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The Renaissance era began in Florence, the regional capital of Tuscany in Italy. The dynamic city is the ideal location for all explorers because it has a rich artistic and historical culture. Few cities are as small or as full of amazing works of architecture and art everywhere you turn. You will never run out of places to experience in Florence. Here are the best places to visit in Florence:

30 Best Places to Visit in Florence

Best Places to visit in Florence Uffizi Gallery

1. Uffizi Gallery

Gallery | Must See

Florence's prestigious gallery, the vast U-shaped Palazzo Degli Uffizi, was built as a government building and houses the world's greatest catalog of Italian Renaissance art. The Medici family bestowed the collection to the city in 1743 on the condition that it never leave Florence

Why Visit: The Birth of Venus by Renaissance painter Sandro Botticelli is arguably his best work. This work, which is around 10 feet long, is on display at the Uffizi Gallery.

Tip: Keep your ticket with you the entire time you are there because you could need to show it at any point.

Location: Piazzale degli Uffizi, 6, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy Find on map

from €29
Best Places to visit in Florence Boboli Gardens

2. Boboli Gardens

Leisure | City Landmark

The fountain- and sculpture-adorned Boboli Gardens were arranged in the mid-16th century to a layout by architect Niccol Pericoli and are slowly but steadily being repaired to their former immaculate splendor thanks to a €2 million financing by Florence's domestic fashion house Gucci.

Why Visit: The Boboli Gardens, which feature numerous sculptures, grottoes, and fountains, is Florence's largest outdoor museum.

Tip: Spend some time exploring the sculpture and buildings in the Renaissance style. Enjoy viewing the magnificent sculptures and pieces of art, such as the imposing Fountain of Neptune or the 6-meter-tall obelisk.

Location: Piazza de' Pitti, 1, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy Find on map

from €16
Best Places to visit in Accademia Gallery

3. Accademia Gallery

Museum | Must See

A line forms outside the door to this gallery, which was built to house Michelangelo's David, one of the Renaissance's most recognizable masterpieces. However, the world's most renowned statue is well worth the wait. Michelangelo was also the mastermind behind the gallery's incomplete San Matteo and four Prigioni.

Why Visit: Of course, Michelangelo's David in The Tribune Hall is a must-see work of art that is on display at the Accademia Gallery.

Tip: As a result of the Accademia Gallery's fame, expect lengthy lineups at the door. Choosing skip-the-line tickets is the greatest method to save time.

Location: Via Ricasoli, 58/60, 50129 Firenze FI, Italy Find on map

from €20
Best Places to visit in Florence Duomo Florence

4. Duomo Florence

City Landmark | Must See

The Duomo di Florence is the city's most recognizable landmark. It's a massive structure topped by Filippo Brunelleschi's red-tiled cupola, with stunning pink, white, and green marble facade and elegant campanile dominating the Renaissance cityscape. Arnolfo di Cambio, a Sienese architect, began work on it in 1296.

Why Visit: To get a panoramic perspective of Florence, climb to the summit of the Cupola, which is the highest point in the city.

Tip: To avoid heavier crowds and drawn-out wait times, early mornings on weekdays are the best time to visit the Florence Duomo.

Location: Piazza del Duomo, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy Find on map

from €15
Best Places to visit in Florence Palzzo Pitti

5. Palzzo Pitti

Historical Landmark

This Renaissance palace was authorized by banker Luca Pitti in 1458 and later purchased by the Medici family. It was a domicile of the city's rulers for centuries. It now houses a remarkable selection of silver and jewelry, two art museums, and a series of rooms that recreate life in the palace during the House of Savoy's reign.

Why Visit: Over 500 works of art, mostly from the Renaissance era, that were once part of the Medici family's private collections are now shown in the main Gallery.

Tip: Avoid bringing camera equipment because you'll have to leave it in the cloakroom and won't be able to use it.

Location: Piazza de' Pitti, 1, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy Find on map

from €24
Best Places to visit in Florence Palazzo Vecchio

6. Palazzo Vecchio

Historical Landmark

Arnolfo di Cambio designed this palace for the city government between 1298 and 1314, complete with crenellations and a 94m-high tower. It now houses the mayor's headquarters and the municipal council. You can enjoy breathtaking views from the top of the Torre di Arnolfo.

Why Visit: Discover the ornately decorated ceilings and statues that may be seen in the courtyards, halls, and opulent apartments. You may get an idea of the riches of Florence during the height of the Renaissance by looking at these.

Tip: Accessible entry is available at Via Dei Gondi through a side door. Wheelchair users can access the Palazzo Vecchio's two main floors.

Location: P.za della Signoria, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy Find on map

from €17
Best Places to visit in Florence Basilica of Santa Maria Novella

7. Basilica of Santa Maria Novella

Religious Landmark | Must See

The striking green-and-white marble facade of the 13th to 15th-century Basilica di Santa Maria Novella flaunts a monastic complex that includes romantic church cloisters and a frescoed chapel. The basilica itself is a treasure trove of artistic masterpieces, culminating in Domenico Ghirlandaio's frescoes.

Why Visit: One of the first works of art to employ the then-recently discovered techniques of perspective and proportion is Masaccio's magnificent fresco Trinità, which you can see straight ahead as you enter.

Tip: Backtrack through the museum to the brilliantly frescoed Great Cloister (Chiostro Grande; 1340–60), so named for its imposing grandeur.

Location: P.za di Santa Maria Novella, 18, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy Find on map

Best Places to visit in Florence Museo del Bargello

8. Museo del Bargello

Museum

From the 13th century until 1502 the podestà (governing magistrate) delivered justice behind the stark walls of Palazzo del Bargello, Florence's first public building. Today, the structure houses Italy's most complete selection of Tuscan Renaissance statues, including some of Michelangelo's earliest works and several by Donatello.

Why Visit: The Tondo Pitti by Michelangelo, the David by Donatello, the bust of Cosimo I by Cellini, and the Mercury by Giambologna are some of the important works to see.

Tip: Discover what life was like in 15th-century Florence by visiting the coin, garment, and armor exhibits. Reduced ticket prices are available for children ages 0 to 17 and young people ages 18 to 25.

Location: Via del Proconsolo, 4, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy Find on map

from €18.50
Best Places to visit in Florence Medici Chapels

9. Medici Chapels

City Landmark | Historical Landmark

Nowhere is the Medici premise more explicit than in the Medici Chapels. It is the burial site of 49 dynasty members and is decorated with granite, marble, semiprecious stones, and some of Michelangelo's most gorgeous sculptures. Francesco I is buried alongside Ferdinando I and II, as well as Cosimo I, II, and III, in the dark, enforcing Cappella Dei Principi (Chapel of Princes).

Why Visit: It is regarded as one of the finest examples of Italian Renaissance architecture. The Chapel of the Princes, the Medici family's most opulent chapel, is a majestic octagonal structure topped by a huge dome.

Tip: With your priority access ticket, you can enter without waiting in the lengthy lineups outside.

Location: Piazza di Madonna degli Aldobrandini, 6, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy Find on map

from €15
Best Places to visit in Florence Siena Cathedral

10. Siena Cathedral

Religious

Built in 1255 AD in honor of the Virgin Mary by Pope Alexander IV, Siena Cathedral is the most significant church in the city. A little chapel, known as the "Old Cathedral of Siena" previously stood where the cathedral now stands. Up until 1549, the Bishop of Siena had his office at the Old Cathedral of Siena.

Why Visit: Seven pairs of double doors of the Siena Cathedral feature bronze panels that tell New Testament tales. Visitors are drawn to the cathedral's 77 enormous stained glass windows, which were made by a variety of different artisans.

Tip: Since Siena Cathedral is home to a sizable collection of historical items, it is best to refrain from touching or otherwise disturbing any of the museum's displays in order to preserve them.

Location: Piazza del Duomo, 8, 53100 Siena SI, Italy Find on map

from €9
Best Places to visit in Florence Museo di San Marco

11. Museo di San Marco

Religious Monument

The Chiesa di San Marco and an adjoining 15th-century Dominican monastery, where both the talented painter Fra' Angelico and the sharp-tongued Savonarola righteously served God, are located in the heart of Florence's university area. Today, the monastery also exhibits Fra' Angelico's work.

Why Visit: The mural by Giovanni Antonio Sogliani Within the cloister, the ancient monks' Refettorio (Refectory) is dominated by St. Dominic's Miraculous Supper (1536).

Tip: The three little chambers, kept as a sort of shrine to the troubled priest, contain a portrait, a few belongings, and pieces of the black cape and white tunic Savonarola wore.

Location: Piazza San Marco, 3, 50121 Firenze FI, Italy Find on map

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Best Places to visit in Florence Piazzale Michelangelo

12. Piazzale Michelangelo

City Landmark

Turn your back on the horde of tacky souvenir shops peddling David sculptures and boxer shorts and gaze out across the magnificent cityscape from this enormous square, which is punctured by one of Florence's two David replicas. From the Arno, it's a 10-minute climb up the hillside on a serpentine road, pathways, and steps.

Why Visit: The sunset from this is spectacular and one of the sights that you must catch when you are in Florence.

Tip: You can take bus 13 from Stazione di Santa Maria Novella and reach this beautiful spot if you don't want to go through with the climb.

Location: Piazzale Michelangelo, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy Find on map

Best Places to visit in Florence Giardino Torrigiani

13. Giardino Torrigiani

Leisure | Family Friendly

The Torrigiani Malaspina and Torrigiani di Santa Cristina families possess Europe's largest privately held open park within a historic center, which is hidden behind the plain facades of Via de' Serragli. Visit this well-kept and adored wooded retreat while engrossed in the captivating company of the affable Marquis Vanni Torrigiani Malaspina.

Why Visit: The three floors of the tower, which spiral from the garden to the heavens, represent the three steps of the initiation process. The garden design is rich with intricate Masonic symbolism.

Tip: If you are looking for a quiet place to spend some time during the torrid bout of sightseeing in Florence, this garden will be a great place to return to.

Location: Via Dei Serragli, 144, 50124 Firenze FI, Italy Find on map

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Best Places to visit in Florence Ponte Vecchio

14. Ponte Vecchio

City Landmark

The famous Ponte Vecchio, built in 1345, was the only bridge in Florence to escape being destroyed by German forces in 1944. The Corridoio Vasariano, a 16th-century corridor between the Uffizi and Palazzo Pitti, circles the historic Torre Dei Mannelli at the bridge's southern end and is located above jewelry stores on the eastern side.

Why Visit: The bridge is one of the liveliest places to visit in Florence. If you are planning to go budget shopping, this is the place to be.

Tip: Keep your eyes on your belongings when you are visiting the bridge as the place is a popular hunting ground for pickpockets and miscreants.

Location: Ponte Vecchio, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy Find on map

Best Places to visit in Florence Basilica di Santa Croce

15. Basilica di Santa Croce

Religious | Architecture

The majestic neo-Gothic front of this Franciscan cathedral is enlivened by many tones of colored marble, so the austere interior comes as a shock. Between 1294 and 1385, Arnolfo di Cambio created the basilica, which takes its name from a shard of the Holy Cross that King Louis IX of France contributed in 1258.

Why Visit: The tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Ghiberti are the main attractions for visitors, but the actual highlights are the frescoes by Giotto in the chapels to the right of the altar.

Tip: Look for the numerous frescoed chapels inside the basilica to discover the sheer architectural wealth of this place.

Location: Piazza di Santa Croce, 16, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy Find on map

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Best Places to visit in Florence Villa e Giardino Bardini

16. Villa e Giardino Bardini

City Landmark | Leisure

The 17th-century villa and garden bear the name of Stefano Bardini (1836–1922), a 19th-century antiquarian art collector who acquired it in 1913 and restored its attractive medieval garden. It has artificial grottoes, an orangery, marble statues, fountains, and other characteristics of a classic Tuscan garden.

Why Visit: Italian painter Pietro Annigoni's works are on exhibit in the villa's tiny Museo Pietro Annigoni (1910–88). Finish with a lovely roof terrace view of the city.

Tip: Visit the garden during the delightful months of April and May when the azaleas, peonies, and wisteria are in bloom.

Location: Via de' Bardi, 1, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy Find on map

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Best Places to visit in Florence Museo di Palazzo Davanzati

17. Museo di Palazzo Davanzati

Historic | Architecture

This 14th-century palace with a beautiful central loggia provides you a peek into exactly how Florentine nobles lived in the 16th century and was the residence of the affluent Davanzati merchant family from 1578. This is a great offbeat site to visit when in Florence.

Why Visit: Visit the fascinating Sala dei Pappagalli, Camera dei Pavoni, the first-floor Sala Madornale with its painted wooden ceiling, and the carved faces of the ancient owners on the pillars in the inner courtyard.

Tip: Only guided tours that depart at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., and noon on weekdays and at 3 p.m., 4 p.m., and 5 p.m. on weekends are allowed to access the palace's second and third floors.

Location: Via Porta Rossa, 13, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy Find on map

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Best Places to visit in Florence Chiesa e Museo di Orsanmichele

18. Chiesa e Museo di Orsanmichele

Religious | Architecture

The arches of an old grain market (1290) were walled in and two stories were built throughout the 14th century, creating this remarkable and inspired church with a Gothic tabernacle by Andrea Orcagna. The exterior of it is embellished with niches and tabernacles holding statues of the different guilds of Florence's patron saints.

Why Visit: The statues present in the structure today represent the work of some of the greatest Renaissance artists and are worth the visit.

Tip: If you are visiting Piazza Della Signoria, you can take a short stroll to Chiesa e Museo di Orsanmichele.

Location: Via dell'Arte Della Lana, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy Find on map

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Best Places to visit in Florence degli Innocenti

19. Museo degli Innocenti

Architecture | Museum

The loggia for Florence's Ospedale Degli Innocenti, Europe's first orphanage established by the affluent silk-weavers guild to care for unwanted infants, was planned by Brunelleschi not long after it was founded in 1421. Inside, a cutting-edge museum that analyzes its past is really moving.

Why Visit: The incorporation of Roman capitals and rounded arches by Brunelleschi makes it possibly the first Renaissance structure. It is worth visiting this place just to spot these details.

Tip: The museum features a breathtaking collection of frescoes and artwork that used to decorate the hospital as well as a lovely rooftop café patio with stunning city views.

Location: Piazza Della Santissima Annunziata, 13, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy Find on map

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Best Places to visit in Florence Basilica di Santa Trinità

20. Basilica di Santa Trinità

Religious

This 14th-century church contains some of the best frescoes in the city. It was originally built in the Gothic style and later given a mannerist facade. Ghirlandaio's paintings (1483–1485) in Cappella Sassetti, located to the right of the main altar, reflect St. Francis of Assisi's life via portraits of prominent Florentines of the time.

Why Visit: The Annunciation (1422) by Lorenzo Monaco is shown above the altar in Cappella Bartolini Salimbeni, the walled side chapel. Wall frescoes depict the life of the Virgin Mary.

Tip: On the chapel floor, keep an eye out for the Bartolini Salimbeni family crest, which has the motto "Per Non-Dormire" and poppies.

Location: Piazza di Santa Trinita, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy Find on map

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Best Places to visit in Florence Palazzo Strozzi

21. Palazzo Strozzi

City Landmark

One of the Medici family's main political and financial enemies, wealthy trader Filippo Strozzi, had this Renaissance home constructed for him in the 15th century. Today, it presents fascinating exhibitions of art from many eras and genres; its contemporary art events are especially noteworthy.

Why Visit: Fashionable Florentines congregate in the exquisite interior courtyard of the palace and linger over beverages at Strozzi Caffè during important exhibitions, adding to the lively atmosphere of the location.

Tip: The gallery is a crowd favorite thanks to its family-friendly art workshops, tours, and other events.

Location: Piazza Degli Strozzi, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy Find on map

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Best Places to visit in Via de’ Tornabuoni

22. Via de’ Tornabuoni

City Street

The most luxurious shopping street in the city, Via de Tornabuoni, is surrounded by Renaissance palaces and Italian fashion businesses. It is known as the "Salotto di Firenze," or "Florence's Drawing Room," after a prominent Florentine family. The aristocratic Antinori family has owned Palazzo Antinori (1461-69) at its northernmost point since 1506.

Why Visit: If you are visiting Florence, coming to this street is the first thing you should do as it is the liveliest part of the city.

Tip: Visit Via de’ Tornabuoni after sunset to see the place in all its twinkling glory.

Location: 50123 Florence, Metropolitan City of Florence, Italy Find on map

Shopping in Florence - The Mall Firenze

23. The Mall Firenze

Shopping mall

Florence is a great place to shop because of outlet malls like this one. There are several outlets at The Mall Firenze, including Gucci, Prada, Tom Ford, and a rooftop cafe that serves great coffee. The outlets at this mall often offer discounts on all products.

Why Visit: The Mall Firenze is one of the best shopping malls to head to in Florence because of the wide variety of products available and the location.

Tip: Located a bit outside the city limits, this mall offers you a great opportunity to explore the surroundings of Florence and have a quiet day out.

Location: Via Europa, 8, 50066 Leccio FI, Italy Find on map

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Best Places to visit in Florence Palazzo Medici Riccardi

24. Palazzo Medici Riccardi

Sightseeing

In 1444, Cosimo the Elder commissioned Michelozzo to create the family's townhouse. This palace was the end outcome, and it served as a model for other Florentine family homes, including Palazzo Pitti and Palazzo Strozzi. The Medici family as well as the Riccardi family inhabited this palace at one point.

Why Visit: One of the pinnacles of Renaissance art is the upper chapel, Cappella dei Magi, which is filled in exquisitely detailed murals by Benozzo Gozzoli, a student of Fra' Angelico (c. 1459–1433).

Tip: If you are looking for a laidback tour of historical Florence, this is the ideal place to visit as it is usually not swarmed by tourists even in high season.

Location: Via Camillo Cavour, 3, 50129 Firenze FI, Italy Find on map

Best Places to visit in Florence Palazzo Medici Riccardi

25. Piazza della Signoria

Sightseeing | Leisure

Since the 13th century, Florentines have flocked to this area to socialize with friends and have pre-dinner beverages at storied cafes. Whenever the city experienced one of its countless political crises in earlier centuries, the town's residents would gather on the piazza.

Why Visit: Agnolo Gaddi's Seven Virtues and Giambologna's Rape of the Sabine Women are among the Renaissance sculptures on display in Loggia dei Lanzi, an outdoor gallery (1384–89).

Tip: Don't overlook the much-photographed replica of Michelangelo's David or the equally stunning equestrian monument of Cosimo I by Giambologna in the center of the square.

Location: P.za della Signoria, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy Find on map

Best Places to visit in Florence Museo Galileo

26. Museo Galileo

Sightseeing | Museum

This cutting-edge science museum is named after the famous scientist Galileo Galilei, who was born in Pisa and was invited by the Medici court to Florence in 1610. It is located on the Arno river next to the Uffizi in the 12th-century Palazzo Castellani - look for the sundial telling the time on the pavement outside.

Why Visit: A trip to the museum reveals a fascinating collection of astronomical and mathematical artifacts that Cosimo I and other Medicis amassed over the years, including telescopes, gorgeously painted globes, barometers, watches, clocks, and more

Tip: Don't overlook the showing of two of his fingers and a tooth.

Location: Piazza dei Giudici, 1, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy Find on map

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Best Places to visit in Parco Delle Cascine

27. Parco Delle Cascine

Sightseeing | Leisure

The largest park in Florence has many playgrounds and is a nice location for kids to run around. On weekends, families take over, and the park comes alive. The Medici dukes established this as an exclusive hunting preserve, but Peter Leopold made it accessible to the general public in 1776.

Why Visit: Rajaram Cuttiputti, an Indian maharajah who passed away from gastroenteritis while on vacation in Florence in 1870, is memorialized at the park's furthest westernmost point.

Tip: Le Pavoniere swimming pool is also available during the summer. You can also bike, rollerblade, and fly kites in the park.

Location: Piazzale Delle Cascine, 50144 Firenze FI, Italy Find on map

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Best Places to visit in Florence Gucci Garden

28. Gucci Garden

Leisure

Gucci Garden is an extravagantly whimsical monument to the Florentine fashion tycoon, and it is tastefully housed in the 14th-century Palazzo Della Mercanzia. The history of the 1921-founded company is displayed through apparel, accessories, multimedia projects, and a hugely popular "selfie" wall bearing the recognizable double-G monogram.

Why Visit: The bottom floor's almost psychedelic, the boudoir-styled boutique is intended more for immersive browsing than for high-end shopping, while the first and second floors' gallery rooms tell the Gucci narrative.

Tip: The modest ground-floor restaurant marked by Gucci, Osteria da Massimo Bottura, is open to the public for no charge.

Location: P.za della Signoria, 10, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy Find on map

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Best Places to visit in Florence Basilica di San Lorenzo

29. Basilica di San Lorenzo

Religious

This incomplete basilica served as both the Medici family mausoleum and the parish church and is regarded as one of Florence's most harmonious examples of Renaissance architecture. It was constructed over a church from the fourth century and was planned by Brunelleschi in 1425 for Cosimo the Elder.

Why Visit: Look for Brunelleschi's incredibly exquisite Sagrestia Vecchia (Old Sacristy), which features sculptural embellishments by Donatello, in the somber interior.

Tip: The actual burial site of Donatello is located in the basilica crypt, which is now a part of the San Lorenzo Museum of Treasures.

Location: Piazza di San Lorenzo, 9, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy Find on map

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Best Places to visit in Florence Galleria Palatina

30. Galleria Palatina

Architecture | Gallery

In the remarkable collection of 16th to 18th-century artwork accumulated by the Medici and Lorraine dukes, Raphaels and Rubens compete for center stage in the Galleria Palatina of the Palazzo Pitti. The gallery is loaded with several known works of art and is a must-visit.

Why Visit: Highlights include Botticelli's Portrait of a Woman in the Sala di Prometeo and Fra' Filippo Lippi's Madonna and Child with Stories from the Life of St. Anne.

Tip: The gallery is accessible via a staircase from the central courtyard and has kept the original exhibition arrangement of paintings. Go slowly and concentrate on each piece of art one at a time.

Location: Piazza de' Pitti, 1, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy Find on map

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Frequently Asked Questions about The Best Places to Visit in Florence

What are the best places to visit in Florence?

The best places to visit in Florence are Uffizi Gallery, Accademia Gallery, Ponte Vecchio, and Duomo Florence.

Where can I buy tickets to visit the best places in Florence?

You can purchase tickets to visit the best places in Florence online. You can also get tickets from the box offices of the attractions, but in that case, you run the risk of missing out on the popular attractions that get booked out in advance.

What are the best places to visit in Florence with kids?

The best places to visit in Florence with kids are Boboli Garden, Palazzo Vecchio, and Duomo Florence.

What are the best places to visit in Florence for architecture?

The best places to visit in Florence for architecture are the Duomo Florence, Palazzo Pitti, and Basilica of Santa Maria Novella.

What are the best places to visit in Florence to unwind and relax?

The best places to visit in Florence to unwind and relax are Boboli Gardens, Piazzale Michelangelo, and Giardiano Torrigliani.

What are the best places in Florence to eat?

The best places in Florence to eat are San Lorenzo, San Marco, and Oltarno.

What are the best places in Florence to stay?

The best places in Florence to stay are the Piazza San Marco to the north, Piazza Santa Croce to the east, Ponte Vecchio and the Arno to the south, and Piazza Santa Maria Novella to the west.

What is Florence known for?

Florence is known for its cultural diversity, heritage architecture, and abundance of tourist attractions.

What are the top attractions in Florence?

The top attractions in Florence are Uffizi Gallery, Accademia Gallery, Ponte Vecchio, and Duomo Florence.

Is it expensive in Florence?

Yes, Florence can be a bit expensive. The average daily cost of visiting Florence is US$130 for one person. For two people, the weekly cost can be US$1900.

What should you not miss while visiting Florence?

When visiting Florence, you shouldn’t miss a laidback evening in the Boboli Gardens, getting a view of the city from the Piazzale Michelangelo, and a visit to the Uffizi Gallery.