Top 12 Must-See Florence Monuments & Attractions in 2024
Sean Finelli
Florence is the center of the Italian Renaissance and responsible for the rebirth of Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire. For such a small village, Florence is home to many attractions. You’ll find iconic bridges, secret corridors, viewpoints, churches, museums, gardens, and more. This article is dedicated to the top Florence attractions and monuments.
Pro Travel Tip: Bookmark this post in your internet browser if you think you’ll want to circle back to it on your trip. Our blog is a virtual guidebook, and saving articles can make it easier to use. Also, doing tours in Florence is the way to go. Our local guides in Florence love the city, and our online reviews back that up.
There are so many things to do in Florence we broke it up into 5 categories. Use the menu below to put together your ideal itinerary in Florence.
Top 12 Must-See Florence Attractions and Monuments
12. Giardino Bardini (Bardini Gardens)
Oltrarno is the Florentine equivalent to Rome’s Trastevere, which is a sort of bohemian district. Admittedly less bohemian than Trastevere but similarly quiet due to its location. The word Oltrarno literally means “the other side of the Arno” and can be reached by crossing any of Florence’s central bridges.
It is home to some really cool viewpoints of Florence, including the Bardini Gardens. The Bardini Gardens is a Florence attraction that very few people venture to see, which makes it a real treasure.
The gardens are part of a Renaissance villa of the Bardini family. These curated gardens are home to phenomenal views of Florence. The gardens are famous for two main attractions. First, a wisteria tunnel is best viewed during the summer bloom starting in April and ending towards October. And second, a long medieval staircase that carries you to one of the best views of the city.
Il Porcellino in Mercato Nuovo is a bronze copy of a bronze copy of a Roman marble copy of a Greek bronze statue of wild boar. Hard to digest? Let me explain.
The Greeks liked creating statues out of Bronze and were undoubtedly superior “creators” of art over the Romans. When the Romans conquered Greece, Romans were superior warriors, they underwent Hellenization, which basically means acting like the sophisticated and artistic Greeks. They would make marble statue copies of the Greek bronze statues and often melt the marble to make weapons.
The Medici Family procured the Roman marble copy in the 17th century, and they or another family commissioned Pietro Tacca to create a bronze copy of the statue and turned it into a fountain.
The fountain was very popular, and like many fountains, it has been surrounded by superstition. For such a small monument, it is hard to believe, but amongst locals, this is a top Florence attraction. I’ve read significantly online, and many writers cover the superstition incorrectly. Luckily, I am Italian and know this very well.
Rubbing the boar’s nose has very little to do with the tradition but is now almost compulsory to getting the boar ready for what is next. You should put a coin in the boar’s mouth and let it roll off its tongue into the water below. There is a very fine grate over the water system, and if the coin falls through, it brings good fortune.
Michelangelo is considered the greatest Renaissance artist and the David statue is widely known as his masterpiece. Join our English-speaking guide as you skip the line at the Accademia Gallery to see David. Then venture out to see the center of Florence including the Duomo (outside), Baptistry Doors, leather market, and Ponte Vecchio. Admissions included.
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Top-Rated Tour
Skip the Line Uffizi Gallery Tour
The Uffizi Gallery is the most-visited museum in Florence for good reason. Join our licensed, English-speaking Uffizi guide for a journey through the Medician Renaissance. Learn all the stories behind the very art that brought our world out of the darkness as you look upon pieces like the Birth of Venus. All admissions included.
Florence is but a small village defined by four large squares located on the north side of the Arno; Piazza Signoria, Piazza di Santa Croce, Piazza del Duomo, and Piazza della Repubblica. In Roman times, this was the location of the city’s forum. Yes, Florence has existed back until at least Roman times. Via Cassia, an ancient Roman road still used today, crossed through ancient Florence.
Later this square became the city’s ghetto which the city removed during the Renaissance, and as a result, it became a more prominent commercial square. Finally, when Italy unified under “the Italian Unification,” Florence became the capital of Italy for a brief period from 1865-71. Florence was the capital of Italy long enough to see some substantial public works projects, including this square.
Many palaces, shops, and even structures of significance saw their end to make room for the square. This upset locals but the nail in the coffin is the plaque inaugurating the square. It translates in English to “The ancient center of the city restored from age-old squalor to new life.”
What should you do there? Go to Caffè Le Giubbe Rosse and have a slightly-overpriced coffee outside!
9. Sunset in Piazzale Michelangelo
Have you ever seen one of those incredible pictures of Florence and the Duomo and wondered where it came from? The answer is Piazzale Michelangelo. Named after the famed Renaissance sculptor himself, with a replica of David out of Bronze in the center.
You can enjoy the view during the day or ideally at night. If the conditions are right, you’ll see one of the world’s best sunsets.
Mercato Centrale, as you may have guessed, is the central market of Florence. It is a mix-mash of things from Panino places to butchers and even beeswax.
First Floor: Traditional Italian-style Stahl vendors. Here is where you’ll find all types of Italian produce, meats, and even Osteria-style restaurants.
Second Floor: You’ll go from the 16th-century Medici to the 21st-century by going up the escalator to the 2nd floor. Welcome to the types of places our current Italian youth enjoys – modern and cool. Yes, it is great for Westerners to go to Italy and feel like we are connected to the past but trust me, the Italian youth appreciates modern touches. The second floor is really cool. Filled with hyper-focused restaurants that serve a particular style of food. It’s cafeteria style. You grab food, sit down, eat, and clean up after yourself.
Surrounding Mercato Centrale are the covered markets. While there are some decent items in these markets, I mostly look to avoid them. That said, if you’ve never been to a European, outdoor market, it is a cool experience you should check out but keep your wallet safe in every sense of the word.
Sean’s Recommendation: I would personally eat downstairs at Da Nerbone since it is a quintessential part of eating in Florence. Then, go upstairs to grab your coffee and consider it for lunch the next day if you are in town.
7. Visit Piazza di Santa Croce
Santa Croce is one of Florence’s most famous Basilica and the chosen burial place of none other than Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli – that says a lot. Why?
The exterior of the Basilica is beautiful, but the interior is decorated by some of Italy’s greatest artists, from Giotto to Brunelleschi and Vasari. There are a few places to eat and get a coffee, and you’ll have a beautiful view.
Piazza Signoria is, without question, the most important square in Florentine history and a top Florence attraction. One could argue that Piazza del Duomo has more architectural significance due to the church, but Piazza Signoria has been the home of the Florentine government until at least 1299 AD.
Signoria refers to the name of the government that led the Republic of Florence up until the Italian Unification in the late 19th century. The government is led by Priori, who were Florentine oligarchs or nobles that led the Republic. So while it was a Republic, it was not a democracy.
Palazzo Signoria, in Piazza Signoria, is named after the government and has been the center for political gatherings for the better part of millennia. The structure built in 1299 was ordained Palazzo Signoria prior to the name being changed to Palazzo Vecchio. Vecchio means “old” in Italian, so you really can’t build a building and name it the old palace from day one.
Eventually, the Medici became the most powerful family in Florence due to strong ties with the Vatican and their banking channels throughout Europe and monopolized the Republic into a set of cronies. While it was a little corrupt, they financed Europe out of the dark ages and into the Renaissance. Mostly by using their funds for many public art projects that spread wealth throughout the land. At this point, they moved the government into their residence, Palazzo Pitti, and Palazzo Signoria became Palazzo Vecchio.
Today, the government is run from Palazzo Vecchio, where the city council makes civic decisions. The main square is decorated with statues, frescos, and fountains. It is a wonderful place to walk through and great for photos. While there, you should check out:
Loggia dei Lanzi
This is a covered stage-like area famed for archways on two sides. It is home to many open-air sculptures that you can see without spending a dime.
Statue of the great “founder” of the House of Medici.
Fountain of Neptune
Large statue on the corner of Palazzo Vecchio. Neptune is in the center, surrounded by bronze statues on four corners. Can you find the dolphin? Without a dolphin, it is not Neptune!
Palazzo Vecchio
Palazzo Vecchio is attached to the Uffizi Gallery. If you are in this area, consider combining it with a guided tour of the Uffizi Gallery. Guides in Florence tend to have a particular passion for the city, which makes doing tours a real delight.
The Florence Cathedral is a must-see attraction, and it would be very difficult to miss if you are visiting. It is located in the center of town and is visible from much of the city. It is named the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, which translates to the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower. One could assume that the name refers to the Giglio or Red Lily/Iris – the flower and symbol of Florence.
The name Santa Maria del Fiore is seldom used in Italy, however. Most would simply refer to it as Il Duomo. The Duomo is designed in a very Tuscan/Florentine style. Green and white marble brings life to its facade and surfaces. It differs greatly from the Basilica of Rome in many ways. One is that it is completely detached from other buildings, so you can walk 360 degrees around it.
The dome, its literal crowning jewel, was the first of its magnitude since the Pantheon. Many thought it was unable to be done, but the Medici family pressed on, and Filippo Brunelleschi brought it to realization.
By far, the most famous moment in this cathedral’s history was the murder of Giuliano dè Medici on Sunday, April 26, 1478, by the Pazzi family, who attempted to dethrone the Medici from power. The idea was to murder both Giuliano and Lorenzo the Great, but they failed to kill Lorenzo and were banished from Florence.
You’ll find the famous Baptistry Doors of Florence attached to the Baptistry of St. John in Florence. The baptistry is directly in front of the Florence Cathedral (Il Duomo). It is so close to the Cathedral and has such a similar design that it appears to be the same structure, but it is a church of its own and considered a minor Basilica.
The structure is one of the oldest in Florence, dating back to the late 11th century. The building is famous for its bronze doors designed and constructed by Lorenzo Ghiberti over 27 years.
Michelangelo described the doors as the Gates of Paradise, which is what the doors are known as today. Vasari, one of Florence’s greatest artists and art critics, described them in his book Lives of the Artists as “undeniably perfect in every way and must rank as the finest masterpiece ever created.”
undeniably perfect in every way and must rank as the finest masterpiece ever created – Giorgio Vasari
Why did everyone make such a big deal? Ghiberti innovated with new uses of space that brought life to the doors and its characters. They are considered a masterpiece that helped define the Renaissance and draw many visitors today.
Ponte Vecchio is an excellent example of a medieval bridge. The impressive structure is built from stone and supported by archways. The shops built on either side of the bridge and the famous Vasari Corridor can be seen above them, making the bridge unique and attracting visitors from all over.
The Vasari Corridor is an incredible structure if you think about it. The Medici, who practically ruled the Republic of Florence, built a hallway to connect their home, Palazzo Pitti, with the town hall, Palazzo Vecchio.
The bridge is occupied by jewelers and is overrun by visitors looking to purchase something from “on top of Ponte Vecchio in Florence,” which I admit is pretty cool to say.
The jewelers are not there by accident either. This bridge used to be inhabited by farmers of all sorts, but the Medici propagated the idea that these types of shops make the bridge and city look fit for peasants. The farmers were forced out, which eventually turned into a decree in 1595 excluding them.
Known as Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze, Accademia is an art museum centered around Michelangelo and his work. Accademia is centered around the Statue of David, which makes it different from the more expansive Uffizi Gallery.
Michelangelo sculpted David from a block of marble abandoned by other artists describing it as “Un-usable”. Michelangelo not only was able to work with it but sculpted what is arguably his masterpiece.
He famously described David as “trapped” in the marble. It is a humble way to describe sculpting. David always existed inside that block of marble and it was Michelangelo’s mission to get him out.
You can also see four unfinished statues by Michelangelo, which sort of frame the corridor that leads up to David. There are also works by other artists in Accademia, including Sandro Botticelli. Getting tickets can be difficult. We offer a guided tour of Florence that includes a stop into Accademia to see David and visits many of the main sites in Florence led by a local English-speaking guide.
Michelangelo is considered the greatest Renaissance artist and the David statue is widely known as his masterpiece. Join our English-speaking guide as you skip the line at the Accademia Gallery to see David. Then venture out to see the center of Florence including the Duomo (outside), Baptistry Doors, leather market, and Ponte Vecchio. Admissions included.
See Prices
Top-Rated Tour
Skip the Line Uffizi Gallery Tour
The Uffizi Gallery is the most-visited museum in Florence for good reason. Join our licensed, English-speaking Uffizi guide for a journey through the Medician Renaissance. Learn all the stories behind the very art that brought our world out of the darkness as you look upon pieces like the Birth of Venus. All admissions included.
The Uffizi Gallery is Florence’s premier art gallery and one of the greatest collections of Italian Renaissance artwork on Earth. Built in the 16th century as an office building for the Medici, and formerly declared a museum open to the public in 1865. Over 4 million visitors enter the Uffizi each year, which makes it the most ticketed attraction in Florence. Why?
The Renaissance, by definition, gave birth to a new era of art, architecture, and culture. Florence was the epicenter, and it spread throughout Italy and Europe. Florence birthed the Renaissance, and much of that artwork is in the galleries of the Uffizi.
The structure, designed by Giorgio Vasari, saw its completion in 1581 for the Medici Family.
Today, you can see some of the world’s greatest artworks, including the Birth of Venus and La Primavera by Sandro Botticelli. This is a must-visit site for visitors to Florence, and we recommend a guided tour of the Uffizi to bring the museum to life. If that is not in the budget, definitely check our museum guides below.
A great hotel at a great price has become the norm in this the internet era. Our article explains what area are the best in Florence so you can get a great deal on the perfect location!
Sean is a co-founder and owner of The Tour Guy and its subsidiary The Roman Guy. He studied finance and statistics, but that is his "Dr. Jekyll" side! His "Mr. Hyde" is in love with travel, art, history, and culture. Sean has read libraries of historical text and believes that all internet content should come from books. A practice he follows!
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