FLORENCE HOMEPAGE » MAJOR SIGHTS IN FLORENCE

UFFIZI

If you are walking through the small streets of Florence full of artisan’s shops and suddenly you feel a sort of suprise, don’t worry, you are arrived in front of one of the most beautiful squares of the world: Piazza della Signoria.This square, with its imponent Palazzo Vecchio, its impressive Loggia de’ Lanzi will bring you back to the Middle Ages. If you close your eyes, only for a moment, you can immagine some famous heroes of the past that is walking with you or, if you’re very concentrate, you can imagine the rowdy goldsmiths and silversmiths selling theire jewels from the lively and, at the same time, romantic Ponte Vecchio… Going on this fantastic tour, don’t forget to visit the rich collections exposed in the Uffizi Gallery with its works by Botticelli, by the ingenious Leonardo da Vinci and many other famous artists from all times.

What to see in Uffizi area

PALAZZO STROZZI

That’s the area in which the symbols of Renaissance architecture are predominant: the well known Palazzo Strozzi, the biggest and most famous palace of Florence, Palazzo Antinori, Palazzo Rucellai and many suggestive churches such as Santa Trinita and San Pancrazio (now the Marino Marini Museum, an italian abstract artist), are some of them. Near Palazzo Strozzi you’ll find the most interesting shopping area of the city: around Via Tornabuoni there are the most prestigious fashion shops of the world that will grant you unforgettable walks thanks to theire shining windows framed in spectacular ancient buildings. The above mentioned reasons are only a few of the many reasons because of we really like Florence…everywhere past and present are so well-mixed together!!

What to see in Palazzo Strozzi area
DUOMO

The pleasant sensation that you’ll have in front of the beautiful Piazza del Duomo (Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral) is very difficoult to be described: in a so small and charming area, the Giotto’s belltower, the gilded bronze doors of the marbled Baptistery and the Gothic Loggia del Bigallo look like elegant Florentine landlords ready to welcome all the visitors in their coloured and fascinating property. Walking in Duomo area all around, look everywhere: you’ll be suprised to discover so many ancient buildings, picturesque corners and scents of Florentine’s tradition.

What to see in Duomo area
SANTA MARIA NOVELLA

The most important Gothic Church of Florence is Santa Maria Novella and here, elegant and timeless, this basilica dominates its square, its cloister and the red roofs of the buildings around. The characteristic lanes of Via de’ Fossi area look like a network around this charming church. People gravitate here also because close to the church lies the Florence central railway station: the modern and omonymous Santa Maria Novella station. Thanks to its strategical position, really in the heart of Florence and easily reachable from every side of the city, this area is considered one of the principal starting point for visiting museums and major monuments. One of the most important european music festivals, the prestigious “Maggio Musicale Fiorentino”, is represented in the famous Teatro Comunale, located in a suggestive position of this area, very close to the blond river Arno.

What to see in Santa Maria Novella area
FORTEZZA DA BASSO

The Fortezza da Basso, an imponent fortress, built thanks to the Sangallo family around 1534, was one of the first italian “citadels”. Its turbolent and fascinating history has remained during the centuries well represented by its powerful bastions, its secret passages and parapet walks. Today, the Fortezza da Basso has completely changed in its functions: it houses the main Florence Exhibition Centre, the Palazzo dei Congressi and Palazzo Affari, helding at its interior, all of the most important international fairs, shows and events. In this area, we must mention the richest italian Library: the Biblioteca Nazionale. The collection includes about 4 millions of volumes and above all, the well-known Galileian Collection.

What to see in Fortezza da Basso area
SAN MARCO

Artlovers will be so happy to discover the San Marco area so rich of culture, art and traditions. Everywhere, there is something to appreciate, study and admire. In its following of Churches, Cloisters, Gardens, Galleries and ancient buildings, the visitor will be really enthusiast, an experience absolutely unforgetable. The San Marco’s convent is the symbol we choose to represent this area. In its simple cloister there are many beautiful frescoes by Beato Angelico, one of the most famous painters of XV century. Walking through the charming Piazza SS. Annunziata, with its Brunelleschi’s porch, and the Ospedale Innocenti (the place in which orphanages were recovered during the XV century), you’ll find on your sides two beautiful gardens: the botanical garden “Giardino dei Semplici” and the verdant “Giardino della Gherardesca”.

What to see in San Marco area
SANTA CROCE

Let your fantasy run away and imagine to live in Florence during a Carnival of the XV century: you are in Piazza Santa Croce and people are playing a spectacular football match. In 1530, the most famous football match between the florentines against the German occupiers (that have lost the match) was played. Today, the competition is kept up annually in historic costumes in the same square, to commemorate the historical event. The beautiful Church of Santa Croce, located in the square, presents on its interior some precious frescoes by Giotto and his pupil Taddeo Gaddi and, in its cloister, is a masterpiece of Renaissance’s architecture: the Brunelleschi’s Cappella de’ Pazzi. Going on our walk, we’ll find the interesting church dedicated to Sant’Ambrogio and the imponent Synagogue of Florence in its great Spanish-Moorish style.

What to see in Santa Croce area
BELVEDERE MICHELANGELO

The beautiful terrace of Piazzale Michelangelo will give you the perfect idea of how magic is Florence: on the top of a small hill, you will enjoy the most beautiful view over the city, from the river Arno, the Giotto’s belltower and the red roofs of Florence, a sense of peace and immensity will open your hearts. Florence is a small world itself: art, religion, tradition, entertainments are so well mixed together to let you feel complete. You will not forget any moment spent here in Florence, this city will be a part of yourself forever.

What to see in Belvedere Michelangelo area

PALAZZO PITTI

Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens underwent many alterations during the centuries: the first idea was probably by Brunelleschi, altered by the Medici family year after year. Today, this building houses many interesting Museums and Galleries such as the Gallery of Modern Art and the Palatine Gallery. The Gallery of Modern Art includes collections from neo-classicism to the XX century. The Palatine Gallery houses true msterpieces of XVI and XVII centuries. The beautiful garden of this palace (the Boboli gardens), has in its interior many staues, fountains and box hedges clipped into symmetrical patterns. Other characteristic of this area is the well-known district of San Frediano, the artisan’s quarter, with shops of of many antiques dealers and restorers, and it is often associated with leather and wool industries. Another intersting church of this area is Santa Maria del Carmine, best known thanks to the beautiful Brancacci Chapel, frescoed by the genial painter Masaccio, the first artist using perspective.

What to see in Palazzo Pitti area