- Florence served as the capital of the Kingdom of Italy for five years between 1865 and 1870.
- The city is the birthplace of the Italian language, as the dialect spoken in Florence became the standardized form of modern Italian through the works of Dante Alighieri.
- Local regulations strictly control the external aesthetics of the city center, forbidding the installation of modern signage or neon lighting on historic storefronts.
- The Florentine year officially began on March 25th, rather than January 1st, until the year 1749.
- Florence is home to the world's oldest pharmacy, the Farmacia di Santa Maria Novella, which has been operating since 1221.
About Florence
Florence serves as the cradle of the Italian Renaissance, housing one of the world's highest concentrations of artistic masterpieces. The city is defined by the massive terracotta-tiled dome of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, which remains a landmark of engineering innovation. Visitors can explore vast collections at the Uffizi Galleries or view the iconic statue of David at the Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze. The historical center is dominated by the medieval Ponte Vecchio, which continues to support a dense cluster of shops spanning the Arno River.
Highlights of Florence
The places our editors single out — and why they're worth your time.
Places of interest
This medieval stone bridge is unique for its continuous rows of goldsmith shops built directly over the Arno River.
Temples
Climb the massive dome, an architectural marvel engineered by Filippo Brunelleschi without the use of a traditional support frame.
Museums
Access one of the world's most significant collections of Renaissance paintings, including works by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo.
Places of interest
Witness the sheer scale and anatomical precision of Michelangelo's marble masterpiece in person.
Parks
Stroll through these expansive Medici-designed gardens that provide a sweeping elevated view of the city skyline.
Museums
Tour the opulent former residence of the Medici family, which currently houses several specialized art and decorative museums.
Temples
Visit the final resting place of notable Italians including Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei, and Niccolò Machiavelli.
Museums
Explore this fortress-like palace that has served as the center of Florentine civic power since the 13th century.
Top things to do in Florence
The 708 highest-rated places in Florence, ranked by travellers.
1
Places of interest
The Ponte Vecchio is a medieval stone closed-spandrel segmental arch bridge crossing the narrowest point of the Arno Riv...
2
Temples
The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, or Florence Cathedral, is characterized by Filippo Brunelleschi’s revolutionary...
3
Museums
The Uffizi Galleries house one of the world's most significant collections of Renaissance art within a 16th-century buil...
4
Museums
The Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze is world-renowned primarily as the permanent home of Michelangelo's 17-foot marbl...
5
Museums
The Museo Leonardo Da Vinci in Florence specializes in full-scale, functional mechanical replicas based on the original...
6
Temples
The Basilica of Santa Croce is the largest Franciscan church in the world and serves as the burial site for some of Ital...
7
Museums
Palazzo Pitti is the largest museum complex in Florence, serving as the primary residence for the Medici, Lorraine, and...
8
Temples
The Basilica of Santa Maria Novella serves as the primary Dominican church in Florence, featuring a distinctive polychro...
9
Museums
Palazzo Vecchio is a fortified 13th-century palace serving as Florence's town hall and a major civic museum. The buildin...
10
Places of interest
Michelangelo’s David is a 5.17-meter tall marble Renaissance sculpture housed within the Galleria dell'Accademia in Flor...
11
Parks
The Boboli Gardens are a sprawling 45,000-square-meter historical park located directly behind the Pitti Palace in Flore...
12
Museums
The Leonardo Interactive Museum is a hands-on exhibition space located in central Florence focused on the engineering an...
13
Venues
The Mugello Circuit is a 5.245-kilometer permanent racing facility located in the Tuscany region of Italy, owned by Ferr...
14
Historical places
Brunelleschi's dome is the largest masonry vault ever built, serving as the crowning feature of the Cathedral of Santa M...
15
Places of interest
Ponte Santa Trinita is the oldest elliptical arch bridge in the world, designed by Bartolomeo Ammanati with the collabor...
16
Parks
Parco delle Cascine is the largest public park in Florence, stretching 3.5 kilometers along the right bank of the Arno R...
17
Museums
Palazzo Strozzi is a prominent Renaissance palace in central Florence that functions as a multifunctional exhibition cen...
18
Temples
The Basilica di San Lorenzo serves as the parish church of the Medici family and remains one of the oldest religious sit...
19
Museums
The Museo dell'Opera del Duomo houses the original collection of sculptures and architectural elements designed for the...
20
Places of interest
The Fontana del Porcellino is a bronze fountain in Florence depicting a wild boar, situated under the loggia of the Merc...
21
Museums
The Museo Nazionale del Bargello is Italy's premier sculpture museum, housed within the 13th-century Palazzo del Podestà...
22
Temples
The Baptistery of St. John is a Romanesque octagonal structure situated in Florence's Piazza San Giovanni. Completed in...
23
Places of interest
Giotto's Bell Tower is a 84.7-meter tall free-standing campanile located in the Piazza del Duomo, serving as the bell to...
24
Museums
Palazzo Medici Riccardi is the first Renaissance palace built in Florence, commissioned by Cosimo de' Medici around 1444...
25
Museums
Museo Galileo, housed in the 11th-century Palazzo Castellani, holds one of the world's most significant collections of s...
26
Historical places
Basilica di San Miniato al Monte is a Romanesque structure situated on one of the highest points in Florence. Constructi...
27
Museums
The Cappelle Medicee serves as the primary burial site for the Medici family, consisting of the 16th-century Sagrestia N...
28
Venues
Artemio Franchi Stadium is the historic home of ACF Fiorentina, located in the Campo di Marte district of Florence. Desi...
29
Parks
Giardino Bardini is a 4-hectare hillside park in Florence, distinct for its steep terraced layout that offers panoramic...
30
Historical places
Porta Romana is a historic 13th-century city gate that once served as the southern entrance to Florence's defensive wall...
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Florence on the map
Top attractions plotted across the city.
Plan your visit to Florence
May to June or September to October, as these months offer mild weather for extensive walking while avoiding the peak summer humidity and tourist density.
3-4 days, which allows sufficient time to visit major museums and walk the historic center without rushing through the dense concentration of art galleries.
The historic center is almost entirely pedestrianized and best explored on foot, supplemented by a comprehensive local bus network and a modern tram system connecting the outskirts to the center.
Stay in the Oltrarno district for a quieter atmosphere and artisanal workshops, or choose the area surrounding the Duomo for maximum proximity to major transit and primary attractions.
Florence is a mid-to-high range destination, with premium pricing for centrally located accommodations and dining, though it remains accessible with strategic planning.
Frequently asked
Aventuro lists 708 curated attractions in and around Florence, ranked by traveller ratings.
Ponte Vecchio is the highest-rated place to visit in Florence right now.
The largest category is temples, with 231 places to explore.
Travellers also explore Rome, Milan, Galatina.
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