Florence Skyline with the Cathedral
When you think of Italy, probably the first things that come to mind are history and architecture, while picturing in your head the Coliseum of Rome or maybe the Vatican. Or maybe Florence – you can say the whole city is an outdoor museum of Italian Renaissance. If you love art, you will love this city. In the following, you will find a brief Florence travel guide, with tourist attractions worth seeing.
Florence will require two or three days to be discovered by the average tourist and about a week to be explored by those who are looking for more than the most known tourist attractions. Florence has beautiful sights, buildings with impressive architecture and an overall enchanting atmosphere. Here are a few of the things you shouldn’t miss.
The Villa Medici at Castello
The Villa Medici belonged to the Medici family in the 15th century. It is located in the countryside, near Florence and is famous for its impressive architecture and gorgeous gardens. The villa has been fortified to provide the necessary protection to the Medici family, which was extremely influential in that period.
Ponte Vecchio
This medieval bridge, called Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) is one of the most beautiful sights in Florence. It stretches over the river Arno. Originally, the bridge was not entirely made of stone, but also used to have portions made in wood. In the 12th century, the area was flooded and the wood portions of the bridge have been destroyed. Later, the bridge was rebuilt using only stone material. The area is a real attraction because of the many markets and shops.
Boboli Gardens
Even in Florence, the heart of Tuscany, which is a region famous for peace and relaxation, you feel sometimes like you want to escape away from all the urban noise and fuss. Boboli Gardens in Florence are a place that truly makes you feel like you are kilometers away from the city. The Gardens are near Pitti Palace and include a large amphitheater. You’ll be stunned by the landscape, as well as by the interesting sculptures that you will have the chance to see there.
Piazzale Michelangelo (Michelangelo Square)
This famous market offers a unique panorama over the entire city of Florence. Its privileged position makes it a major tourist attraction. The square was dedicated to the renowned sculptor of the Renaissance, Michelangelo, and contains even copies of his famous works of art, such as David. We recommend you to visit the square twice, once during the day, when you have a clear view over the city, and once at night, when all the major tourist attractions are lit up.
Uffizi Gallery
This museum, build in 1560, is one of the oldest museums in the world. It houses an impressive collection of works of art and represents one of the most important attractions of Florence and the entire region of Tuscany. In July-August, you may have the surprise to stay even 5 hours in queue to get tickets, so we recommend that you book your tickets in advance.
A Florence travel guide would not be complete without images of the best attractions. Click the button below to enter our photo gallery and admire quality photos of the sites mentioned here, as well as of many other places in Florence that you will want to visit.
