Florence has been one of those iconic cities that people have dreamed of visiting for hundreds of years. During the Renaissance it was a major center of thought, expression and art of all kinds. Many magnificent churches, opulent palaces and impressive monuments were constructed over the centuries, making it one of the most memorable cities in Italy!
#10 Piazzale Michelangelo
The Piazzale Michelangelo is a relatively modern addition to the ancient city. It was completed in 1869 and is a tribute to Michelangelo himself, with several replicas of his works in bronze throughout the plaza. The piazzale is a popular tourist destination because of the amazing panoramic views of the city from on top of its hill.
#9 Giotto's Campanile
The bell tower of the famous Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, commonly refered to as the Duomo of Florence, is hard to miss in the city. Towering over the buildings with its multicolored facade, it is truly a site to see. For a small fee, you can climb the tower to get an amazing view of the city and the Duomo itself. The tower is named for the first architect of the Duomo, Giotto di Bondone, though the tower was not completed exactly to his original design. The tower can be quite a climb, but is definitely worth it!
#8 Piazza della Signoria
The Piazza della Signoria is one of the major piazza's in Florence and contains several different must-sees. The piazza is named after the Palazzo della Signoria, originally built to be offices for government officials that was later taken over by the Medici's, who moved the government offices to the Uffizi. The home of the Medici's was later moved to the Pitti Palace, renaming the Palazzo della Signoria the Palazzo Vecchio or the "Old Palace". The Piazza itself has many statues, originals and replicas alike. David, the Fountain of Neptune, Hercules and Cacus, a bronze statue of Cosimo I and many others are scattered throughout the piazza as well as the open-air sculpture museum of the Loggia dei Lanzi.
#7 San Lorenzo Street Market
The San Lorenzo Street Market is a great place to go shopping for souvenirs, gifts or clothes. You can find just about anything you would want to bring home from your trip to Tuscany. There are plenty of great deals on leather, wine, purses, wallets, cheeses (vacuum packed available), dried meats, mushrooms, fresh olive oil, marinated olives, and just about anything else you could want. The market is located outside of the San Lorenzo church on three of the surrounding streets and is held each day from 9:00 to 19:30 (9:00am to 7:30pm).
#6 Bargello
The Bargello was built in the thirteenth century and was originally a city official building, and is the oldest public building in Florence. Also known as the Palazzo del Popolo, or Palace of the People, it was first used a barracks and office building for the Capitano del Popolo. Later it was also used as the office of the Podesta, the highest member of the Florentine city council. In the sixteenth century the office of Podesta was removed by the Medici's and the chief of police of Florence (or the Bargello) was moved to the building and it was used as a prison, giving the building its modern name. The building was still used in this manner until 1859 when it was made into a national museum. It now houses an impressive collection of Gothic and Renaissance sculpture that makes the Bargello a definite stop for any art lover.
Continue to the Top 5 Places to Visit in Florence!
Continue to the Top 5 Places to Visit in Florence!
