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!

From the Middle Ages to the present day, Piazza della Signoria, between Piazza del Duomo and the…read moreArno River, is the beating heart of the historic center of Florence with its distinctive L-shape, which my partner, our friends, family member, and I visited in mid-September. Palazzo Vecchio, the traditional seat of the Florentine government, with its distinctive tower, is yet another symbol of the city. In front stands a copy of Michelangelo's David (the original can be seen at the Accademia Gallery). One of the most impressive squares we've ever seen! The piazza looks like an outdoor museum, full of iconic statues and history in every corner. One can't miss the Fountain of Neptune that was commissioned to celebrate a Medici marriage. It is a colossal statue of Neptune, the Roman god of the sea and the counterpart of the Greek god Poseidon. The atmosphere is vibrant and lively with both tourists and locals, perfect to enjoy both during the day and at night. Definitely a must-see in Florence!

Nice gathering place next to Ponte Vecchio. There's a beautiful fountain here and plenty of places…read moreto gather and dine. I love these Italian palazzos!

If you're spending any real time in Florence, you're pretty likely to cross the Ponte Vecchio,…read morewhich spans the Arno and more or less connects Palazzo Pitti to the Duomo. You'd walk it even if it were just any old bridge, but it is in fact The Old Bridge: a medieval stone arch bridge, and the only bridge in Florence to survive World War II. We never made a point of visiting Ponte Vecchio, but we walked across it several times during our two days in town. It's a lovely bridge, with shops built onto both sides--I guess this was a common thing in medieval times. The shops give the bridge an interesting building block look from the outside, and form a vibrant commercial corridor within. No car traffic, but plenty of pedestrians at all times. Most of the shops on Ponte Vecchio seem to sell gold jewelry. I recognized a few chain jewelers, but I think those were in the minority. I doubt Ponte Vecchio is the place to get a good deal on gold jewelry, but if you want a gold souvenir from Florence, it's probably worth a browse. We didn't shop on Ponte Vecchio, but we enjoyed the bridge as a bridge, a practical monument full of beauty and history. It offers prime views of the city and is, of course, a marvel in itself. We enjoyed seeing the shops open, but the bridge was even prettier at night, when they were closed. The storefronts all had these wood shutters that made them look like treasure chests. So charming. We were in Florence in mid-November and saw the Christmas lights go up over Ponte Vecchio but didn't stay long enough to see them turn on. I'll bet this bridge is magical during Christmas, but it's not like it isn't special all year round. It's one of the places that makes Florence Florence.

If you came to Ponte Vecchio without any context, it's pretty underwhelming. However, upon further…read moreAI deep dive, you'll learn it's the oldest bridge in Florence (1345) that survived WWII and once had butchers and fishmongers along the bridge, but were later replaced by goldsmiths and jewelers. While the original medieval vendors no longer exist, the bridge is still lined with goldsmiths and jewelry shops today. For the best experience, don't just walk across the bridge, take it in from different angles. My favorite view is from the riverbanks, but many prefer seeing it from a distance at Ponte Santa Trinita.

November 6, 2024 3:45-6:45PM…read more We initially didn't plan to visit but was told this is a must do in Florence. I'm glad we did. I love art museums and thought this was more religious artifacts but glad to see some of my new favorite paintings in person. Silly me! Upon entering the museum, there a lot of stairs to climb. Get your exercise in for sure! I did see a very tiny elevator a little bit hidden to the side, so they definitely can accommodate those needing accessibility but plan accordingly as the elevator was tiny, probably one stroller/wheelchair at a time. The Botticelli's Birth of Venus and Spring are both so amazing to see in person. The works of Caravaggio were very powerfully presented. The da Vinci, the Michelangelo, the Raphael... so many great artist and their works are housed here. Lots of Sweet Baby Jesus and the Madonna, various Adam and Eve paintings.. My favorite besides Botticelli's, was from Pietro Perugino's a Portrait of a young man.. the eyes, the emotions, almost the sadness... what a great painting. The various views from the Uffizi Galleries of Florence was also pretty amazing, from Ponte Vecchio, along the Arno River and the view of the city... so glad we went during sunset as I caught some pretty great shots with just my iPhone. I definitely think this is worth the stop and glad to have this as an impromptu visit. Got in pretty quickly without a reservation either, we were very lucky.

The Uffizi Gallery is an absolutely extraordinary museum. It's famous for good reason, the most…read morevisited art gallery in all of Italy, a country not lacking in priceless, important art. The place was built by the Medicis and houses much of the art they collected, all of it given to the city of Florence as the family died off. It's been open to select visitors since the 16th century and to the public since 1769, making it one of the world's first modern museums. We went with a small group tour (provided by Things To Do In, which dealt with the ticketing), and this was 100% worth the added expense. The Uffizi is huge and full of treasures, and our guide's expertise felt pretty essential. We met in the courtyard, which was bustling with tourists at 10AM on a cold, off-season Thursday. The courtyard is notable in its own right, beautiful and historic, with a view of the Arno River. Sculptures of famous artists fill the niches between the columns. Our meeting point was underneath Nicola Pisano. We made our way from there into the Uffizi's grand hallways, works of art in themselves, and lined with statuary. Our tour was an hour and a half long and took us through just a few highlights of the museum, which contains an astonishing collection of Italian Renaissance works. We admired a display of three Italian Madonnas, masterpieces of the 13th and 14th centuries by Cimabue, Duccio, and Giotto (our guide's mini lecture on the Giotto will stay with me for a long time). We saw Simone Martini's Annunciation with St. Margaret and St. Ansanus, with its wtf-no-thank-you Virgin Mary, the Adoration of the Magi by Gentile da Fabriano, embellished with gold and textiles. I'm ignorant and didn't know what we'd be seeing at the Uffizi and was genuinely surprised to walk into a room and see Botticelli's Primavera and The Birth of Venus. Incredible paintings, and a privilege to see in person. We hit the ninja turtles next: Leonardo da Vinci's Annunciation and unfinished Adoration of the Magi; Michelangelo's Doni Tondo, his only surviving finished panel painting; and Raphael's Madonna of the Goldfinch. Our tour ended there, but we had much more to see, and our guide helpfully told us a few paintings to look out for. The Medici portraits by Agnolo Bronzino, especially the Portrait of Eleonora di Toledo with her son Giovanni. Titian's Venus of Urbino, a historically significant nude. And three works by Caravaggio: Bacchus, Sacrifice of Isaac, and Medusa, all of them amazing. I also enjoyed the extensive gallery of self-portraits and the temporary exhibition on Florence and Europe in the 18th century. This included some great paintings and sculpture, but without a guide to put them in context, I have to admit the giant stone lion dick made the most lasting impression. We hit the gift shop on our way out, hoping to find a postcard of Florence we could send to our kids. Unfortunately for us, all the postcards were of the gallery's artworks, and we didn't think our three- and five-year-old would get much out of religious paintings or Medusa's decapitated head. I left the Uffizi with a new appreciation for Italian art, and honestly, a sharpened interest in art in general. This was an enriching visit, full of marvels, maybe the best thing we did on our trip to Florence.

Definitely need a tour guide to truly appreciate this masterpiece. We went with "Florence by…read moreElvis". Michelangelo spent three years behind a fence creating David, in the rain and sun, sleeping on the ground next to his sculpture in progress. The space between his legs was already in the marble which was shaped like the letter B when he got it. It was originally supposed to be placed at the top of the Cathedral. The eyes are in the shape of a heart so when the sun struck it it shone. So many more details, too many to explain here. Also in the same museum is the first painting that sparked the Renaissance. A definite must see!

Not bad. Upside:…read moredramatic example of Renaissance style, realistic body modeling, expressive, iconic. Downside: "iconic" is Italian for "you've totally seen this before." You'll be all "I have to see David" and then when you get there you'll be all "I totally have seen this a billion times, usually he's standing over a fountain and water's coming out of his dick or something." No water, no fountain, just rock with the parts that don't look like a naked guy gone. Don't get me wrong, I like art, it's just that sculpture technology has come a long way since they made this one. (Apparently circumcision technology has come a long way too if you know what I mean. Haven't seen a hood that white since my last Klan meeting, haha, jk, racism is bad). In Vegas they have a sculpture of a volcano that actually erupts every hour. Rain Forest Cafe has bug sculptures that flap their wings. This guy just stands there with his wang looking like it's wearing a marble raincoat. Unless you're into that sort of thing, no judgment. Ample parking. No Jumbotron.

After settling at our (new) hotel, we set off on foot to "where it's happening" and after walking a…read morefew blocks with some twists-and-turns down overly populated side streets, you make one last right turn and POW! - you're starstruck at these magnificent structures made eons ago. This church is so massive and detailed and stunning... the frescos alone could make a lapsed (cough) Catholic (cough) start to recite the rosary he hasn't said in over 40 years. It's a hard walk all the way up AND back down. Stay/be hydrated and not famished (I learned this the hard way). But, oh, this is so worth it. (Seeing this cathedral for the very first time up close left me utterly gob smacked - which also happened when seeing the sculpture of David, The Colosseum and, of course, the Sistine Chapel.) Amazing.

Bought the tickets online making a simple mistake, they would not change or reimburse... terrible…read moreservice. Plus all monuments are undergoing intense restoration, which leaves little to be available to the tourist.

Giotto's Bell Tower is one of Florence's most iconic landmarks and absolutely worth the climb…read more Standing tall right next to the Duomo, its Gothic design and intricate marble work make it stunning to admire from the outside. But the real highlight comes when you brave the 414 steps to the top with no elevator, just narrow winding stairs that add to the experience. Each level offers stopping points with windows where you can catch your breath while enjoying unique views of the cathedral and the city below. Once you reach the very top, the panoramic views of Florence, with the Duomo's dome right in front of you, are nothing short of breathtaking. FWIW, we did this tower prior to climbing up the dome as a warm up of sorts and did help though based upon your day/energy levels please plan the two ascents wisely. Tickets are usually bundled with the Duomo complex pass, and it's a good idea to book them in advance since the climb is popular and spots can fill up. If you're up for a workout and want some of the best views in Florence, this is something you can't miss.

Was it wise to immediately do this tour/walk right after the 'Opera' that's next to this?…read more(Not when you're over the hill and lazy... like myself.) Regardless - this is ANOTHER fantastic structure that's so rich with history and meaning and the views at each level get more and more breathtaking. Those 400+ steps are savage and only slightly easier coming back down. (As talented and advanced as the artists and architects were centuries ago - they didn't have the foresight to create a second staircase so we wouldn't have to continually bump into each other coming-and-going in the present day?! Sheesh!) Another official "Amazing!" place to visit, get enriched, kill an hour or so, and burn more than few calories.

The dome was designed without wood reinforcements, where the architect Brunelleschi used chains…read moremade of stone and wood locked together with iron to hold the dome in place. I have to remind you be prepared to climb 400+ very steep steps in order to get to the top. The view on top of the observatory is totally worth it.

We had timed tickets and got on line to climb to the top of the dome it is the largest ever built…read moreand an iconic Florence landmark. We showed our ticket, went through metal detectors & had our bags checked & started our assent. This is not for small children, people with health problems or the claustrophobic. We weaved around the inside of the cupola twice and went on top of the dome. The stairs up & down were narrow and at times steep also. Sometimes they were spiral & sometimes we had a handrail. It was crowded and hot at 4:30, we got down at 5:30. The views of Florence were spectacular; just endless. The views of the cathedral & dome were spectacular.

Absolutely gorgeous place to visit. Please go inside if you have the chance but if you don't, the…read moreexterior is absolutely gorgeous. The areas has a lot of hotels (pretty obviously, since the train station is right across the street, on the back side of the church) and quite a few places to eat and drink. Two wine windows are in the area and my best friends favorite gelato shop, you can see from the square.

This review is merely for the exterior and a bit of the surrounding area. I read that they offer…read moretours inside, but we did not have time for one. This church was near our hotel and I wanted to at least see it as I'd taken an architecture course once in college that covered it. The back of the church is close to the front of the main Florence train station, separated by a wide street with multiple light rail tracks. You need to walk around to the far side (from the station) to see the façade, which is the famous view. There are businesses flanking one side of the church (hotels, restaurants, and other shops). There was some booth set up where people attempted to flag down passing pedestrians (I'm not sure if it was some political thing or they were eventually asking for donations, etc.; we escaped without hearing their pitch). Also around the front of the church there were African guys selling trinkets or attempting to engage tourists to sell something. These guys were fairly common throughout downtown Florence, actually. In front of the church is a large plaza which provides good longer-range unobstructed views for photos. The front of the church is sort of a 'late Gothic transitioning into the Renaissance' style. It is quite striking and worth a short detour on your way to the city center. The best lighting for photos seemed to be in the mid to late afternoon.

Piazza Santa Croce is spacious, beautiful, and full of character. The basilica is breathtaking, and…read morethe piazza feels lively without being overwhelming. Perfect for people-watching, a coffee stop, or soaking in Florence's atmosphere--especially lovely in the evening.

Named after the fameous churce at the end of the piazza, the Basilica of Santa Croce, this is a fun…read moreopen air area in Florence. The piazza is all paved, however, there is usually a famers market (mostly prepared goods vs produce), and the people watching can be pretty spectacular. It was a easy 15 second walk from my apartment, and the adjacent Taxi stand made getting to the airport a breeze. There are no services or greenery, but the steps of the church can be used as a nice place to sit. It is dotted by a large number of restaurants, leather shops, and gelato places. Its a cool place to simply stop and take a breather and the church is worth a visit as it houses the remains of many famous Italian's and the interior is quite nice as well