Things to do in Florence: Attractions

Florence, also called Firenze, is the capital of Tuscany and one of the most famous cultural cities of Europe. You will find many buildings and works of art from the Renaissance period here. In fact, there is no other place in Italy where you can find so many works of art from this period as in Florence. We visited this cultural city for one day from Pisa. In this post you can read what you can do and see in Florence!

The Ponte Vecchio

The Ponte Vecchio, Italian for ‘old bridge’ is a famous medieval bridge in Florence built over the river Arno. The bridge was built in 1345 and on top of the bridge there’s a corridor of about 1 kilometer. This corridor served to lead the members of the de’ Medici family to and from their palaces without having to mingle with the people. On and around the bridge, there are all kinds of shops selling jewelry mostly. It’s a great sight and makes for a great photo opportunity!

Florence Cathedral (Duomo di Firenze)

The Duomo is the fourth largest cathedral in Europe and Florence’s landmark. You will find this cathedral on nearly every postcard of the city. The Duomo is also called the Santa Maria del Fiore and is located in the center of Florence.

The construction of the Cathedral started in the 13th century but was only completed in the 15th century. The building consists of the cathedral, a baptistery, a bell tower, a crypt and a museum. Except for the crypt, you can visit all parts of the cathedral.

Check the cathedral’s website for the opening hours.

Fancy a pizza? Visit one of the many restaurants around the cathedral andy enjoy a delicious pizza with an outstanding view!

Tip: Take a good look at the prices in advance, so you don’t pick an expensive restaurant. Some restaurants have action menus. For example, we ate a (tasty) pizza with a glass of wine for only € 10, – with a fantastic view of the Duomo.

Piazza della Signoria

Piazza della Signoria is one of the most important squares in Florence. It has the town hall (Palazzo Vecchio) and one of the most important art museums in the world, the Uffizi. Palazzo Vecchio is also called Palazzo della Signoria and the square is named after it. In front of the town hall you will find a replica of David by Michelangelo.

Basilica di Santa Maria Novella

The Basilica di Santa Maria Novella is a basilica at Piazza Santa Maria Novella near the central station. The basilica was built in the 13th century in Romanesque style. The colors correspond to the colors of the Duomo and one of the highlights in the basilica is the fresco of The Holy Trinity by Tommaso Masaccio, painted between 1425 and 1428.

Shopping in Florence

Italy is known for its long history in fashion. Florence is also a great place to shop, where you will find expensive designer shops, but also the famous brands like Zara and H&M. There are a number of streets where you can find a lot of shops: Via delle Terme, Via dei Calzaiuoli, Via Roma and Via Cerretani. It’s not only the shopping that is fun, but also to look at all those beautiful buildings!