Florence is the central city of Italy and the capital of the Tuscany region. Every year approximately ten million tourists visit Florence which makes it one of the most visited cities in Italy. Florence is famous for its beautiful Renaissance art and architecture, culture and the monuments. It is quintessentially heart-melting and a romantic city. The famous museums, churches, and palaces are home to some of the masterpieces from the artistic treasures in the world. Florence is a perfect destination for all the art lovers. With so many things to do in Florence, Italy tourists visit here again and again. The city is on the Arno River which helped the Roman troops by making the soil fertile here. To get more insights about this Renaissance city make sure you have a look at 10 best things to do in Florence Italy.
1. Visit Santa Maria del Fiore
The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower also famously known as Duomo is the center point and famous landmark of Florence – as things to do in Florence. It was built in the 15th century and was known to be the largest church in the world during that time. Duomo stands out in the Florentine skyline so it is one of the things to do in Florence Italy. The dome of the cathedral has a height of 115 meters. You can climb the dome but mind it you have to climb 463 stairs to reach the topmost part of the dome as things to do in Florence Italy. You must reserve your ticket separately for the dome. After reaching the dome you will have a panoramic view of Florence, which is one of the best things to do in Florence Italy.
The view is just perfect from the dome as you will see the whole city and surround mountains and the skyline. The walls, dome, and windows are so beautifully decorated with the paintings, and sculptures.
There various different parts of the cathedral are
- Brunelleschi’s dome
- Giotto’s Campanile (bell tower) – Bell tower is 82 metres high and you have to climb another 414 steps to visit the tower (Florence things to do). The tower is beautifully decorated with different colours of marble and copies of reliefs of Andrea Pisano.
- Baptistery with Paradise Gate – This is the oldest building in Florence. It is an octagonal structure where the famous citizens of Florence like Dante are baptized. Baptistery is famous for its bronze portals. There are a total of six doors of which east doors are best known.
- Museo dell ‘Opera del Duomo – Here you can see the artwork from the cathedral. This museum has several rooms that will talk about the history of Santa Maria del Fiore as things to do in Florence Italy. Even the original tools which were used in construction of Duomo are displayed here (Florence Things to do).
- Piazza del Duomo
- Ticket – € 58 per person
- Free cancellation up to 24 hrs
- Duration 45 minutes
- Luggage not allowed
2. Explore Uffizi Gallery
The gallery is located next to Palazzo Vecchio. If you are an art lover it is one of the best things to do in Florence Italy. Uffizi is the most famous museum and top attraction in Florence Italy such that it is almost house full for even advance booking. This museum hosts the famous artwork by renowned artists like Botticelli including the birth of Venus, Titian, Caravaggio. During your visit you will be enchanted by the splendour. The ancient statues and busts adorn the corridors. Don’t forget to book your tickets in advance. Visit to the gallery is more like a cultural tour as things to do in Florence Italy which cannot be missed.
- OPENING HOURS – Tuesday – Sunday from 8.15am to 6.30pm
- CLOSED ON -Mondays, December
- TICKET – Regular- € 25
- Annual pass – € 70 – one person / € 100 – family
3. Palazzo Vecchio Florence
Palazzo Vecchio is third in the list of things to do in Florence Italy as it has always been one of the most important Palaces of Florence as its time in Florence Italy as it served as a government building( things to see in Florence Italy). This palace is still the city hall of Florence and serves as a museum where the Medici art collection is displayed. The bell tower over the palace used to warn the citizens about the danger in Florence. This bell tower is the oldest part of the palace. Once you climb 95 meters to the top of the tower you will have an amazingly beautiful view of Florence can be included as things to do in Florence Italy. The walls and the ceiling of the palace are so beautifully decorated with paintings as things to do in Florence Italy.
- Timings – Friday to Wednesday – 9 am – 2 pm
- Tickets – € 12.50
4. Ponte Vecchio
Ponte Vecchio is one of the best things to do in Florence Italy as it is the only bridge in Florentine that survived World War II. This bridge is over the famous river Arno(things to see in Florence Italy). The picturesque bridge has been standing here since the people of Florentine can recall. There are countless stories to tell. There are many jeweler and goldsmith shops on and around the bridge. In Dan Brown’s Inferno there is discussion about the secret corridor, Corrodoio Vasariano, – things to do in Florence Italy. There is an elevated corridor connects Palazzo Vecchio and Pitti Palace. The corridor was built so that the family of Cosimo I could move between the two palaces without being seen by the people. Some other ways to explore this bridge is by kayaking. Kayak can be hired for 2 hrs at a nominal price and you can cover various tourist attractions from things to do in Florence Italy list which are on Arno River.
5.Pitti Palace and Galleria Palatina
The Pitti Palace is directly connected through a secret elevated corridor with Palazzo Vecchio. The palace has many rooms which you must see in the palace. Behind the palace is the famous Boboli Gardens. The most visited and famous room in the palace is Galleria Palatina hosting well-known works of art. It is the heart of the Pitti Palace where you will see the masterpieces of Botticelli, Veronese, Titian, and Rafael. The other museums in the palace are Galleria d’Artte Moderna, Galleria del Costume, Appartimenti Reali and Museo degli Argenti. It should be on the bucket list of things to do in Florence Italy.
- Ticket – € 16
- Timings – Tuesday to Sunday from 8:15 am – 6:30 pm
- Closed on Monday
6. Basilica of Santa Croce
In Basilica di Santa Croce, there are sixteen chapels. Among them, the most famous is Cappella de Pazzi which is in the list of things to do in Florence Italy. This church contains many tombs and funerary monuments of famous Florentines like Galileo Galilei, Vasari, Niccolo Machiavelli, and Michelangelo. It is a perfect place for spirituality, memory, beauty, and conservation. It has always played a pivotal role in the civic and religious lives of the people of Florence Italy.
- Entry fee – € 8 per person
- Ticket + audio tour– € 12
7. Boboli Gardens
This is located just behind the marvelous Pitti Palace on the south bank of the Arno River. It is among the best things to do in Florence Italy as it is called as the most beautiful gardens of Florence. It is believed that Boboli Gardens served as an inspiration to many famous gardens like the Gardens of Versailles. The most unique feature of this garden are Grottos. There are different types of flowering trees, fountains, grottos, and ponds. The most famous part of the garden is Grotto Grande where there is a cave with stalactites and sculptures. Other features of the garden are an amphitheater, Neptune fountain and Egyptian Obelisk, and a porcelain museum. There is a Fort Belvedere at the back of the gardens.
- Tickets – € 11.20 per person
- Timings – daily from 8.15 am – 5.30 pm
- Closed – first and last Monday of the month.
8. Leonardo’s Interactive Museum
It is a 100% interactive museum dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci’s inventions. The tickets can be purchased online only. The exhibits here are functioning machines and their mechanisms are by Universal Genius in famous codes. Various machines exhibited here are the Worm Screw, the Vertical Ornithopter, the Hydraulic Saw, the Catapult, the Tank, the Printing Machine, and many more inventions by the genius himself. A perfect place for curious visitors who are looking for things to do in Florence Italy. Through these machines, you get an insight of the creative mind of the greatest genius of all time. Every machine is described in Italian, German, English, French, Spanish, Russian, and Portuguese. At the entrance of the museum, there is a bookshop from where you can buy wooden models, interactive machines, books of the city of Florence and Leonardo da Vinci, souvenirs, and gadgets. Guided tours will give you an excellent opportunity to become part of animated narration.
9. Vivoli Gelato
The list of things to do in Florence Italy is incomplete unless you satiate your taste buds with the best flavours of gelato. Vivoli is Florence’s oldest gelateria. The shop is old- fashioned. Everything used in gelato except pistachios and hazelnuts are grown by the family who owns the shop. The gelato here is free of additives, preservatives, emulsifiers or dyes. Alon with gelato they serve cookies, tarts, rice pudding as well as traditional Florentine frozen desserts. All the fruit sorbet are made with real fruits. Visit to Vivoli will give you a complete introduction about traditional Florentine taste and flavours.
10. Fontana del Porcellino
Now when you have visited all the places from the list of things to do in Florence Italy, and you still feel so much is left to explore then visit Fontana del Porcellino. It is believed that if you touch the nose of a boar, you will definitely return to Florence. On Mecato Nuove you will find a bronze fountain of a wild boar. The shiny and weathered nose is the proof of such belief as thousands of tourists stroked his nose. This wild boar was made in 1612. For good luck and prosperity, some people throw a coin into the grid located between the legs of a wild boar. It is open for all and no entry ticket is required.
The list of things to do in Florence Italy is never ending with Florence being rich in its Renaissance art and culture.
