Ponte Vecchio
One of the main symbols of Florence, the bridge spans the Arno at its narrowest point. Butchers initially occupied the shops; the present tenants are jewellers, art dealers and souvenir sellers. The monument in honour of Benvenuto Cellini was created in 1900 to mark the fourth century of the birth of the great Florentine sculptor and master goldsmith.
Museo dell’Opera del Duomo: Cathedral, Baptistery, Giotto’s Bell Tower & Museum
Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral: Florence’s main church was begun in 1296 with the design of Arnolfo di Cambio and completed structurally in 1436 with the dome engineered by Filippo Brunelleschi.
Giotto’s Bell Tower: one of the showpieces of the Florentine Gothic architecture.
Baptistery of St. John: one of the oldest buildings in the city, built between 1059 and 1128. The architecture is in Florentine Romanesque style.
Museo dell’Opera del Duomo: houses Lorenzo Ghiberti’s original doors for the Baptistery of Florence Cathedral, called the Gates of Paradise, as well as masterpieces by Michelangelo, Donatello, Lorenzo Ghiberti, Luca della Robbia, Arnolfo di Cambio and many others.
Piazza Del Duomo
Various opening hours: see www.ilgrandemuseodelduomo.it
Basilica di Santa Croce
The Basilica is the largest Franciscan church in the world. Its most notable features are its sixteen chapels, many of them decorated with frescoes by Giotto and his pupils, and its tombs and cenotaphs. The main cloister, houses the Cappella dei Pazzi.
Piazza Santa Croce, 16
Opening hours: from Monday to Saturday, 9.30-17; Sunday, 14-17. www.santacroceopera.it
Chiesa di Santa Maria Novella
Chronologically the first great basilica in Florence, and the city’s principal Dominican church, the church contains many masterpieces: the beautiful façade designed by Leon Battista Alberti, the Trinity by Masaccio and Giotto’s Crucifix are just some of the art works.
Piazza Santa Maria Novella;
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday, 9-19; Friday, 11-19 Saturday, 9.00-17.30. http://museicivicifiorentini.comune.fi.it/smn/
Palazzo Vecchio
Symbol of the civic power of Florence for over seven centuries, Palazzo Vecchio overlooks Piazza della Signoria with its copy of Michelangelo’s David statue as well as the gallery of statues in the adjacent Loggia dei Lanzi. It became the seat of the Florence City Council in 1871.
Piazza della Signoria;
Opening hours: every day except Thursday, 9-23; Thursday, 9-14. www.museicivicifiorentini.comune.fi.it/
Galleria degli Uffizi
Under the Medici, the home of administrative offices, the Tribunal and the state archive, hence the name uffizi, “offices”, the Uffizi is now a prominent art museum, housing a wealth of artistic treasures from the Renaissance masters and other great artists.
Piazzale degli Uffizi, 6
Opening hours: from Tuesday to Sunday, 8.15-18.50. Closed on Monday. www.uffizzi.it
Corridoio Vasariano
The most fascinating point of the Uffizi Gallery, this enclosed passageway was built as a link between
Palazzo Vecchio and Palazzo Pitti, motivated by Cosimo I de’ Medici’s desire to move freely between his residence and the government palace. It is now used to exhibit the Uffizi gallery’s famous collection of self-portraits.
Lungarno degli Acciaioli;
Visits by guided tour only. See www.uffizi.org/the-vasari-corridor for tour agencies.
Galleria dell’Accademia
Home of Michelangelo’s sculpture David, the gallery also houses other examples of Michelangelo’s work, including his four unfinished Prisoners, intended for the tomb of Pope Julius II, and a statue of Saint Matthew, also unfinished. Also on display are works by Paolo Uccello, Domenico Ghirlandaio,
Sandro Botticelli and Andrea del Sarto, as well as collections of Russian icons and musical instruments.
Via Ricasoli, 58/60
Opening hours: from Tuesday to Sunday, 8.15-18.50. Closed on Monday.
Museo delle Cappelle Medicee
The Medici Chapels are two structures at the Basilica of San Lorenzo, Florence, Italy, dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, and built as extensions to Brunelleschi’s 15th-century church. The Sagrestia Nuova, designed by Michelangelo, was intended as a mausoleum for members of the Medici family.
The larger Cappella dei Principi, the result of collaboration among designers and patrons, is a true expression of court art.
Piazza di Madonna degli Aldobradnini, 6;
Opening hours: every day, 8.15-17.
Palazzo Pitti & Giardini di Boboli
Bought by the Medici family in 1549 and the chief residence of the ruling families of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, the palazzo is now the largest museum complex in Florence and is divided into several galleries: Palatine Gallery, Royal Apartments, Gallery of Modern Art, Silver Museum, Porcelain Museum, Costume Gallery and Carriages Museum. Behind the palace are the Boboli Gardens, home to a collection of sculptures dating from the 16th-18th centuries, with some Roman antiquities.
Piazza Pitti 1;
Various opening hours: see http://www.uffizi.it/
Other suggestions
Brancacci Chapel (http://museicivicifiorentini.comune.fi.it/brancacci/)
The Genius of Leonardo (http://www.mostredileonardo.com/)
Museo Stefano Bardini (http://museicivicifiorentini.comune.fi.it/bardini/)
Museo Salvatore Ferragamo (http://www.ferragamo.com/museo/en/usa/)
Casa Buonarroti (http://www.casabuonarroti.it/it/)
Museo di San Marco (https://goo.gl/AI3LOr)
Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana (http://www.bmlonline.it/)
Museo dell’Opificio delle Pietre Dure (http://www.opificiodellepietredure.it/)
Museo Archeologico Nazionale (https://goo.gl/eIclH)
Bargello Museum (https://goo.gl/jFXjxx)
Museo del ‘900 (http://museicivicifiorentini.comune.fi.it/novecento/)
Innocenti Museum (https://goo.gl/JlM4kR)
Where to eat
Mercato Centrale, Via dell’Ariento (Opening hours: 10-24)
www.mercatocentrale.it/en
Ristorante del Fagioli, Corso dei Tintori, 47 (Opening hours: 12.30-14.30, 19.30-22.30, Saturday &Sunday closed) +39 055 244285
Trattoria Pallottino, Via Isola delle Stinche, 1 (Opening hours: 12.30-14.30, 19.30-22.30, Monday closed) +39 055 289573 – trattoriapallottino.com
Ristorante Cafaggi, Via Guelfa, 35 (Opening hours: 12.30-15, 19-22, Sunday closed) +39 055 294989 – www.ristorantecafaggi.it
All’Antico Vinaio, Via dei Neri, 74 (Opening hours: 10-22, Sunday 10-16, Monday closed) +39 055 2382723 – www.allanticovinaio.com
Pizzeria Santarpia, Largo Pietro Annigoni, 9 (Opening hours: 19.30-24, Tuesday closed) +39 055 245829 – www.santarpia.biz
Trattoria da Giorgio, Via Palazzuolo, 100 (Opening hours: 12-14.30, 18-22, Sunday closed) +39 055 284302 – www.trattoriadagiorgio.it
Trattoria del Pennello, Via Dante Alighieri, 4 (Opening hours: 12-15, 19-22, Sunday 12-15, Monday closed) +39 055 294848 – www.ristoranteilpennello.it
Trattoria Il Latini, Via dei Palchetti, 6/r (Opening hours: 12.30-14.30, 19.30-22.30, Monday closed) +39 055 210916 – www.illatini.com
Il Pizzaiuolo, Via dei Macci 113 (Opening hours: 12.30-14.30, 19.30-0.30, Sunday closed) +39 055 241171 – www.ilpizzaiuolo.it
Osteria dei Pazzi, Via dei Lavatoi, 1 (Opening hours: 12.30-14.30, 19.30-22.30, Monday closed) +39 055 2344880
I 4 leoni, Via de’ Vellutini, 1R (Opening hours: 12-24)
+39 055 218562 – www.4leoni.it
Trattoria La Casalinga, Via dei Michelozzi (Opening hours: 12-14.30, 19-22, Sunday closed) +39 055 218624 – www.trattorialacasalinga.it
Santo Bevitore, Via di Santo Spirito, 64 (Opening hours: 12.30-14.30, 19.30-23) +39 055 211264 – www.ilsantobevitore.com
Cantinetta Antinori, Piazza Antinori, 3 (Opening hours: 12-14.30, 19-22.30, Sunday closed) +39 055 292234 – www.cantinetta-antinori.com
Cucina Torcicoda, via Torta, 5R (Opening hours: 12-15, 19-23)
+39 055 2654329 – www.cucinatorcicoda.com