Looking for art? Italy’s got it. From Roman columns to Renaissance paintings to modern art, you can find it all on the Mediterranean peninsula. And at the center of it all is Florence, a bustling city settled in Tuscany on the Arno River. I have had the pleasure of exploring the city with an art historian twice now, and here is a collection of some of the places she has brought me, because not everyone is lucky enough to have their own personal tour guide!
Uffizi Gallery
You’ve probably heard of this place. It’s Florence’s most famous art museum and holds some incredible pieces including the Birth of Venus. You can’t come to the city without visiting this museum!
Piazza della Signoria
If you don’t have time to visit the Bargello sculpture museum, get a taste of what it might have to offer here. This famous square is located right in front of the Uffizi and is home to Loggia dei Lanzi, a terrace housing some great sculptures (my personal favorite is the one of Perseus holding Medusa’s head).
If you really want to, head over to the Galleria dell’ Accademia to see the Michelangelo’s David. But if you don’t have all the time in the world, compromise and visit the sculpture’s exact replica in the square. You get to enjoy it without waiting in long lines!
Palazzo Strozzi
This old palace has been converted into an art museum and is currently hosting an incredible exhibition by Ai Weiwei, the Chinese artist and activist. I spent a few hours wandering through some of his thought-provoking works.
Orsanmichele Church
This is something that I would have walked by had my “guide” not pointed it out to me. In the city center there is a church with statues in niches on the outer walls. Each statue represents a guild (stone masons, doctors, weavers, cobblers, merchants, farriers, furriers butchers, armorers, bankers, wool weavers, silk merchants, magistrates). It’s fascinating to walk around and learn a bit about the sculptures and guilds. The wealthier ones are made out of bronze, while the others are left with marble. You can see when each was made based on its Classical or Gothic style.
Duomo
Florence’s most famous site! Though the inside of Florence’s famous cathedral is not the most exciting place, it’s free and you do get to check out Brunelleschi’s famous painting on the inside of the dome, the Last Judgement. It’s huge and pretty spectacular and definitely worth the visit if the lines aren’t too long. If the lines are long to get in however, I would recommend skipping the inside and spending a bit more time taking in the spectacular facade. Insider Tip: Want a great view of the dome but don’t want to pay to go up the bell tower? Head a down the road behind the Duomo and up to the top floor of the University Library, Oblate, where there is a small cafe. The view is good and the library is also very pretty!
Good Luck!
