Best Things To Do in Florence, Italy

  1. Palazzo Medici Riccardi

    4.5 (713 Votes)
    Palazzo Medici Riccardi

    Museum, Palace, Architecture

    The Medici’s commissioned this building as a show of wealth and it became a prototype of civil Renaissance architecture. They later sold it to Riccardi, who made Baroque adjustments, who in turn sold it to the state in 1814. For a time it was used as the Home Office. The Florence Provincial Authority now uses the place as its base. The museum inside covers four centuries of Florentian art...Read more
  2. Museo Opificio Delle Pietre Dure

    Library, Museum, Historical Site, Arts And Crafts

    The name quite literally means the ‘workshop of semi precious stones’ and is managed by the Italian Ministry for Cultural Heritage as one of the world’s premier art restoration facilities. The place maintains a large library database for that purpose, and conducts scientific research. These include restorations for Tapestries and carpets, bronzes and ancient weapons, wooden sc...Read more
  3. Museum Of Zoology And Natural History

    Science Museum

    Pietro Leopoldo di Lorena opened this museum in 1775, and it holds the distinction for being the first scientific museum available to the public. Over centuries of collecting, the museum has a staggering 3.5 million animal specimens, though it can only display about 5000 of them at a time. This is done in 24 rooms dedicated exclusively to zoology (check out the stuffed hippopotamus, that’...Read more
  4. Santo Spirito Church And Piazza

    Church, Religious Site

    There was a Augustinian priory in the 14th century, which burned down in a fire. Over multiple architects and a few centuries, this magnificent Renaissance church bloomed in its place. The highlights are: 40 side chapels with stunning frescoes A Baroque baldachin with polychrome marbles Pentecost Glass window A 15th century bell tower The sacristy by Giuliano da Sangallo Michelagelo’s wo...Read more
  5. Leonardo Da Vinci Machines

    Specialty Museum

    Hailed as Florence’s most iconic figure, and the Renaissance’s most prominent inspiration, da Vinci was, among other things, an inventor. Many of the things he’s invented were just to chase ideas, and many of those have been lost to history. But here, in the four galleries within Galleria Michelangelo, are a collection 50 of Leonardo’s inventions. Most of the models do w...Read more
  6. Basilica Di Santa Maria Novella

    Church, Religious Site

    The city’s primary Dominican church is also Florence’s first major basilica. While the building is beautiful in it self, it’s the artwork here that people really come to sea. Built on the site of a 9th century oratory of the same name, the church is Gothic-Renaissance in style and was completed in the 14th century. Highlights are: 14th and 15th century stained-glass windows. ...Read more
  7. Gucci Museo

    4.2 (601 Votes)
    Gucci Museo

    Museum

    If you didn’t already know, Gucci makes high-end leather goods such as bags, wallets, shoes and belts. The museum isn’t designed to wax lyrical about Gucci as such as much as to impress upon the viewer the kind of influence that goes into designed these classy treasures. Over three floors, the visitor will learn about the 90 year history of Gucci, take in the sights of the beautiful...Read more
  8. Museo Salvatore Ferragamo

    Museum

    The man loved shoes and devoted his life to them. That’s why they’ve dedicated this shoe museum to him, filled with his collection all the way from 1920s to 1960, when he died. There are over 10000 shoe models in this fashion museum. There’s also a 20 minute animated movie describing Ferragamo’s life, and together with the shoes, the experience make you want to create so...Read more
  9. Via De Tornabuoni And Ponte Santa Trinita

    Shopping Center, Streets

    This street, which stretches from Antinori square to Ponte Santa Trinità is Florence’s style and fashion Mecca. And it looks so too, surrounded as it is on all sides by the grandest of Florentian palaces on either side a clean and elegant road. Heck, they sometimes call it Florence’s drawing room. The restaurants and coffee shops lining the road are chic but so very heavy on ...Read more
  10. Laurentian Library

    4.5 (205 Votes)
    Laurentian Library

    Library

    This incredibly precious library has a story of vanity behind its making: the Medicis wanted to show that they were more than mere merchants, but also evolved intellectual. Because it’s place in a cloister of the Medicean Basilica di San Lorenzo di Firenze, Michelangelo designed the library and it was completed by others in 1575. Highlights are: The Mannerism style of architecture. The v...Read more
  11. Convent Of Santa Apollonia

    4.5 (262 Votes)
    Convent Of Santa Apollonia

    Church, Religious Site

    You’d never know, to look at this unassuming little church, that it could hold a secret, but it does. Just one – one of the most beautiful frescoes you’ll ever see – that of Saint Appoline’s Last Supper, on one of the walls of the refectory. There are several additional scenes, for sure, but none match the mastery of this one. Notably, Judas the betrayer’s fa...Read more
  12. Scarpelli Mosaici

    4.7 (663 Votes)
    Scarpelli Mosaici

    Art Gallery, Arts And Crafts

    Few people know of or appreciate this craft, but it’s beautiful, and painstakingly hard – the dure, or puzzle-like marble mosaics. It’s a dying art, but the folks at this place work hard at trying to keep it alive. There’s an entirely art gallery here filled with examples, each one of them exquisite to look upon: roses, necklaces, brooches, wall hangings, interior d&eacu...Read more
  13. Villa Medicea La Petraia

    4.6 (169 Votes)
    Villa Medicea La Petraia

    Garden

    Even the Medicis requires time off to retire to a country house and relax with great views in the quiet. So they built this opulent house, which most tourists don’t even know exists! But the second you step inside, it becomes clear that this should be one of Florence’s greatest attractions. To begin with, there’s a fantastic garden – three terraces for dwarf fruits, flow...Read more
  14. Folon E Il Giardino Delle Rose

    Garden

    Folon was a remarkable Belgian artist, illustrator, painter, and sculptor, famous for almost constantly doing nothing but drawing. He is also famous for illustrating books for Franz Kafka, Ray Bradbury, Jorge Luis Borges, Guillaume Apollinaire, Jacques Prévert, Boris Vian, Guy de Maupassant, Albert Camus, Herbert George Wells and Jean de la Fontaine. He had a great love for Florence, and...Read more
  15. Sant'ambrogio Church And Food Market

    Church, Religious Site, Market

    The church is named for the Saint Ambrose, patron of Milan, who allegedly rested here in 393, and this church was built to honor him sometime in the 8th century.Various artwork decorates the church, and though not much stands out, many artists collaborated and contributed to it. Francesco Granacci, a prominent painter and lifelong friend of Michelangleo, is buried at this church. Very close to ...Read more
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  • We will be in Florence for 5 days beginning Nov. 20. Should we pre-buy tickets for the Ufizzi? or will the tourist crowds be light?

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    • It is always better to buy tickets for the Uffizi Gallery well in advance. You can book tickets online by visiting the gallery's official website. 

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  • What is there to do and see in Florence for 6 hours. We want to see the statue of David and also wondering how close it is to get to the leaning tower of Pisa? Also we don't really know what there is to do in Venice besides a gondola ride?

    Answer Report Abuse
    • Find here the best things to do in Florence. There is an extensive list of things to do towards the end from which you may choose the attractions that you like the most and fit into your schedule.

      The David of Michelangelo is around 100 kilometers away from the Leaning Tower of Pisa. 

      And here are the best things to do in Venice to make your trip memorable. 

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