Florence, Italy: All the Must See’s from The Duomo to the Statue of David

Florence, Italy is ranked among the world’s most beautiful cities, and is well known for its history, art, culture, fashion, and wealth. Spend just one day strolling the cobblestone streets flanked by the many beautiful churches, synagogues, and temples, and you’ll agree! Between the famous statue of David by Michelangelo and the domed cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, often referred to as The Duomo, these two sights alone in the heart of Firenze are enough to take your breath away. If you’re headed to Italy, Florence is one of those places you’ll want to add to your list!  It is conveniently located between Venice and Rome , making it a perfect sightseeing stop along the way. Continue reading to find out more about the must sees in Florence Italy!

The summer before I moved to Italy, I took a group of my high school students abroad through EF tours. Our first stop was in Switzerland, where we spent a few days exploring the Swiss Alps and Lake Lucerne. Venice was the second stop on our tour, and you can read about that trip here! Florence was the next stop on our adventure. Even during July, a peak tourist season for Italy, Florence had so much to offer.

A guided walking tour was the very first thing we did in each city. With so much to see, it can be hard to figure out where to start. These types of tours are designed to help you get your bearings and prioritize what is important to you or what places are must sees on your list! Below you will find all of my favorite spots on our tour – where we stayed, what we ate, and where we went to get the best views of the city!

Where to Stay in Florence

We stayed a few kilometers outside of the city at Hotel Villa La Stella. It was perfect for our visit with wonderful views and a fabulous breakfast. We even went out and walked along the roads to see our first Tuscan sunset. If you’re looking for somewhere closer to downtown, head on over to Booking.com using my code here!

Houses of Worship

Churches, synagogues, and temples are prominent in Florence. The most famous is Santa Maria del Fiore, well-known for its domed cathedral (referred to as the Duomo). Its dome can be seen from far away as one of the tallest structures in the city. Santa Maria del Fiore was completed in 1436 by Brunelleschi, and the exterior is covered with stunning marble in shades of pink, green, and white.

Just beside the Duomo, you’ll find Giotto’s Bell Tower. For 18€, you can climb 414 steps to the top of the bell tower for an unbelievable view of the city and the dome. While my claustrophobia and fear of darkness were tested to the limits during this climb, there were many levels along the way where one can stop and view the city from different heights before proceeding further. Once at the top of the bell tower, you can walk all the way around for a full 360 view that is worth every step.

Basilica di Santa Croce is the burial place of some of the most famous Italian artists, including Michelangelo and Galileo. You will find this church a few hundred meters from the Duomo with a beautiful piazza (square) in front of it. One of my favorite gelato shops faces the basilica, and you will find other cafes and stores in the piazza.

Top Tourist Attractions

Located in the Galleria dell’Accademia (Accademia Gallery), you will find the renowned statue of David by Michelangelo. The solid marble statue was created in the 16th century and stands tall at 14 feet. As this is one of the top tourist attractions in Florence, there will inevitably be a line, but it was worth it to us to get there early in the day and wait only an hour. At the time, we paid 8€ to walk through the art gallery where you will also find many other magnificent pieces of work.

A warm summer day is a perfect time to grab some gelato along the Ponte Vecchio (bridge) that crosses the Arno River. From here you can admire views of Florence and gondolas floating along the river. The bridge is covered with shops and we were lucky enough to see a band playing American songs while we were visiting.

Standing in Piazzale Michelangelo, you will discover an incredible panoramic view of Florence. There, you will also find a bronze replica statue of David. This is a great location for snapping pictures of the city, and for selfies of course!

Escape to the Giardino di Boboli (Boboli Gardens) for some much-needed solace from the hustle and bustle of city life. Walk among the blooming flowers, around the ponds, and to the top of the gardens for views of the Tuscan hills and Florence. This was one of my favorite parts of Florence, as it provides peace and tranquility in a beautiful city.

Palazzo Vecchio is the town hall of Florence and overlooks one of the main squares, Piazza Della Signoria, where you will yet again find a replica of David. It’s a beautiful palace worthy of photographing! Grab a bite while you’re at the square, pick a table outside, and enjoy the social scene with the castle in the background. How very Italian-esque!

Florence Food

Ristorante Rubaconte is a wonderful Italian restaurant where we dined, located very close to the Accademia Gallery. Enjoy a virtual feast with a first course, second course, dessert, and of course, a cappuccino or espresso to top off your meal. I highly recommend this place for dinner.

Osteria dei Baroncelli, also an Italian restaurant, is located closer to the Arno River by Ponte Vecchio. They had delightful meats and pasta along with wine. Both of these restaurants were very accommodating with the large group that we had.

La Ménagére is, to this date, one of my favorite cafés! Not only are they incredibly friendly, but the ambiance is ideal, there is a flower shop/garden inside the café with so many types of beautiful bouquets, and it’s located in a great spot. It’s not placed right in the middle of the city square, so you’re not paying outrageous amounts for a drink. You’ll find this cafe closer to Accademia Gallery, so it makes a perfect stop on your way to or from seeing the statue of David!

Shopping

Florence is a great place to shop for leather. Start with a leather presentation at Leather Leonardo to learn more about how leather is made and determine how to tell whether leather is authentic or not. After a presentation, you will have a chance to browse their leather selection, where you will find anything from purses, book bags, and jackets, to notebooks, wallets, and much more. If you’re more of a barterer, head over to Piazza del Mercato Nuovo where you will likely find tents galore of leather products. Using what you just learned from Leather Leonardo, decide for yourself if the leather is authentic, then pick away! My favorite and most carried bookbag is from these tents, which I got for only 70€! (and yes I bartered my way down from 95€ by paying in cash!)

Right beside Piazza del Mercato Nuovo and along Via Calimaruzza you will find H&M among many well-known shops. Being that I’m not a huge shopper, I don’t have the BEST recommendations for shopping, but there are plenty of stores for that surrounding the town center!

Other Tips

You will often see the symbol below around the city, which is referred to as the fleur-de-lis (flower of the Lilly). It is the crest of the city of Florence… and a beautiful one at that!

Another helpful tip – as with any city in Europe, be careful of pickpocketers! They are notable in Florence due to the fact that it is a wealthier city. Remember not to give anyone your phone to take a picture of you, and keep your belongings close to your side at all times. I would feel 100% safe traveling to Florence solo, but I am always aware of my surroundings and don’t venture down dark alleyways!

While there is much to see in Florence, we only spent two days here, and were able to see all the above! If you like a more relaxed visit, I would recommend spending a few extra days in Florence. Remember that Florence is in the heart of the Tuscany region, so you are within an hour’s drive of many famous Tuscan villages and incredible wineries. For recommendations on where to stay and what to do in Tuscany, visit my post here for more information, and an excellent winery recommendation.

I hope that you’ll add Florence to your list of places to visit, or if you’re already planning to visit, this guide will help you decide on where to go and the must sees in Florence Italy!

Have you been to Florence? Did I miss anything? Let me know your experiences in the comments below!

XOXO, Summer Rae