Top 5 Travel Attractions in Florence

Guest post by Katie Greenaway

Florence has many upon many of famous attractions.  Living in the city of wonderment, a plethora of churches with souls and posti (places) that you can only see in Florence.  I feel that there are much more than 5 famous attractions in Florence but I will highlight the ones that are more well-known.

1).  Santa Croce- Santa Croce is located in Piazza Santa Croce with a statue of Dante on the left hand side, standing tall.  The church wasn’t completed and consecrated until 1442, and even then it remained without a facade until the neo-Gothic facade was added in 1857.  The cloisters are home to Brunelleschi’s Cappella de’ Pazzi, the convent partially given over to a famous leather school, and the church itself is a shrine of 14th-century frescoes and a monument to notable Florentines.  For example, Galileo Galilei, Niccolo` Machievelli, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Dante Alighieri, to name a few, although Dante’s body is buried in Ravenna. It is a fresca(cool) sight to see, especially in the summer heat.

2).  Piazzale Michelangelo– This punto visto (viewpoint) gives you a breath of fresh air once you arrive at the top.  Piazzale Michelangelo welcomes one and all to the gorgeous views that it portrays.  You could arrive by foot or by the number 12 bus.  The panorama can be captured at all angles of the Tuscan countryside with a camera and to be embedded in your mind by gazing to and fro.  There are plenty of vendors and gelaterie nearby to cool off a bit with a gelato or granita.  At sunset, it is a scene set for lovers and the like.

3).  San Miniato al Monte– This church is one of my favorites to get lost in.  Enjoying the sunset or a view of my city from high above. I feel invincible when sitting in front of San Miniato looking out over Florence.  How gorgeous it is!  San Miniato al Monte can be reached from Piazzale Michelangelo. Following the path to the church, where you see all the stairs. The stairs will lead you to a spectacular view of Florence. Sitting higher than Piazzale Michelangelo, you will see much, much more of the city. There is tradition I have, I make a pack dinner and escape the day to watch the sunset. It is breathtaking. If you happen to plan to stay all afternoon, at around 5 pm on certain days, the Monks of San Miniato will chant in the crypt of the church. Very calming and relaxing.

4).  The Uffizi Gallery–The Uffizi is one of the world’s great museums, and the single best introduction to Renaissance painting, with works by Giotto, Masaccio, Sandro Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, and the list goes on.  The museum is very small although it looks enormous.  Know before you go that the Uffizi regularly shuts down rooms for crowd-control reasons — especially in summer, when the bulk of the annual 1.5 million visitors stampedes the place. Of the more than 3,100 artworks in the museum’s archives, only about 1,700 are on exhibit.  Reserve a ticket online beforehand so you aren’t waiting in line while baking in the heat.

5). Il Duomo- Santa Maria del Fiore is one of the main symbols of Florence.  Whenever you get lost, just look up for the Brunelleschi’s dome and you will find your way.  The top of the Duomo is open to the public by walking up the 400 odd stairs.  The 360 panorama shows you the whole of Florence.  Right from the heart.  Most of the original pieces from the Duomo now resides in the Museo dell’ Opera del Duomo, which is located right behind the dome.

Hope you enjoy these attractions as I do everyday that I live walking among the cobblestones of my city.

Katie Greenaway is a freelance travel writer and is the Local Expert of Florence for Nile Guide where she also provides the secrets of Florence on her blog.  She writes about her life in Florence on her personal blog Olio di Oliva e Sogni di Vino and contributes toMNUI Travel Insurance with travel articles.

About The Author

Cecil Lee

The author is an avid traveler and photography hobbyist who loves to share with others his travel and photo-taking experience in many popular tourist destinations around Europe, Asia and Australasia. Read the exciting stories with many photos captured on his journeys.