Best Things To Do in Florence, Italy

1. Biblioteca Delle Oblate

   4.5 (83 Votes)
   

   Library, Cafe, Entertainment, Performance

   The second you see this adorable little library, you’ll start hating the many students who study, lounge or relax here… because you’ll wish you have had something this perfect for yourself too! There are three floors, filled with books, and there is a central courtyard. On every surface, you’ll find a student, yet it’s never crowded. It’s even less crowded a...Read more

2. National Archaeological Museum Of Florence

   4.4 (18 Votes)
   

   Museum, Food And Drinks, Exhibition , Specialty Museum

   The National Archaeological Museum was opened in 1870 by the then king Victor Emmanuel II and only contained Roman and Etruscan remains at that time. By 1880 the museum needed to be re-located because of growing collections and was shifted to its present site. The museum has some very rare artifacts in its collection from the Roman, Etruscan and Greek era. There is also an Egyptian museum, whic...Read more

3. Chiostro Dello Scalzo

   4.7 (115 Votes)
   

   Church, Religious Site

   Though the church was built for the brotherhood in 1376, the could not keep it – in 1785, Pietro Leopoldo of Lorraine dissolved the brotherhood and sold off practically all their property. What remains is the attraction today – a cloister with sixteen frescoes in chiaroscuro, showing scenes from St. John the Baptist’s life. The frescoes are an excellent example of the style kn...Read more

4. Silver Museum

   4.5 (233 Votes)
   

   Museum, Architecture

   Once the Doge used these rooms as his summer apartment. Today, inside the mezzanine rooms, the Silver Museum exhibits gems, ivory, vases, and silver. The Medicis were known for going to great lengths for their artists – that’s why so many of the artists who are displayed here performed such great work – because they were all competing amongst each other for the honor. Seriousl...Read more

5. Santa Maria Delle Carmine

   

   Church, Religious Site, Historical Site, Monument

   Renaissance frescoes by Masaccio and Masolino da Panicale, housed within the Branccaci Chapel here, and displaying scenes from the life of Saint Peter, are this church’s claim to fame. The Romanesque-Gothic convent here was renovated up in Baroque style, and then again in Rococo in the 17th century. Another highly popular chapel here is the Corsini, commissioned by one of Italy’s we...Read more

6. Villa Medicea Di Castello

   

   Garden, Architecture , Fountain, Mansion

   This was young Doge Cosimo I’s favourite home. So he figured it might as well be his prettiest. There are two main draws about the villa. First, the insides, which naturally, were opulently decorated and furnished to rival the best of Medici homes in the city: Two floors and Renaissance design 16th courtyard century with Tuscan lodges and pillars A hall of landscape frescoes But it&rsqu...Read more

7. Church Of Santa Trinita

   4.6 (103 Votes)
   

   Church, Religious Site

   The Holy Trinity Church is famous for the frescoes inside, and also for being almost a thousand years old. Originally Romanesque, then enlarged in gothic style, the church eventually passed into the hands of the Medicis, who put many painters to work on the churches chapels. Thus, the artwork here bloomed. Sassetti Chapel - The Adoration by the Shepherds and Stories of St. Francisby Ghirlandai...Read more

8. Museo Marino Marini

   4.4 (106 Votes)
   

   Museum, Sculpture

   Once a church, this small 15th century building was eventually deconsecrated and rededicated into a Museum for the sculptor Marino Marini, and includes his portraits and drawings. Each of these methods have a different floor dedicated to them in the museum, and the museum layout has been very cleverly presented to best reflect the artists state of mind at the time he was working. There are a to...Read more

9. Santa Maria Maggiore

   4.5 (396 Votes)
   

   Art And Culture, Church, Religious Site, Ancient Ruin

   Constructed in the 11th century, the church was given collegiate status. In the 13th century, it was renovated and rebuilt in Gothic style, but it began to decline once again in the 15th century. Today, of the original Romanesque building, only the bell tower survives. It’s quite unadorned from the outside (apart from a curious and solitary Roman head called Berta) – inside however,...Read more

10. Church Of Santa Felicita

    4.5 (45 Votes)
    

    Church, Religious Site

    The Medici’s vanity is immediately apparent in this church – they don’t like mixing with commoners, but do like to hear mass, which is why you’ll see the Corridoio Vasariano pass across the façade. Still, that’s not the reason this church is famous. Rather, it’s the fact that it’s an old church. After San Lorenzo, this is easily the oldest church...Read more

11. The Belvedere

    4.3 (210 Votes)
    

    Historical Site

    Florence’s most important fortification was built between 1590 and 1595 on the highest hill of the Boboli Gardens. This particular spot had always been thought of as the weakest in the city. Consequently, the fort’s placement lets it look out over the entire city. Troops were garrisoned here for 100 years after its completion, though its main purpose was to protect the Medici faily ...Read more

12. Villa Gamberaia And Gardens

    4.5 (86 Votes)
    

    Garden, Mansion

    The Settignano hillside overlooks a fantastic view of Florence and the River Arno. That’s why Zanobi Lapi built his Tuscan style villa here. But the location’s true attraction wasn’t built until the 18th century, when the garden came to be. Italian gardens don’t get more classically perfect than this. This garden has everything: the cypress allée, a bowling green,...Read more

13. Museum Casa Martelli

    4.5 (48 Votes)
    

    Museum, Sculpture

    This is a relatively new museum, opened in 2009. Yet it’s collection of fine art, gathered here over the centuries, is significant, though there are few masterworks. The house used to belong to the rich and influential Martinelli family, who were allies to the Medicis. The house is unique; unlike most other such Florentine museum’s, in that it is not reconstructed. Most of the paint...Read more

14. Museo Novecento

    

    Art Museum, Museum, Sculpture

    In 1966, Florence suffered a massive flood, tragically losing a vast collection of 20th century art. This museum was found, then, to make sure that Italian contemporary art had a home. Housed in a repurposed hospital, the museum’s 15 exhibition spaces contain about 300 spectacular works, all which meditate on the 20th century. These works include paintings, sculpture, pictures, videos and...Read more

15. Casa Buonarroti

    4.2 (140 Votes)
    

    Art Museum, Museum, Sculpture

    Lionardo Buonarroti was nephew to Michelangelo. The famous painter and sculptor owned this house, but never resided in it. Today the house famous for containing two of Michelangelo’s most important sculptures - the Madonna of the Steps and the Battle of the Centaurs. There is also a an immense library, collected over the centuries; the library contains some of Michelangelo’s persona...Read more

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