The contribution of Florence to the history of world culture is beyond imagination. Regarding as the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence is unparalleled in its artistic beauty and cultural heritage. It was the savior of Middle Ages just like the Athens was in the Ancient Ages. The city not only gave birth some of the greatest minds in its time but also patronized gifted artists from different parts of Europe. It is quite easy to understand why the city is always crowded with tourists.
There will be a long list of things to do in Florence Italy if you draw its magnificent history into consideration. In order to make your visit more sound and fruitful, we try to make a list of best things to do in Florence Italy, you may like to cover up first.
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10 Things to Do in Florence Italy:
Florence is a wonder of beauty captured in stone and canvas. Here is our list of best things to do in Florence Italy. Let’s find, what to see in Florence?
10. Mercato Nuovo
The Loggia del Mercato Nuovo, commonly known as the Mercato Nuovo is one of the best places to visit in Florence. Built around the middle of the 16th century, it made its place in the list of best things to do in Florence Italy is especially for the copy of Pietro Tacca’s bronze Porcellino. Porcellino means little pig although the interesting fact is the animal is, in fact, a wild boar.
According to legend, if you put a coin in the boar’s mouth and if it falls out and passes over the water drain, rub its nose then, because it brings good luck. It was built for the sale of silk and luxury goods primarily but currently famous for leather goods and souvenirs. The scandalous stone (Pietra dello scandalo) should not get missed from your eyes. It is the place where debtors would be punished in the Renaissance era. You really should put this place in your list of things to see in Florence.
9. Palazzo Pitti
Palazzo Pitti is certainly an impressive Renaissance work and needless to say that why it is in the list of best things to do in Florence Italy. It has a great importance in the history of the city. It was the residence of ambitious Florentine banker, Luca Pitti, then bought by the Medici family in 1549. It was the Medici family who made the place a great treasure house as well as a collection of Renaissance paintings, plates, jewelry and luxurious possessions. It was used as a power base when Napoleon invaded Italy.
Today it is the largest museum complex and Florence tourist attractions. The most precious collection of Palazzo Pitti is its huge Palatine Gallery. It contains about 500 Renaissance paintings, some master works of Raphael, Titian, and Perugino. Royal apartments and Gallery of Modern Art is also a worth to visit. The huge collection of Palazzo Pitti makes it one of the places to visit in Florence and it is highly recommended in your list of best things to do in Florence Italy.
8. Piazzale Michelangelo
If you have a tight schedule, then at least keep Piazzale Michelangelo in your list of things to do in FlorenceItaly. Designed by Florentine architect Giuseppe Poggi in 1869, Piazzale Michelangelo gives panoramic views of Florence and the Arno valley. The monument base designed by Poggi was dedicated to city’s most famous Renaissance artist Michelangelo, where the copies of some of the best work of Michelangelo displayed.
Giuseppe Poggi planned to build a museum for Michelangelo’s works but unfortunately his vision was misplaced and this place is now a restaurant. The place is always crowded with tourists but although it is a crowded area, it is well worth to pay a visit. This place is certainly one of the best things to see in Florence.
Also Read: Top 10 most visited statues in the world
7. Boboli Gardens
Boboli Gardens is one of the most picturesque places in Italy and should be in your list of one of the best things to do in Florence. It is a park created by Medici family in the 16th century and home to a collection of sculptures dating from the 16th through the 18th centuries. It is regarded one of the most fashionable garden in the world.
It has a beautiful panoramic view, lovely evergreen meadows, avenues that just soothe your mind. The finest work of the park is definitely the fountain of Neptune. Walking through the garden must be very refreshing. It is a combination of manmade and natural beauty. Visiting this place is one of the best things to do in Florence.
6. Basilica di San Lorenzo
Located at the center of the city’s main market district, the Basilica di San Lorenzo is one of the largest and oldest churches of Florence. It was also the burial place of all the principal members of the Medici family. Built in the 15th century, this church should be in your list of one of the best things to do in Florence. It had been the city’s cathedral for three hundred years until the Bishop was transferred to Santa Reparata. It certainly is an exquisite place to visit.
5. Pa Palazzo Vecchio
Plazzo Vecchio is one of the most tourist attracted buildings in Florence. Constructed in the 12th century, it was the center of the cities power as it housed the powerful Medici family as well as Florence’s supreme governing body for six centuries. After the fall of Medici family, it has been served as a museum and the city town hall. The major collection of Pa Palazzo Vecchio is The Genius of Victory, marble sculpture by Michelangelo. Visiting this place is one of the best things to do in Florence.
4. Piazza dellaSignoria
Piazza dellaSignoria has played a key role in the politics of Florence over the century and now visiting it is one of the best things to do in France. Since the 14th century, the place witnessed several historic episodes and still maintains its fame as the political hub of the city. It was the place where Savonarola was burned after he was denounced by the Inquisition as a heretic in 1498. It was one of the most shocking events in the history of the city. It is one of the Florence tourist attractions.
Also Read: Top 10 world famous city squares
3. Uffizi Gallery
Uffizi Gallery is one of the most important museums in the world full of artworks and masterpieces from the Renaissance period. Built in 1560 as to house the offices of the city magistrates, the place had become a museum after Medici family relinquished its power. The museum possesses almost all the famous artists work like Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, Giotto, Cimabue and Raffaello.
Visiting Uffizi Gallery is one of the best things to do in Florence Italy. It has a collection of all centuries but most certainly noted for the collection between the 12th and 17th centuries. Some of the most highlighted paintings are Rembrandt: Self-portrait as a Young Man, Leonardo da Vinci: The Annunciation, Adoration of the Magi, Michelangelo: Doni Tondo, Raphael: Madonna of the Goldfinch, Portrait of Leo X and Cimabue: Santa Trinita Maestà. No doubt, it is one of the best places to visit in Florence.
2. Ponte Vecchio
Ponte Vecchio is a medieval wonder and obviously should be in the list of things to do in Florence Italy. It will make you romantic with its enigmatic beauty. It is one of the most photographed bridges in the world. It is believed that a bridge was first built in Roman times and destroyed in a flood eventually. The present bridge was built in the 14th century. There is no way to avoid visiting this one of the best places in Florence.
The bridge’s most scenic feature is the line of high-end jewelry shops lining along each of its edges. So you can see that it is a great destination for shopping too. When a money-changer could not pay his debts, the table on which he sold his wares were broken by authority. That’s how the economic concept of bankruptcy came. The bridge gets its most striking view at night. No doubt why it is one of the best places to visit in Florence.
Also Read: Top 10 famous bridges in the world
1. Santa Maria del Fiore
The eye popping beauty and utter less magnificence of Santa Maria del Fiore makes it the first in the list of things to do in Florence Italy. This major Florence tourist attractions is the main church of Florence and worldwide famous for its artistic integrity. Built in the Gothic style with the design of famous Italian architect and sculptor Arnolfo di Cambio, it took nearly 140 years to complete this magnificent Florence tourist attractions. It is regarded as one of the most impressive works of the Renaissance and quite influential to later art and architecture. It owns the world’s largest masonry dome and perhaps a large number of tourists of Florence.
The cathedral played an important role in the history of Florence. Girolamo Savonarola preached in this very place. The place also witnessed the murder of Giuliano di Piero de’ Medici. Visiting this place is a wonderful way to know about the Renaissance and certainly one of the things to do in Florence Italy.