ACCADEMIA GALLERY

In this museum you will see the original statue of Michelangelo's David, which was created 1501 and took three years to complete. This is Michelangelo's most important work and  he created it to show his gratitude to the then ruling family of Florence, Medici, since they had taken care of him and let him stay with them. There are multiple copies of the David statue (including the Piazza Della Signoria), and therefore it  is not necessary to visit this museum, especially if you are just staying in Florence for the day.

FLORENCE CATHEDRAL, BAPTISTERY AND BELL TOWER

Florence's status symbol, the dome, with the associated clock tower and the baptistery, is an impressive work by among other Filippo Brunelleschi and Giotto. The cathedral was built in the late 1200s, at the same place where a much smaller church "Santa Reparata" from the 400s was situated. The cathedral was completed 1460, almost 200 years later. It was the Medici family who supported the project to build this gigantic cathedral. Just to build the dome was an architectural challenge in itself and took 16 years to complete.

Today you can go up in the 90 meter high dome (463 steps) which gives an admirable view of the city. You can also go up in the accompanying bell tower (441 steps). It costs € 10.00 to visit the dome, bell tower and baptistery and it is free entry to the cathedral.

PIAZZA DELLA REPUBLICA

One of the main piazzas of Florence, with luxurious restaurants and bars.  From here you will find one of the bigger shopping streets of Florence, Via Calimala.

PIAZZA DELLA SIGNORIA - PALAZZO VECCHIO

One of the most beautiful piazza in Florence, with a variety of statues, e.g. a copy of Michelangelo's David statue. Palazzo Vecchio (the old palace) was Medici's workplace and it is located right on the piazza. Since a long time the palace has been used as Florence's town hall, as it is still today. Inside the palace there  is a museum where you can  look at arts, scupltures etc. from the Renaissance  and a tower that gives the best view of the cathedral.

UFFIZI GALLERY

Florence's most important museum and a must when visiting the city for the first time. Here are the whole collection of Italy's cultural treasures, gathered in one place. Here you will see paintings and sculptures made by e.g.  Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Sandro Boticelli. To keep up with the more than 100 exhibition halls you need at least 2-3 hours. This is a very popular museum and we recommend that you pre-book through the internet, especially during the summer, to avoid queue.

PONTE VECCHIO (THE OLD BRIDGE)

Continuing from the Uffizi Gallery you will soon reach Ponte Vecchio, the old bridge, which is the oldest stone bridge of Europe, from the year 1345. From the beginning there were only butcher's shops on the bridge, but in the 1200s Cosimo Medici changed the operations to jewelry shops. Still today the bridge is lined by numerous small, luxury jewelery shops.

PITTI PALACE

The Medici family bought this palace 1550 since it was located in the center of Florence and close to Palazzo Vecchio, their workplace. Today there are four museums inside the palace; the museum of modern art, the museum of costume, the museum of chinese porcelain and the museum of silver.

BOBOLI GARDEN

A 45000 sqm large garden belonging to the Pitti Palace, is worth a visit especially during sunny days. Here  you can have a picnic, sunbathe or simply enjoy the beautiful plants, fountains and statues.

FORTE BELVEDERE

On the top of Boboli Garden you will find a fortification,  Forte Belvedere, which has a magnificent view over Florence.

PIAZZALE MICHELANGELO

This place is on the top of Florence which gives a panoramic view of the city. Here is the second and largest replica of Michelangelo's David, made in bronze.

CHURCH SAN MINIATO

Continuing further up from Piazzale Michelangelo you will come to the church  San Miniato. The church was created in the 1000's but the legend says that it was the Christian martyr San Miniato who already in the 200's chose the place for the church. He was also the person who christened Florence. The church has free entrance and outside there is a large cemetery where significant people are buried. If you do not want to walk back to the center you can take bus 12 from Piazzale Michelangelo.

CHURCH OF SANTA CROCE

When you come  back from Piazzale Michelangelo and San Miniato, and continue straight ahead at the first bridge, before Ponte Vecchio, you will soon reach the largest Franciscan church in the world, Santa Croce. On the inside there are over 300 tombs of significant people, for instance Galileo Galilei, Michelangelo and Machiavelli. You can also see Medici's and Galileo Galilei's chapel as well as some of Giotto's most famous church paintings.

ALL MUSEUMS ARE FREE FOR THOSE WHO STUDYING ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN AND ART. Just remember to bring a studie certificate.