Lose yourself in the Renaissance charm of Florence’s old town, where masterpieces by Brunelleschi and Giotto line up alongside cafés, gelato shops and trattorias.
Decorated with Renaissance and Florentine Gothic landmarks, the UNESCO-protected Historic Center of Florence is one of the world’s most charming old quarters. It’s where great masters left their mark on the city that gave birth to the Renaissance era in the 14th century. Explore their work at the galleries, museums and monumental buildings when you visit the Historic Center. Discover boutiques, markets and time-honored cafés while wandering atmospheric streets.
Piazza del Duomo is the heart of the area and the site of some of the city’s finest gothic structures. Among them are the ornate marble Baptistery of St. John, Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and Giotto’s Campanile. Relish the panoramic views from Brunelleschi’s cathedral dome and the campanile. Sculptures by Donatello and Michelangelo amaze visitors at the Museum of Opera of Saint Maria of Fiore.
Stroll north to the Palazzo Medici Riccardi, the city’s first Renaissance building and former residence of the noble Medici family. The tombs of the Medici sit in nearby San Lorenzo Church. See Michelangelo’s David at the Accademia Gallery and frescoes by Fra Angelico at the Museum of San Marcos. Browse ingenious inventions at the Leonardo da Vinci Museum.
Head to the riverfront, where the Uffizi Gallery boasts Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Primavera among its exhibition of masterpieces. Adjacent to here, the Galileo Museum introduces visitors to astronomy and science via over 1,000 instruments. Don’t miss the fortified Palazzo Vecchio and Basilica of Santa Croce, the final resting place of Galileo and Michelangelo.
Tucked beneath the impressive cityscape are boutiques, high-end clothing stores and jewelers that showcase Italian passion for fashion. Snack on typical Tuscan fare such as almond gelato, lampredotto (tripe sandwich) and prosciutto ham.
Florence’s Historic Center is the perfect place to tour on foot. Cross the emblematic Ponte Vecchio to the left bank of the River Arno and browse the artisan stores of the Oltrarno neighborhood. Appreciate the old quarter in all its Renaissance glory from Fort Belvedere and Piazzale Michelangelo.
