Top 10 Best Attractions in Florence, Italy

September 3, 2012 No Comments

Florence10 of Most Beautiful Fountains in Europe Which Will Make You Go Wow. Read more ... », a Renaissance city in the heart of Tuscany, is one of the most popular travel cities in Italy5 Romantic Honeymoon Cities In Europe. Read more ... ». There are so many attractions for tourist to experience, starting from its museums (considered as one of the best in Italy), beautiful churchesMust-See Moscow Churches and Cathedrals | Russia. Read more ... » and cathedralsMust-See Moscow Churches and Cathedrals | Russia. Read more ... », fascinating streets and squares altogether with the elegant buildings surrounding it. Just walking around the city would certainly be enough to make your visit to Florence complete. Florence is a city that isn’t really a destination for a short to-do lists. That’s why it’s kind of difficult to decide where to go first. But then again if you are looking for top attractions in Florence, then here is the list:

 

1. Il Duomo – CathedralIn Photos: Duomo Di Milano - The Largest Cathedral in Italy. Read more ... » of Santa Maria del Fiore

The higlight of the city, Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is first place you should pay a visit to. If you love Gothic buildings, then this Cathedral should be in your favorite list. This huge Gothic cathedral was begun in 1296 and holds up to 20,000 people. Originally, The Duomo (which literally means “dome”) was originally constructed without crowning dome. This leaves a giant circular hole in the roof, because back then its designers didn’t know what to do yet to create such a dome without inner supports. As time went by, finally the dome was added in the early 15th century. Inside The Duomo you can see stained glass windows designed by some Renaissance artists, the crypt to see archaelogical remains of ancientBest Places To Go in Athens, Greece. Read more ... » Santa Reparata Cathedral, abd tombs of past bishops. The Dome is also the highlight. Visitors can climb to the top of the dome. There are 463 steps to climb but it’s worth it. Up there, seeing the sights of Florence will never be forgotten! Remember to wear modest dress so you can enter The Duomo. Shoulders and knees should be covered. No admission taken to enter The Duomo but to go to the top of The Duomo there will be tickets needed.

 

2. Giotto’s Bell Tower (The Campanile)

Still in The Duomo complex, Giotto’s Bell Tower is the second highlight of Florence city. It’s a 278 feet high and a place where you see Florence and The Duomo in a fine way. The tower was constructed in 1334, under Giotto di Bondone’s direction. The tower is very good place to see The Duomo in a closed-up look. To climb the tower, you will have to pay for an admission fee.

 

3. The Florence Baptistry (Battistero di San Giovanni)

The Baptistry of John the Baptist is a part of the Florence’s Duomo complex and also one of the most famous attractions in Florence just like Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and Giotto’s Bell Tower. The baptistry is one of the oldest buildings in Florence, constructed in 1059. Most famous because of its three sets of bronze doors featuring carved depictions of scenes from the Bible. Inside the octagonal-shaped baptistry you can see beautiful interior decorated in polychrome marble, mosaics and many more. The doors now are replicas but the originals can be seen in the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo.

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4. The Ponte Vecchio

Visit this old Florence’s old bridge which was built in 1345, built across the Arno River. It’s the only surviving bridge from Florence’s medieval days while the rest of them were already destroyed in World War II. There is something special about this bridge. The Ponte Vecchio bridge has expensive gold jewelry shops in it and is often full of people. But it’s beautiful to be there to see sunset. Lovebirds can buy padlocks and attach it to the fence in the middle of the bridge as a sign to seal their love.

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5. Piazza della Signoria and Palazo Vecchio

Visit the historic center and most famous square in Florence where you can see the artwork surrounding the square. In the middle of the square there are some important statuesLeshan Giant Buddha, The World's Tallest Stone-carved Buddha Site | China. Read more ... », and one of the most important is a replica of Michelangelo’s David. David, the boy warrior who defeated the giant Goliath as well as the ancestor of Jesus, was a favorite subject for Renaissance sculptors.

At this square you can also see Fuente de Neptuno (Neptune’s Fountain) set in front of a medieval palace, Palazo Vecchio, which was a one-time residence of Medici family. The palace was constructed in the late 13th/early 14th century to house the first Florentine Republic. The architect who designed the palace was the same with who designed The Florence’s Duomo.

 

6. Boboli Garden and Pitti Palace

 

Across the Ponte Vecchio is Boboli garden (Giardino di Boboli), a huge garden which has an amphitheater. an Egyptian obelisk, an oval pond with s small island in the center, a long cypress-lined lane, a fountain depicting the god Neptue, three grottos and an outdoorPlace of the day: Metéora, Greece, a Combination of Peaceful and Breathtaking Views of Nature. Read more ... » museumPlace of The Day: Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya Museum), Istanbul, Turkey. Read more ... ». This place was the private gardensBest Gardens in The World. Read more ... » of the ruling Medici family. They used to live in the palace in front of the garden, Pitti Palace which was built in the mid-1400s. ruling Medici family who used to live in Pitti Palace. You can see 8 different galleries such as for art, jewelry, costumes, and apartments.

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7. Uffizi Gallery (Galleria degli Uffizi)

 

Visit the most famous museum in Florence where you can see the world’s most important Renaissance collections, thousands of paintings from medieval to modern times and many antique sculptures. The gallery is so famous that it is always crowded amd gets worse especially in summer. But this doesn’t make other people to give up to see the gallery so it’s better for you to book the tickets in advance. So what does it have inside? Boticelli’s “The Birth of Venue” and “Primavera”, Michaelagelo’s “Deni Tondo”, Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Annunciantion” and “Adoration of Magi”. Raphael’s “Madonna of the Goldfinch” and many more. Not only famous, Uffizi Gallery is also one of the oldest museums in the world as it opened for public since the 16th century.

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8. Galleria dell’Academia

You have known it already that in the middle of Piazza del Signoria there is a replica of Michelangelo’s David. To see the original one, you should go to Galleria dell’Academia. It was moved from outside of Palazzo Vecchio to the Academia in 1873. Academia house important paintings and sculptures from the 13th – 16th century.

 

9. La Basilica di Santa Croce

Santa Croce is a famous Fransiscan church in Florence for housing the tombs of famous Florentines among artists, scholars, and scientists like Michelangelo, Galileo, Foscolo, Marconi, Rossini, Ghiberti, Machiavelli, and an honorary tomb for Dante.

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10. Piazzale Michelangelo

You’ll fall in love with this city even more when you go to Piazzale Michelangelo, an incredible place to enjoy panoramic view of the city of Florence. The place overlooks the Florence’s Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, Arno River, and the hills beyond. This is a big public square sitting atop a hill above the Oltrarno neighborhood. Piazzale Micheangelo was built in 1869, dedicated to Micheangelo. The views from the Piazzale Micheangelo is always beautiful in every different season. Not only that, this is a place where couples enjoy romantic moments and togetherness as the sunset seen from here is truly amazing.

 

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