What to See in Florence: Main Sights
- Ana Ka
- Sep 4
- 11 min read
1. Uffizi Gallery (Ana’s favourite)
The world’s greatest Renaissance collection—Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, Michelangelo’s Doni Tondo, and Caravaggio’s Medusa all under one roof. But beyond the crowds, the Uffizi hides lesser-known masterpieces that even many locals miss:
Ambrogio Lorenzetti’s Stories from the Life of St. Nicholas (Room 3): My personal favourite! A 14th-century gem where St. Nicholas (the historical inspiration for Santa Claus) tosses gold through a window to save three girls from prostitution—painted with such raw emotion, it feels like a medieval film.
Piero di Cosimo’s Perseus Rescuing Andromeda (Room 41): A surreal, dreamlike scene where Perseus battles a sea monster against a misty, otherworldly landscape. The colors glow like an old fairy tale.
Duccio’s Madonna and Child (Room 2): A delicate, gold-leafed Sienese treasure from 1300—softer and more intimate than the grand Renaissance works nearby.
For the ultimate experience: Most tours skim the surface. To truly understand these masterpieces, join one of our private tours with Florence’s most passionate art historians—the very experts who’ve written books and dedicated their lives to studying these works. Imagine hearing the true story of how Caravaggio was forced to flee Rome with a death warrant for murder on his head, or decoding Botticelli’s pagan secrets with a Medici specialist. This is how art should be seen... For more info check our Florence Tours, as well as my audioguides.
Pro tips:
Book tickets 1–2 months ahead on the official website to avoid overpriced resellers.
Visit at 8:15 am (when doors open) or after 4 pm—you’ll have Leonardo's room almost to yourself, especially in the off season (late fall, winter and early spring).
End your visit with prosecco on the rooftop bar (best view of the Duomo’s dome at golden hour!).
Uffizi Gallery. (Photo: Unsplash)
Perseus Freeing Andromeda by Piero di Cosimo, Uffizi Gallery. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain)
2. Galleria dell’Accademia (Ana’s favourite)
Home to Michelangelo’s monumental David—a masterpiece where every sinew, vein, and intense gaze seems carved by divine hand. Don’t miss the unfinished Prisoners, seemingly struggling to break free from their marble blocks. Tickets sell out months in advance, so book early via the official website only. For a truly profound visit, aim for the first entry at 8:15 am or a quieter slot after 4 pm. It’s one of my absolute favourite museums in Florence—an essential stop for any art lover.
Ready to go deeper? Explore the Accademia with one of our incredible art historians on this private tour.
A small treat for you: Want to really understand David before heading there? Watch my short audio guide with Andrew Graham-Dixon, one of the world’s top art historians:
For more audio guides see: https://appyguide.com/
3. Florence Baptistery (Ana’s favourite)
This octagonal treasure stands on ancient Roman foundations—some say where a Temple to Mars once stood. For centuries, every Florentine, from Medici princes to peasant children, was baptised here before entering any church.
Step inside, and you’re transported to Constantinople. The dome shimmers with 13th-century Byzantine mosaics, their gold leaf glowing as if lit by a thousand candles. Dazzling and intricate, they evoke the hands of master mosaicists—possibly even artists summoned from Constantinople itself.
Look up and you’ll see:
The Last Judgment, where a majestic and stern Christ presides over the eternal fate of humanity. With his right hand, he gestures toward Heaven, welcoming the blessed, while with his left, he condemns the damned to the torments of Hell.
Scenes from Genesis, the life of Joseph, and St. John the Baptist.
The most terrifying of all: A horned Satan devouring souls, his monstrous jaws clamped around a damned man—a medieval nightmare frozen in gold.
Under renovation? Yes. But the official scaffolding tours (book ahead!) are a blessing: you’ll stand inches from these mosaics, seeing every glittering piece up close. A rare chance to witness art this ancient, this lavish, with no barriers. And if you prefer to prepare before your trip, then listen to my two short audio guides about this marvellous monument.
Baptistery, Florence. (Photo: Shutterstock)
Baptistery, Florence. (Photo: Ana's photo)
Baptistery, Florence. (Photo: Ana's photo)
4. Piazza del Duomo Cathedral Square (Ana’s favourite)
Piazza del Duomo is pure magic at any hour—where sunset washes the cathedral in soft pink and moonlight deepens its marble glow. While I’d suggest to skip going inside on your first visit (long waits lead to rather average space without knowing any historical context), be sure to marvel at the square’s three iconic wonders: Brunelleschi’s revolutionary dome, a miracle of Renaissance engineering weighing an estimated 37,000 tons (equivalent to 3.6 Eiffel Towers!); Giotto’s bell tower, a delicate jewel-box carved with sculpted saints; and the Baptistery’s golden doors, Ghiberti’s famed “Gates of Paradise.” (Though note—the originals are beautifully displayed just steps away inside the Opera del Duomo Museum.)
This dome literally rewrote the rules of physics. After standing roofless for more than a century, Florence launched a contest to solve the seemingly impossible task of vaulting the massive space. The winner? Filippo Brunelleschi, a goldsmith with no formal architectural training but endless ingenuity. His brilliant inventions—like a reverse gear hoist that allowed oxen to lift materials without turning around, and a herringbone brick pattern that distributed the dome’s immense weight—enabled the construction of the largest masonry dome ever built, all in just 16 years. Climbing the 463 steps to the top today feels like walking through the very mind of a genius.
Pro tip: Grab a pistachio gelato and raspberry sorbet from GROM (yes, it's touristy, but reliably good) and enjoy your treats on the steps of Museo delle Misericordia - the perfect spot to admire Brunelleschi's architectural miracle. And if you’d like to enjoy your gelato while listening to a fascinating short audio guide about this incredible marvel of engineering—narrated by none other than world-renowned art historian Andrew Graham-Dixon—you can find it right here!
Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence. (Photo: Shutterstock)
5. Piazza della Signoria (Ana’s favourite)
The heartbeat of Florence for 700+ years—where politics, art, and scandal collide under the Tuscan sun. By day, an open-air museum; by night, a cinematic stage with statues whispering Medici secrets.
Must-See Marvels:
Palazzo Vecchio: Florence’s medieval town hall—wander its halls (strangely empty, even at peak hours!) through gold-leafed rooms and frescoes glorifying the Republic’s past. Don’t miss: The secret hunt for Leonardo’s lost fresco hidden beneath Vasari’s paintings. I have a whole audio-story on this subject!
Loggia dei Lanzi: My favourite free sculpture gallery—best visited after dark when spotlights make marble muscles ripple.
Loggia dei Lanzi’s Star Attractions:
Cellini’s Perseus with the Head of Medusa. A bronze masterpiece where blood literally drips from Medusa’s neck. But who was she? A victim cursed by Athena, her serpent hair and stone-turning gaze made monstrous by the gods. Listen to this free short audio story I created with world-famous art historian Andrew Graham-Dixon, as we unravel the myth of Medusa and explore why Florence commissioned this masterpiece as a stark political warning to its rivals.
Giambologna’s The Rape of the Sabine Women. Three figures spiral in marble agony—depicting Roman men abducting neighboring women to populate their city. The Medici used this shocking myth to legitimize their rule, implying: 'Even great civilizations must make difficult choices.' Don’t miss this chilling tale, brilliantly retold by Andrew Graham-Dixon in our audio story.
Giambologna’s Hercules and the Centaur Nessus. The hero's bulging veins strain as he strangles the centaur who dared assault his wife—a powerful Medici statement carved in stone by Michelangelo’s star pupil, Giambologna. To deepen your appreciation, you can watch our audio story now and arrive in Florence already connected to its art and legends. Listen here.
Pro tip: Return after dark when the crowds dissolve and Florence exhales. The square transforms into an open-air theatre – Cellini’s Perseus gleams under strategic spotlights, Giambologna’s twisting figures cast dramatic shadows, and the replica David stands sentinel under the moon. This is when you’ll fall for Florence properly: the city’s daytime hustle replaced by the quiet hum of history, every sculpture telling its story to those who linger. Bring your curiosity (and maybe AppyGuide short audio stories ;) ) – night reveals what daylight crowds obscure...
The Rape of Polyxena, Loggia dei Lanzi, Florence. (Photo: Shutterstock)
Piazza della Signoria, Florence. (Photo: Shutterstock)
The Rape of the Sabine Women, Loggia dei Lanzi, Florence. (Photo: Shutterstock)
Perseus with the Head of Medusa, Loggia dei Lanzi, Florence. (Photo: Shutterstock)
6. Santa Maria Novella Church (Ana’s favourite)
This Dominican treasure guards two artistic breakthroughs beneath its striped marble facade. Masaccio’s Holy Trinity (1427) is currently under restoration, but for just €2-3 you can climb the scaffolding to witness one of the greatest masterpieces of the Renaissance. This fresco was one of the earliest known artworks to employ Brunelleschi’s linear perspective system, using a vanishing point to create the illusion of deep architectural space—a technique that would profoundly influence Renaissance art. Sounds simple now, but it wasn't back then!
Santa Maria Novella Church, Florence. (Photo: Alamy)
Santa Maria Novella Church, Florence. (Photo: Shutterstock)
The Strozzi Chapel’s Inferno (Hell)
Turn right upon entering to face the first painted depiction of Dante’s hell (1350s). Though faded, its horror chills: demons with lobster claws torment souls, while Satan feasts on sinners like grapes... This isn't just art - it's Dante's Divine Comedy, animated.
The Spanish Chapel Frescoes
1. Triumph of the Church or Way to Salvation
This fresco shows a grand scene of medieval society, with the Pope, kings, knights, scholars, and ordinary people all following the teachings of the Church. The Dominicans (a strict religious order) are shown leading the way—St. Dominic preaches, St. Thomas Aquinas argues with heretics, and St. Peter Martyr commands black-and-white dogs (symbolising Dominican friars, called Domini canes or "Hounds of the Lord") to chase away false beliefs.
In the background, Florence’s cathedral, Santa Maria del Fiore, appears with a dome—but this is the artist’s visionary flourish, not reality! When this was painted in the 1360s, the cathedral stood roofless, and its iconic dome wouldn’t be built for another 70 years (Brunelleschi finally completed it in the 1430s). Here, Andrea di Bonaiuto dreamed up what the finished cathedral might one day become—a glimpse into Florentine hope and ambition long before the dome defined the skyline.
Way to Salvation by Andrea di Bonaiuto, Spanish Chapel, Santa Maria Novella Church, Florence.
(Photo: Wikipedia)
2. Triumph of St. Thomas and Allegory of the Sciences
This painting celebrates St. Thomas Aquinas, a famous Dominican theologian. He sits like a king, surrounded by virtues (like Truth and Wisdom) and different fields of knowledge. Below him, three defeated heretics (Averroës, Sabellius, and Arius) show the victory of Church teachings over false ideas.
On one side, we see religious studies (theology, scripture), and on the other, secular subjects (grammar, music, astronomy, etc.). The fresco sends a clear message: true wisdom comes from both faith and reason, guided by the Church. Watch my FaceBook reel about these stunning frescoes!
Why These Frescoes Matter
These paintings were made to honour the Dominican Order, showing their power in religion and education. Andrea di Bonaiuto’s work is a mix of medieval symbolism and early Renaissance ideas—strict and detailed, but with hints of depth and realism. The imaginary dome in Way to Salvation is especially interesting because it shows how artists dreamed of Florence’s future greatness. For opening times please see the official website of the church: https://www.smn.it/en/
7. Santa Croce Basilica (Ana’s favourite)
Florence’s "Pantheon" cradles the tombs of giants—but their stories are anything but quiet:
Michelangelo: Perhaps the greatest sculptor of all time, he could make marble seem to breathe. His final wish was to be buried in his beloved Florence. To fulfill it, his body was secretly smuggled out of Rome and returned home—now resting in Santa Croce beneath sculptures of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture, who forever mourn their master.
Galileo: Before he was a heretic, Galileo was a brilliant inventor and Medici insider. He served as tutor to the Medici children, and it was under their patronage that he pointed his telescope to the heavens. His discoveries—the moons of Jupiter, the craters on our moon—were not just scientific triumphs; they were cleverly dedicated to the Medici family (naming Jupiter's moons the "Medicean Stars"). This was a strategic move to secure protection and funding, turning the powerful dynasty into stakeholders in his revolutionary—and ultimately dangerous—quest to understand the universe.
Machiavelli: The father of modern political science, whose name became synonymous with realpolitik. His seminal work, The Prince, dared to describe power not as it should be, but as it truly is—a cold, calculated game of strategy, manipulation, and control that shocked Renaissance Europe and continues to provoke debate centuries later.
Giotto’s Emotional Revolution
Though his Death of St. Francis (Bardi Chapel) is veiled for restoration, this 1320s fresco changed art forever. Vasari wasn’t exaggerating when he said Giotto "taught paintings to cry":
The scene: Francis lies surrounded by weeping monks, their faces twisted in grief—unprecedented raw emotion for the 14th century.
The magic: Giotto used shadow and posture to make figures feel rather than just pose. A medieval soap opera in pigment.
Don't miss Pio Fedi's 1871 monument - its striking resemblance to the Statue of Liberty is no coincidence! French sculptor Bartholdi likely drew inspiration from Fedi's work when designing Lady Liberty during his 1870s Florence visit. Two symbols of freedom: one celebrating artistic expression, the other national independence.
8. Ponte Vecchio Bridge (Ana’s favourite)
By day, it’s a glittering parade of goldsmiths; by night, when the shops close and crowds disperse, it transforms into Florence’s most enchanting spot.
Why it captivates:
The Medici’s secret passage: The Vasari Corridor snakes overhead—built so Medici nobles could avoid mingling with common citizens on the streets below.
Florence’s sole WWII survivor: While other bridges fell to bombs, Ponte Vecchio stood—rumour has it that Hitler ordered its preservation.
Operatic drama: Puccini’s O mio babbino caro echoes a tragic 19th-century love story: a girl leaped from these very stones after her father forbade her romance. Just listen to this beautiful aria!
And if you want to learn a bit more, listen to my audio story about the Ponte Vecchio—a bridge steeped in Medici power, Roman roots, and a haunting Puccini aria. Discover how it evolved from a street of fishmongers to the glittering goldsmiths of today, and let its centuries of secrets unfold.
Pro tip: For golden hour, stand on Ponte Santa Trinita as sunlight ignites the bridge’s windows. Return at 1 am to have the Arno’s mirrored lights—and perhaps Puccini’s ghostly aria—all to yourself.
Ponte Vecchio Bridge, Florence. (Photo: Shutterstock)
9. Palazzo Vecchio (Ana’s favourite)
Built between 1299 and 1314 as the seat of Florentine government, this fortress-like palace has witnessed centuries of power struggles, Medici rule, and fiery speeches by figures like Savonarola. Its strange yet striking architecture—with its uneven crenellations, rugged stonework, and soaring tower—was designed to intimidate enemies and showcase the republic’s strength.
Inside, it’s a stage for art history’s greatest showdown: in 1505, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo faced off in the Salone dei Cinquecento, each commissioned to paint battle scenes celebrating Florentine triumph. Though neither fresco was completed, the hall now blazes with gorgeous murals glorifying Florence’s history and Medici propaganda.
What I love most? Despite its central location in Piazza della Signoria, this museum is always surprisingly peaceful. Pre-pandemic, summer evenings were pure magic—the palazzo stayed open until 11 pm, and you could wander its halls completely alone. While those late hours are sadly gone, you can still enjoy its elaborate art and dramatic chambers without the crowds. A must for those who prefer their Renaissance with a side of intrigue and space to breathe. Watch this reel about this incredible museum! And this one :)
Practical Tip: Tickets can be purchased directly at the entrance. For the most current opening hours and information, it's always best to check the official website before your visit.
Palazzo Vecchio, Florence. (Photo: Ana Ka)
My Guided Tours
If you find any of these places as fascinating as I do, you’ll be thrilled to know that many are featured in the private tours we offer—each led by some of Florence’s most passionate and knowledgeable art historians. How can I be so sure? While creating the AppyGuide audio tours, I met just about every expert in this city—so consider the vetting already done for you. I’ve handpicked only the very best ;) https://www.anassecretguide.com/tours
A little insider advice: These guides are true scholars—they continue to teach, publish research, and write books—which is exactly why their tours are in such high demand and often book up 1–2 months in advance. While we always do our best to accommodate last-minute requests, we highly recommend planning ahead and securing your spot early to avoid disappointment!
Comments