Florence, Italy’s capital city of the Tuscany region, is a destination that effortlessly blends history, art, and culture. With its magnificent Renaissance architecture, picturesque streets, and world-class museums, Florence offers a truly unforgettable experience for travelers. In this article, we will take a closer look at some of the top must-visit attractions that guide you to explore the timeless beauty of Florence.
The Piazza del Duomo – Logistics
At the time we were there a few months ago, it was exceedingly popular to book a tour, and some of the tours include tickets for the Brunelleschi’s Duomo. Tickets have entry times for the Duomo climb. Tours may or may not include an inside tour of the cathedral. You can get three ticket types, which you can read about on the Opera di Santa Maria Del Fiore website.
What was not very clear to me and it seemed to not be clear to a lot of people was what entrance to use for each building. Now, some of this might be because while we were there, they were doing renovations. There is a useful map of the entrances and buildings on the main ticket site, which is different from the Opera di Santa Maria Del Fiore site. But if you’re like many people who bought their tickets through GetYourGuide, Viator, or Trip Advisor, you would likely never go to that ticket site. If you go to that ticket site and click on the Brunelleschi ticket details, you can find the map showing each monument’s entrance. And it’s correct except for the Santa Reparata access. The Brunelleschi ticket type includes all the monuments. I would recommend it.
The Duomo & Florence Cathedral
Standing tall in the heart of Florence, the Duomo is a marvel of architectural brilliance. Its iconic red-tiled dome dominates the city’s skyline. Climb to the top of the dome for breathtaking panoramic views of Florence. Explore the intricate details of the cathedral’s façade and step inside to witness its grandeur.
The Cathedral
The cathedral doesn’t open until 10:45 a.m. You do not need tickets to get in, but they only let a certain number of people in at a time. You can count on a very long line. Bring water. If you get a ticket package that includes the Santa Reparata, you can get in earlier by going through the separate entrance for it, which allows you inside the cathedral so you can get to the steps downstairs. Now, the map mentioned above shows the entrance to Santa Reparata as the south side by Giotto’s Bell Tower, but it’s actually on the north side, which is described on the Opera di Santa Maria Del Diore site. Here are some of the images from inside the cathedral, but as our tour guide mentioned, it’s less ornate than the exterior, which was intentional.
Santa Reparata, the original church
Here are some images from the original church which is on the same level as the original floor at St. John’s Baptistery.
Brunelleschi’s Duomo – the Climb
A lot of people have aspirations to climb the Duomo and buy tickets to do it. But they don’t prepare beforehand. If you want to do the climb but you’re not in good physical shape, ramp up your physical activity before you go if you can. People who don’t usually work out try to do the climb, end up out of breath, and have to stop frequently along the way, and you’re not supposed to stop at all. The passageway is narrow and wasn’t intended for the public. You must ascend 463 steps.
The tour we took we purchased from GetYourGuide. The tour operator obtained all the necessary individual tickets. If you choose to get your tickets similarly, check each ticket’s date and time carefully. It’s a manual process to package the tickets together for each attendee; hence, errors occur. We had to go back to the operator’s office to get the correct date for the Duomo climb. They issued us another ticket for the correct date, but it was for an earlier time slot than the current time. They assured me we would be able to use it, and we were. (Many people learn that there is no elevator and decide to skip the climb.)
Here are some pictures of Brunelleschi’s Duomo, along with pictures of other monuments taken from the Duomo’s Cupola.
Giotto’s Bell Tower
Giotto’s Bell Tower is to the right of the cathedral as you face the front façade. It has similar physical requirements to climb to the top as the Duomo. Its views are spectacular because you have unobstructed views of the Duomo from multiple levels of the Bell Tower. Fewer people choose to climb the Bell Tower. Maybe they tire themselves out after the Duomo climb. If you have the time, I would recommend climbing this one too. Here are some of the pictures we got from Giotto’s Bell Tower.
Baptistery dedicated to St. John the Baptist (aka San Giovanni)
Unfortunately, the Baptistery is undergoing significant renovation. The mosaic ceiling is obfuscated by scaffolding and construction machinery. We chose to visit anyway and were impressed by the intricacy of the tile floors and the artwork inside. Here are some of the images we got.
Opera del Duomo Museum
The museum contains an amazing collection of sculptures and paintings and notably, the original doors created by Ghiberti and Donatello for the Baptistery. The current doors on the Baptistery are copies of these.
This is where you must store backpacks when you visit many of the monuments in the Piazza del Duomo. After entering the museum, there’s a coat check room to the left of the ticket counter.
There are some photos of the sculptures, Baptistery’s original doors, and artwork on display on the Museum’s website. But here are some of the photos I took that I can’t find shown anywhere else.
Uffizi Gallery
Art enthusiasts cannot miss the opportunity to visit the Uffizi Gallery, one of the world’s most renowned art museums. Home to an extensive collection of masterpieces, including works by Michelangelo, Botticelli, and Leonardo da Vinci, this gallery showcases the evolution of art throughout history.
I love the work of Botticelli. But the rooms that house his works are crammed with people who also love it. It’s difficult to not have people muscling their way in front of you while you’re taking pictures. Here are some pictures I got in between crowds of people.
Of course, there are many more masters and famous artists represented in the Uffizi Gallery. Here are some of the works we saw.
Ponte Vecchio
Stroll across the iconic Ponte Vecchio, the oldest bridge in Florence. Lined with charming jewelry shops, this bridge offers a picturesque view of the Arno River. Capture the beauty of the bridge, especially during sunset when the golden light reflects off the water. To capture it, we found the Piazalle Michelangelo had the best vantage point.
Now, on this particular day, it was very warm and we didn’t have the patience to wait for the sunset. But we did capture the sunset the next evening after dinner. We sat on the bridge right behind the Ponte Vecchio in the above picture to capture the one below.
Monumental Complex of Santa Croce
The Complex of Santa Croce boasts vast fresco cycles painted by Giotto and his pupils. The monumental tombs of some of Italy’s most significant figures – Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Alfieri, Rossini, and Foscolo – make Santa Croce a treasure trove of memory stretching far beyond mere local interest; while Brunelleschi’s Pazzi Chapel and Donatello’s sculptures rank among the most important examples of the art of the Renaissance. I found the monuments to represent the most beautiful works, but all of the sculpture was amazing.
Galleria dell’Accademia
A visit to Florence would be incomplete without seeing Michelangelo’s masterpiece, David. The Galleria dell’Accademia is where you can witness this awe-inspiring sculpture up close. Marvel at the intricate details and the sheer magnificence of this iconic work of art.
Skip-the-Line Tickets
But before we talk further about Michelangelo’s works in the Galleria, we should talk about “skip the line.” When you buy tickets to the Galleria, very often you can choose a “skip the line” option. But once you start walking through Florence, you’ll probably find yourself asking, “What happens when everyone has skip-the-line tickets”? You will eventually come to the correct conclusion: there’s no such thing as skip-the-line.
There are several attendants out front of the Galleria dell’Accademia that manage several lines. At the front of the entry lines, there’s a big timed entry flip board that they flip once they’re ready for people to line up for their timeslot. You cannot line up until they flip the time to ten minutes before your entry time. They will tell you to stand across the street or toward the end of the current line, and once the timeslot shows ten minutes before your entry time, you can come up. This results in a crowd that moves en mass to the attendant at the front of the line, and you end up negotiating your position into — wait for it — a line. People are pushy, impolite, and resolute in gaining their position. Unfortunately, there’s not really a better option.
Inside the Accademia
Once you get into the building, you enter a large room which is not very crowded. Moving into the room on the left, you’ll join the other fish swimming upstream and jockeying for position to get photos of the sculptures, many partially finished, created by Michelangelo. At the end of the hallway, you’ll notice the incredibly large David (as intended per its original planned location). People are everywhere taking selfies with David in the background and many of the other people taking selfies, so basically, selfies of selfy takers, also in the background. If it’s just too crowded to get photos, go have a look around in the statue room which is down at the end of the hallway on the left, and come back when it’s less busy. You do not have to leave at any particular time. Here are some of the photos we took of the works of Michelangelo.
Boboli Gardens
Escape the bustling city streets and find tranquility in the enchanting Boboli Gardens. These landscaped gardens offer a serene retreat, featuring intricate fountains, hidden pathways, and stunning sculptures. Take a stroll or find a peaceful spot to sit and enjoy the beauty of nature. The gardens feature lots of birds as well, so bring your camera!
Piazzale Michelangelo
For breathtaking panoramic views of Florence, head to Piazzale Michelangelo. This hilltop square offers a postcard-worthy vista, showcasing the city’s skyline and the Arno River. It’s the perfect spot to capture stunning photographs or simply admire the beauty of Florence from above and hear some great electric guitar.
I felt like the steps where people plant themselves to watch the sunset are a little like the Spanish Steps in Rome, but less decorative. The decorations here are in the form of the gardens that you walk through on the way up to the square. The featured image in this post is a photo I took from this square and there is an image I took of Ponte Vecchio from this location as well shown under the heading above: Ponte Vecchio. But here are a couple more. It’s a very photogenic area. The David statue here is a bronze replica designed by Giuseppe Poggi. Below David, are the replicas of the allegorical sculptures from the Medici Chapels of San Lorenzo. And speaking of San Lorenzo….
San Lorenzo Church
We recommend visiting the Church of San Lorenzo if you have time. It contains the tomb of Donatello and Cosimo di Medici, the head of the Medici family. In the Basilica San Lorenzo, you’ll find many sculptures done by Donatello. If you visit the Medici Chapels, you’ll find works by Michelangelo. Michelangelo was originally commissioned to design the church façade, but that did not happen due to a lack of funds. Instead, the current church was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi in 1419. Here are some photos inside the Basilica San Lorenzo, the St. Lawrence Treasure, and the Cellar (also known as the Museum and Crypt).
Conclusion
Florence truly is a city that transports you back in time. With its timeless beauty, rich history, and remarkable attractions, it’s no wonder that Florence continues to captivate visitors from around the world. Whether you’re an art enthusiast, a history buff, or simply looking to immerse yourself in the charm of this Italian gem, Florence will leave you spellbound.
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