santa Maria Novella
Santa Maria Novella is the first major basilica in Florence, opposite the main train station, and the church of the most important Dominican denomination, gothic and early
It houses various works of art from the Renaissance period and the tombs of some Florentines. Built in the 9th century under the name of Santa Maria delle Vigne, the small church was enlarged in 1221 after the place was allocated to the Dominican sect and was called Novella ('new'). Trinità fresco of 1427, reflecting Masaccio's mastery of perspective, Giotto's great cross, magnificent frescoes by Domenico Ghirlandaio, 'premature birth' by Sandro Botticelli, wood carvings by Baccio D'Agnolo, Bronzino's 'miracle of Christ' ', Nardo di Cione's 'Divine Judgment' fresco, Lorenzo Ghiberti 'Leonardo Dati's tombstone', Filippino Lippi's frescoes in the Strozzi Chapel and Nino Pisano's masterpieces called Madonna and Child can be seen in this church. Opening hours: Monday – Friday 9:00-19:00; Saturday, 9:00-18:30; Sunday 12:00 – 18.Santa Maria Novella website
ognissanti
San Salvatore di Ognissanti or Ognissanti Church was founded in Florence in the square of the same name, dedicated to all known and unknown saints and martyrs of the Umiliati order. One of the most beautiful paintings in Florence, Domenico Ghirlandaio's The Last Supper (1480), is housed in the convent refectory. The Saint, including two paintings by Ghirlandaio, located in the adjacent church
Be sure to see other artworks, including a depiction of Jerome with a lion. Opening hours: Monday – Saturday 9:00:13:00. Ognissanti ('All Saints') website
La Specola
La Specola is the Museum of Zoology and Natural History of the University of Florence, which houses an old-fashioned botanical collection, and three anatomical models can be seen, especially 3 anatomical models reflecting the plague victims, made of scary-looking wax used in the training of trainee doctors between 1775-1791. It should be taken into account that there are models that may disturb children during family visits. Opening hours: June September: Tuesday-Friday, Sunday, 10.30-17.30; Saturday, 9:30-13:00; Closed on Mondays. October-May: Tuesday-Sunday, 9.30 – 16.30; Closed on Mondays. La Specola Website
Brancacci Chapel
Brancacci Chapel (Cappella Brancacci), a chapel within the Baroque Church of Santa Maria del Carmine in Florence, famous for its murals and early Renaissance
It is called the Sistine Chapel. Pietro Brancacci, who was commissioned for the construction of the chapel, started work in 1386, the frescoes were made by Masolino and Masaccio in 1425 and 50 years later by Filippino Lippi. Do not skip the scene where Adam and Eve are being thrown out of the Garden of Eden. Since some of the frescoes are quite high, it would be appropriate to carry a binocular with you. Opening hours: Wednesday -Monday 10:00-17:00 (closed on Tuesdays). Brancacci Chapel Website
fiesoleLocated in the hilly area 8 km northeast of Florence, the commune of Fiesole was used as a summer resort for wealthy Florentines in the past. You can take the number 7 bus to the settlement, which is famous for its Roman amphitheater (still used for shows) and small archaeological museums, and have a coffee and lunch in one of the cafes overlooking Piazza Mino. If you go to the San Francesco monastery in Fiesole, you can see and photograph the magnificent view of Florence from a steep hill.
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Transportation in Florence
Frankly, walking is the best way to get around Florence, as you can walk from one end of the city to the other in about 30 minutes, passing many famous buildings along the way. Many travelers to Florence fly into Galileo Galilei Airport (PSA) in Pisa and make a short stop at the Leaning Tower of Pisa before catching the train to the main station, Stazione di Firenze Santa Maria Novella. You can also fly to Florence's small Amerigo Vespucci Airport (FLR) and get to the city center by bus or taxi. If you are too tired to walk after reaching the city, it would be wise to hop on an ATAF bus.
Walking in Florence
After donning a comfortable pair of walking shoes, it's wise to explore this warm city's narrow cobbled streets and all its Renaissance architecture, quirky shoe shops and Tuscan restaurants famous for their delicious food.
Bus in Florence
When you are tired of walking, you can take one of the ATAF buses. One-way tickets are available at local Italian markets and tobacco shops for 1 euro. However, before getting on the bus, don't forget to validate your purchased ticket at the machine!
Driving a car in Florence
Even if you arrive in Florence by car, much of the city center is restricted to tourist drivers – as the city consists of areas marked with “ZTL” (“Zona a Traffico Limitato” or Limited Traffic Area), moreover because the city consists of many pedestrian zones and narrow, one-way streets. It is difficult to drive in this city without a headache. First of all, you need a special ZTL permit to drive in Florence. If not and you need to drive, you should park your car in one of the city parking lots, then walk or take a taxi to your destination.
Taxi in Florence
Taxi is expensive as in most European countries, the meter opens at around 3 euros on weekdays and Saturdays, and higher on Sundays from 22:00 to 06:00 at night. Most taxi users take a taxi to reach Stazione di Firenze Santa Maria Novella (Florence Train Station). Even if you have a budget to take a taxi, you should obtain a taxi from the stop, and you should not forget that calling a taxi is illegal here.
Life-Saving Florence Trip Advice for First-Time Visitors
Don't Forget to Buy a Firenze Card (Florence Card)!
Florence has finally managed to issue a city pass that costs €72 valid for 72 hours, allowing you to get most museum admissions, free city bus rides, and skip the crowded museum queues. If you want to conquer Florence especially in the field of arts and culture, the museums covered by the Firenze Card are the Uffizi (normally 8 €, reservation fee + 4 €), Accademia (Michelangelo's David here 8 € + 4 € reservation fee), Pitti Palace (8, €50 for the main collections + €7 for the gardens and small museums), the Bargello (4€), Palazzo Vecchio (€6.50) and the Medici Chapels (€6) cost 56€ in total. Considering that the long queues for the Uffizi and Accademia will be bypassed, if you are going to work at the museum, it comes at a very affordable price. San Marco (€4) if you can catch them all, the Brancacci Chapel (€6) and Santa Maria Novella (€5) are other places where the Firenze Card provides free passes. You can also use the ATAF (bus and tram) card free of charge in Florence.You can buy it online or from tourist information offices. If your trip to Florence is limited to a few museums and you are going to provide transportation mostly on foot, it would not be wise to buy the nu card.
Book tickets for the Uffizi and the Accademia!
The ticket queue in front of the Uffizi and Accademia lasts 2 hours in summer and 30 minutes in winter.
Do not stay in hotels close to the train station!
As in most European cities, the streets surrounding the train station are full of hotels, but in Florence hotels around Santa Maria Novella
it is usually noisy and rather boring. Florence is a small city, and you can reach the train station in a 30-minute walk from anywhere. You can choose a hotel on Via Faenza, a tourist ghetto full of small and cheap hotels, but you're more likely to dine at restaurants full of backpackers and encounter other tourists than locals at every step you take.
Watch out for ZTL or Zona Traffico Limitato!
If you have arrived in Florence by car, it is very important that you provide your car's license plate to your hotel immediately. The magic section of the historic center Centro storico is now closed to traffic – ZTL or Zona Traffico Limitato – and you need a special permit to drive (residents, deliveries) and be aware that you will have to pay serious fines if you do not comply. 15-20 years ago you could ignore street signs and go to your hotel where you wanted to go. Today, there are cameras on the roads leading to the central ZTL, which takes pictures of each license plate and sends it to a central computer. If your car is not registered to this computer, it will automatically create a ticket and find you through the 'rent a car' agency where you actually rented your car, which will be charged to your credit card even months later. Your hotel may report your license plate to the police when you check in, but this will only give you two hours to get your car off the street or from the ZTL. If it's your first time to Florence, you should park your rental car in one of the inexpensive public garages leading to the historic center and then drive into the city to find your hotel.
Walk instead of taking the bus!
Florence is much smaller than you might think, especially compared to metropolises such as New York , London and Rome , and unlike other big European cities,
Florence train station is already in its historic centre, so visitors do not need to hop on a city bus to reach the city from the shopping centres. The city's largest cathedral, for example, is only five to seven minutes' walk from the train station.
