A city of art that is truly one of a kind, Florence is a genuine open-air museum thanks to the countless traces left by its ancient masters. In a single stroll you can observe masterpieces such as Florence Cathedral, Brunelleschi's Dome, Giotto's Bell Tower and the Baptistery of St. John. And that's just the Piazza del Duomo!
PIAZZA DEL DUOMO
It is the religious heart of the city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and packed full with incredible monuments such as Florence Cathedral, with Brunelleschi's Dome - the symbol of Florence - and Giotto's Bell Tower, while in front you will find St. John's Baptistery, adorned with bronze gates created by Ghiberti and Pisano. The square alone makes a trip to Florence worthwhile.
PIAZZA DELLA SIGNORIA
If the Piazza del Duomo was the religious centre of Florence, the Piazza della Signoria was its political fulcrum. Here you will find the majestic Palazzo Vecchio, the administrative heart of the city, embellished at the entrance with a copy of Michelangelo's David (you can find the original at the Galleria dell'Accademia) and Baccio Bandinelli's Hercules and Cacus. On the side of the square you can find another open-air museum: the Loggia dei Lanzi, featuring statues including Perseus with the Head of Medusa and the Rape of the Sabine Women.
PONTE VECCHIO
One of the most famous bridges in the world, not to mention one of the most romantic spots in Florence. It was the only bridge to have been spared by German troops in 1944, and is today sprinkled with luxury boutiques. Here you will also find the Vasari Corridor, an elevated pedestrian walkway commissioned to the architect Giorgio Vasari by Cosimo I of the Medici. The walkway leads from the Palazzo Vecchio to the Palazzo Pitti, Cosimo's family residence. The Ponte Vecchio, which is especially worth visiting at sunset, is one of the most evocative and most photographed locations in the whole of Florence.
THE UFFIZI GALLERY
One of the most significant and most visited museums in the world, the Uffizi Gallery is a must during a trip to Florence. Its rooms host the masterpieces of Leonardo, Caravaggio, Raphael, Giotto, Mantegna, Titian, Parmigianino and Botticelli, among others. Standouts among the thousands of works here include Botticelli's The Birth of Venus, Caravaggio's Medusa and Leonardo's Annunciation. The only inconvenience is the rather long queue to get in.