The Florence Cathedral, commonly referred to as the Duomo di Firenze, is one of the world's largest…read morechurches and probably the most stunning building I've ever seen. It is the beautiful crown jewel of the beautiful city of Florence, a gothic cathedral built between 1296 and 1436. The dome, envisioned at the project's inception, was only completed over a century later. It remains, in 2025, the largest masonry dome ever constructed. We made a point of visiting the Duomo almost as soon as we arrived in Florence, then ran across it several more times over the course of our two-and-a-half-day stay. It felt like the spiritual and practical center of the city. I don't think you can avoid the Duomo on foot any more than you can miss it in Florence's skyline--not that you would want to. The exterior is exquisite. The dome, the gothic architecture, the extravagant details. All that pink, green, and white marble. You get a lot out of the Duomo just by staring at it whenever you happen to walk by. The cathedral is free to enter, but there is almost always a line. We waited in it twice, once just to grab a postcard from the gift shop. It wasn't bad, maybe five to ten minutes, but that was in mid-November. The interior was gorgeous, too, vast and intentionally bare relative to, say, St. Peter's or the Duomo's own exterior. No gold, but a wealth of stained glass and God knows how many tons of marble. There was a small gift shop downstairs, where we purchased a magnet and a postcard for our kids, left at home. I thought about getting the nice Christmas ornament of the dome, but it cost almost €80. We wanted to go to the Opera del Duomo museum on our last afternoon in town, but the window was too tight, and we realized we would've been better served buying a pass for a few of the standalone attractions--the museum as well as the baptistry or the belltower. In any case, I'm pretty sure we'll be back to Florence, and I look forward to revisiting the Duomo.

Saluti da Firenze!…read more Bathed in architectural beauty, artist charm, and centuries of history, my partner, our friends, family members, and I arrived in this Italian city of culture last Monday afternoon. Located in the heart of the stunning Tuscany region, the city is surrounded by natural and manmade beauty at every turn. Home to globally renowned landmarks such as the Florence Cathedral and Michelangelo's David, Florence offers a journey of discovery and enlightenment. Situated at the Piazza del Duomo, which is the busiest square in the city, Florence Cathedral is dedicated to Santa Maria del Fiore, dominates the skyline, and gives it real character and grace with its famous Brunelleschi's red dome. The construction of the building started at the end of the thirteenth century because the Florentines wanted to excel not only in commercial terms but also in architectural terms. It was not completed until the 15th century and is the fourth largest cathedral in Europe. We visited the area on our 2 days during the day and evening. It is highly recommended to visit the square in the evening, when the day trippers have gone home. Admission to the cathedral was free, and the huge line moved quickly. The marble façade in green, pink, and white was absolutely stunning. The rest of the interior may seem simple at first until one stands beneath the dome and gasps at the masterpiece above. No words can describe its presence and the sheer scale; it's a must-visit!

Looking for a place to park so we can walk around the city center. We just happened to come across…read morethis place. We parked our rental car here. We had to leave keys with them. But we came back car was ok and the service was nice too. €3 hr or €5hr. It still wasn't bad. We were able to cross bridge and walk around easily.

Traveling through Italy by car was tough enough given the crowds and limited parking spots. This…read moreplace was an awesome find and we used it during our stay. Close to main areas. Professional, friendly staff. Pricing in range with others in similar location and I didn't feel ripped off (vs other experiences).

This now-semi-parking-lot Piazza was inaugurated in 1901, and named (for the third time) after the…read morebattle of Mentana in Lazio in 1867. The monument situated here is in honor of Italian soldiers fallen in the battle led by Garibaldi. It was originally called Piazza delle Travi because here was the deposit for the logs that would come from the forest areas from upriver (Casentino and Vallombrosa). There was a little port here that was taken down in the 1200's when the Rubaconte bridge was built (now called Ponte alle Grazie). By then the piazza had been re-named Piazza d'Arno. I understand Firenze is tight for parking spaces but his little piazza has great history and thanks to its Arno view it has also some potential for a nice relaxing viewpoint of Oltrarno. Hopefully one day they will make this Piazza not a parking lot, as was luckily the fate of Piazza Duomo and Repubblica.

BEWARE: Downtown Florence has car triffic restricted to residents or those with a termp permit…read more Garage Oriuolo website says that they will request the ZTL access (i.e. "Temporary Downtown car access permit") once you get there: THEY DON'T! They even confirmed that in an email I wrote BEFORE getting to Florence. Two months late I received a ticket from the City of Florence ($48). If/When you use this garage do two things: 1) Request and KEEP the "ricevuta fiscale" (printed receipt) for the payment, which indicates the date of parking 2) Before paying/leaving ask them again if they have requested the ZTL permit and ask them "How do I know you submitted? What if I get a ticket by mail?" Get proof. Ask them for a WRITTEN declaration of some sort indicating they have requested the ZTL to the City and when. The document MUST indicate the license plate of the car and the date.

Received multiple fines but this garage doesn't respond to anything. Please find a different place…read moreto park.

So good trains so fast ticket purchase so easy T2 here from…read morehotel so easy people reps inside answer questions love love

One of Italy's busiest stations as the main hub to Venice, Rome, Naples with 160,000 people passing…read morethrough every day, Santa Maria Novella is more than just a train station. It serves as a grand gateway to the heart of Florence bustling with locals and tourists, strategically positioned in the northwest corner of the historical center. Opened in 1935, it features a spacious entrance hall with a glass and steel roof. The station's main entrance leads directly to a large hall where tickets are purchased and information on several digital boards displaying train schedules prominently. There are 19 clearly marked platforms, and directional signs in multiple languages help guide passengers to their trains. The station houses several eateries, from quick snacks and coffee bars to sit-down restaurants. My partner, our friends, family member, and I waited here last Wednesday for our high-speed Italo train on our last leg to Rome. Andiamo!

Secure car park in the centre of town but, expensive at €30 for 24 hours :-(…read more The 24 hours also begins at noon each day irrespective of when you arrive and don't get fooled by the guy who says its 24 hours and fails to tell you that it starts at noon everyday. The moment you get your ticket and read it, you realise you been misled. Having said that this place is safe, secure and staffed by friendly people. The choice for parking is slim and this is not a bad option.

We've used this garage a few times as it provides easy access from outside the ZTL yet still an…read moreeasy walk into the center from the (arguably) less crowded & (in our opinion) more beautiful Santa Croce side. Entrance could be tricky (stay to the far left at the light) since the entrance lane is blocked off from the Main Street. It's also very narrow inside, but once you get down the ramps, you'll be fine. Easy stair or lift access back to the street. Cost is average, but I think all the city run garages are about the same.