Santa Maria del Fiore Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance and is a city with a rich history and culture. No wonder it was rated the best city in all of Europe in 2015 Readers’ Choice Awards. If you want to be part of a memorable trip, experience Florence in such a way that makes you step back and travel through time to find how history has affected the culture and art of the city. Florence has something to offer to everyone from astronomy, physics, archeology, history, art, architecture, to even fashion and mathematics.
In case time is short, refer to this list of the most amazing things to do and places to visit in Florence. You’ll be charmed!
One of the most important art collections is housed by the Uffizi Gallery which draws in more than a million visitors. These tourists wish to get just one glance upon its various masterpieces. Set in the heart of Florence, this museum contains works of great artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Giotto, Botticelli, Caravaggio, and many more great personalities. Along with being a premier place to view Italian Renaissance art, it is also the most visited museum in Italy.
The Duomo or the Santa Maria del Fiore (as the locals call it) is the most famous tourist landmark in Florence. Its dome structure is ahead of its time and truly a stunning creation. It is very ancient and is known for its massive size and great architecture.
This grand cathedral was built before the Renaissance period (the year 1293), during the time when a committee had come up with specific ideas and ambitions regarding it. The Duomo stands 10 stories high, consists of over 4 million bricks almost the size of half a football field, and weighs over 40,000 tons. Also, it is considered the largest masonry building in the world. Imagine what it would have been like to stare at this alluring structure in those times (the technology to create it properly didn’t even exist) when it has so much importance now!
Street Art Scavenger Hunt
The Renaissance capital of the world has a contemporary art scene which is lesser known, but no less enjoyable. This art scavenger hunt has Clet Abraham (street artist) doing comic alterations to installations and street signs. Make sure you look around for L'Arte Sa Nuotare ("Art knows how to swim"), which features portraits of famous historical figures, like the Dante and Mona Lisa, in scuba gear.
The Pitti Palace or the Palazzo Pitti was once the residence of the Medici family. To this date, it is considered one of the largest architectural monuments in Florence. Built and designed by Brunelleschi, who was the same guy who designed the cathedral’s domed roof in 1457, this palace will truly remain a marvelous sight for years to come. At the time when the royal family lived here, there were major and minor decorative and non-decorative additions over the years.
Found directly behind the Pitti Palace, the Boboli Gardens are truly an exceptional scenic beauty. The Medici family established the layout of the gardens by creating a peculiar kind of an Italian garden style. This is certain to become a model for multiple European courts. The real formal layout of the outdoor museum has a vast green expanse and is known to be populated by ancient statues of the Renaissance.
Florence is a stunning multicultural city whose tours are a perfect escape from the hustle bustle to an adventure of your own. When considering how to get around Florence, you have a few options. One of the best ways to tour around in Florence is on a bike on paths that wind through the most scenic neighborhoods. Walking in the heat of Florence will get unpleasant very fast. The sun will beat down on you as you make your way through the points of interest. This will leave you begging for a comfortable chair and air conditioning. In this case, a bicycle tour is a great way to delight you. This bicycle rental is a famous way of getting around the city. Outside the Santa Maria Novella Train Station, you can rent a bike for 10 euro a day
The Accademia Gallery, also known as Galleria dell’Accademia is based in Florence, Italy, and is a very famous gallery full of art pieces and sculptures of the magnificent artist of the Renaissance period, Michelangelo. His sculptures draw numerous visitors in the museum every year. Among the popular sculptures present here, is the wonderful statue of David within the tribune, the amazing St. Matthew and marvelous Prisoners (or Slaves). In the main halls tourists find great works of Italian artists such as Domenico, Orcagna, Pontormo, Allessando Allori, Andrea del Sarto, Sandro Botticelli and Ghirlandaio.
Outside the church you’ll find Italy's most sacred ritual – sipping espresso at the bar. The quality of each sip will simply prove to be an obsession. Chiaroscuro's espresso bar allows you to sample a selection of bean varieties from more than 15 countries, which involves the most famous and elusive kopi luwak from Indonesia's rainforests.
The Santa Trinità Basilica
The Sassetti Chapel based in the grandiose Santa Trinità Basilica has amazing frescos which depict Florentine mundane and religious daily life in the 1400s. Try to identify the famous figures showcased in the frescos, such as the chapel's patron Francesco Sassetti and Lorenzo il Magnifico. These figures are costumed in the traditional crimson cloth of the Florentine elite.
Picnic at Giardino delle Rose
This little garden offers tourists a green refuge from the walls, stone, cyclists, and huge crowds of the city and is tucked between San Niccolo and Piazzale Michelangelo. The park spans a hectare, within which you'll find a dozen sculptures, more than 350 varieties of roses, lemon groves, a Japanese garden and unparalleled views of the city. There are grassy spaces where you can bring some wine (we suggest picking up a bottle from the Le Volpi e L'Uva) and a few snacks.
And the list never ends. We cannot include everything right? So come and see it for yourself! J
