Venture just north of the Florence Duomo to visit San Lorenzo, a district packed with shops and Renaissance buildings, and marked by its association with the Medici family. Experience the atmosphere, but don’t forget the shopping bags. In between admiring the statues and icons that adorn the buildings, peruse boutiques and try some of the city’s most famous foods.

Shop for some of Florence’s famous goods, from leather to leeks, in the stalls of the Central Market, a favorite with tourists and locals alike. Feel even more luxurious by visiting the Palazzo Medici Riccardi, whose Riccardian Library is lavish testimony to the importance of learning in the family’s life. See more modern collections in the historic Florence Museum of Natural History, started in 1775, a short walk away.

Go on a tour of San Lorenzo’s collection of stunning religious buildings, starting with the Basilica di San Lorenzo. Appreciate the vaulted ceilings of the main church, then move on to the Medici Chapels, final resting place of all the most famous members of the infamous family. Visit the Museo di Cenacolo di Sant’Apollonia, a former abbey, to see the Saint Apollonia Last Supper, an excellent example of 15th-century Renaissance work by Andrea del Castagno. A different religious tradition, no less glorious, can be seen in the Russian Orthodox Church of the Nativity.

San Lorenzo is in the northern part of Florence’s Old Town, a short walk from the majority of the city’s biggest landmarks. Florence’s main train station is right at its western edge, a quick walk away. Walk to the Ponte Vecchio in 10 minutes. Much of San Lorenzo is closed to private vehicles, so explore the neighborhood on foot. There are a few metered garages located in the vicinity. One bus line travels through the neighborhood.

Rest weary feet on the benches of San Lorenzo’s main square, the Piazza San Marco, whose statues and elegant façades make a lunch break feel like a trip to a museum.