Of course, the city of Florence should not be missing on a Tuscany tour. We spent 3 nights in the Tuscan capital and have summarized our “TOP 10” for you 😊

1. PONTE VECCHIO

The Ponte Vecchio is one of the oldest bridges of its kind and is one of the main attractions in Florence. In the upper part of the bridge there are houses, which used to be apartments, workshops and butcher shops, later gold and silversmiths. Today the Ponte Vecchio is no longer inhabited, but one jewelry store after another is lined up on the 95 m long bridge.

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2. CATTEDRALE DI SANTA MARIA DEL FIORE

The Duomo of Florence is considered a symbol of the city and can be seen from afar. The sculptor Filippo Brunelleschi was commissioned to build the huge dome and completed it in just 16 years in 1436. With a diameter of 45 meters and a total height of approx. 100 meters, the dome was the largest in the world at that time.

The entry into the church is free of charge, a ticket must be purchased to climb the dome (460 steps). Since you often have to queue for hours at the ticket office in the main season, it is advisable to book a tour online in advance.

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3. PIAZZA DELLA SIGNORIA

The Piazza della Signoria is one of the most important squares in Florence, as well as the political center of Florence.
Here you can find the imposing Palazzo Vecchio, the Neptune fountain and the Equestrian Monument of Cosimo I.
Due to its central location, the square is a perfect starting point for exploring the city. In the past, splendid festivals took place here, but also public executions and cremations.

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4. PIAZZA DELLA REPUBBLICA

Another popular square in the center of Florence – the Piazza della Repubblica. The Roman forum was once located here, and it is still considered the economic center of the city today. There are many elegant cafés and a traditional carousel at the Piazza della Repubblica.

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5. PIAZZALE MICHELANGELO

The Piazzale Michelangelo is probably the most famous place to enjoy the view of Florence. The square was dedicated to the great Renaissance artist Michelangelo, so there is a replica of the statue of David in the center of the square.

The view is really sensational, so the place is unfortunately overcrowded with many tourists 😉

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6. FONTANE DELLE RAMPE DEL POGGI

Directly below the Piazzale Michelangelo is this gorgeous facility by Giuseppe Poggi, also known as Poggi’s Ramps. The water spectacle can be admired from all perspectives through the stairs on the side.

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7. PORTA ROMANA

The Porta Romana was part of the former curtain wall around Florence. The mighty gate is located south of the Via Romana, from which pilgrims used to start their journey to Rome.

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8. PALAZZO PITTI

This Renaissance palace houses significant collections of sculptures, paintings, art objects and much more. The following museums can be found there: Galleria Palatina, gallery of modern art, costume gallery, silver museum, porcelain museum.

Behind the Palazzo Pitti is the beautiful “Giardino di Boboli”, also known as the Boboli Garden. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to explore the park.

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9. BASILICA DI SANTA CROCE

The Basilica di Santa Croce is the oldest Gothic church in Florence and forms the heart of the Piazza di Santa Croce. According to legend, St. Francis of Assisi himself laid the foundation stone. Many well-known personalities have found their final resting place there. In this Franciscan church there are, for example, the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei and Leonardo DaVinci.

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10. FORTE DI BELVEDERE

The fortress is enthroned directly behind the Boboli Gardens and served as a defense against enemy attacks. In my opinion, you have one of the best views of Florence from here, with comparatively less tourist crowds than at Piazzale Michelangelo. We recommend enjoying the view at sunset.

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Have a look at our Florence highlights in our YouTube video 😍

Our personal opinion about Florence:

• exciting city
• delicious restaurants & cuisine
• great viewing platforms
• Shopping paradise

Best travel time:

We recommend spring and autumn. In summer it can get too hot for sightseeing.

Hotel recommendation:

Villa Tolomei Hotel & Resort (but located a bit outside of Florence)

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Restaurant recommendations:

• Café Gilli – traditional cafe in Piazza della Repubblica
• Ginos Bakery – the tastiest cannoli in town
• Osteria Antica Casa Torre
• Il Conventino a Marignolle – restaurant at Villa Tolomei Hotel & Resort

More tips & recommendations:

If we had a little more time available, a walk through the Giardino Bardini and the Giardino di Boboli would definitely have been on the program … definitely next time 😉

Shopping lovers can really let off steam here, as it is well known that Italy is always up to date when it comes to fashion. We bought leather goods and truffle products 😊

We can recommend the following 2 shops:

• Jimmy’s Leather Collection
• La Bottega del Tartufo