Welcome

Fiesole is located on a hill about 7 km from the historic center of Florence.

The city has very ancient origins dating back to the Etruscan era, it was a flourishing Roman colony and it is from this settlement that the city of Florentia seems to have originated: for this reason Fiesole is considered the "mother" of the city of Florence.

The great attraction of the Fiesole area derives partly from the charm of the itineraries through woods and hills, and partly from the density of monuments and vestiges of its ancient past.

What to see in Fiesole

The city is built around Piazza Mino da Fiesole, the focal point of the municipality: from Piazza Mino it extends over a vast territory made up of monuments, historic villas, nature trails and historic villages such as Maiano and Vincigliata.

💫The archaeological area of Fiesole

It is a precious jewel of the city and one of the most important in Tuscany. It includes a Roman theater, an Etruscan-Roman temple and an archaeological museum. It will allow you to discover the beauty and culture of the Etruscan, Roman and Lombard peoples through the traces they left there. The first documented archaeological discoveries in the area date back to the end of the eighteenth century, but it was not until 1877 that systematic excavations were carried out to bring to light and simultaneously restore the Roman theater first, the Roman baths then and, finally, the Etruscan-Roman temple. The temple, located on the west side of the area and probably dedicated to the goddess Minerva, is the oldest building. It had several phases of life, the first of which dates back to the Etruscan era and was still being excavated in the 1960s. The area occupied by the temple was then the most extensively used in the Lombard era as a necropolis, with the construction of numerous tombs, arranged according to a precise orientation.

Opening days and times to the public, always updated, on: www.museidifiesole.it

The Roman Theatre

The Roman theater of Fiesole was built in the 1st century BC for theatrical performances, with a capacity of 3,000 spectators. The arena is surrounded by semicircular steps and a stage that overlooks the surrounding valley, offering a splendid panoramic view. Today the Roman theater of Fiesole, in addition to being an important tourist attraction, is still used for cultural events and theatrical performances that are scheduled during the summer, including the "Estate Fiesolana" festival.

Portigiani Street 1
Visits: April-September, 10am-7pm; March and October, 10am-6pm; November-February, Wednesday-Monday, 10am-2pm.

The Civic Archaeological Museum

The Museum preserves archaeological finds, testifying to human settlements since the Bronze Age. The museum houses a rich collection of findings that cover the entire Etruscan period and the long Roman domination. Among the exhibits there are statues, vases, coins, jewels and finds of various kinds that allow us to better understand the history of ancient Tuscany.

Portigiani Street 1
Visits: April-September, 10-19; March and October 10-18; November-December, Tuesday-Sunday 10-14; January-February Monday, Wednesday-Sunday 10-14.

Etruscan walls

The walk along the route of the Etruscan walls is an experience not to be missed. You will have the opportunity, given the exceptional nature of their high position, to have a view of the entire city of Fiesole and a 360° view of the Arno plain to the south and the Mugnone valley to the north, extending the view to the Apennine passes. The construction of the walls, evidence of the Etruscan past of this territory, is probably associated with the 4th century BC, also by virtue of the expansion that involved Fiesole and the centers of Etruria in this period. Defined as 'cyclopean', the walls were built with large square blocks of pietra serena, laid dry and with the pseudoisodomic technique. Little is known about the gates that opened in the walls. Today, walking along the route, remains of wall fragments are visible on the north side in via delle Mura etrusche and on the east side in via Mari.

Portigiani Street 1
Visits: April-September, 10am-7pm; March and October, 10am-6pm; November-February, Wednesday-Monday, 10am-2pm.

💫The Cathedral of Fiesole

The Duomo of Fiesole, or Cathedral of San Romolo, is the main Catholic place of worship in Fiesole, the episcopal seat of the diocese of the same name. Dating back to 1028 , the cathedral has a Romanesque style with a bell tower crowned by Guelph battlements.

The facade of the Cathedral is decorated with a Gothic rose window and various bas-reliefs, while the interior is made up of a central nave and two side naves.

Inside the church there are paintings, frescoes and sculptures by great artists such as Mino da Fiesole, Andrea della Robbia and Cosimo Rosselli.

Transformations and embellishments took place over the centuries, until at the end of the 19th century, with state funding, a radical restoration was carried out, which involved the complete reconstruction of the façade. The bell tower dates back to 1213, but was rebuilt in the 18th century and equipped with a crown with protruding battlements.

The Cathedral of Fiesole is an important place of worship that attracts many visitors every year for its beauty and historical and artistic importance.

Cathedral Square 1
Visits: summer, 8-12 and 14.30-18, Sundays and holidays 7.30-12 and 15-18; winter, 8-12 and 14.30-17, Sundays and holidays 8-12 and 15-17.

💫 Bandini Museum

The Museum houses a collection of works of art collected by the Bandini family over the centuries.

The collection includes paintings, sculptures, furniture and art objects from the Middle Ages to the 19th century, with works by artists such as Filippo Lippi, Giovanni Bellini, Bartolomeo Vivarini and others.

Via G. Duprè 1
Visits: April, Friday-Sunday 10am-7pm; March, Friday-Sunday 10am-6pm; January-February 10am-5pm.

💫Church and Convent of San Francesco

Nestled on the Fiesole hill from where you can enjoy a breathtaking view of Florence.

On this hill stood, in Etruscan times, the acropolis of an ancient city. A Florentine benefactor built a chapel and a small house for a community of Benedictine nuns, who then abandoned it because of the war.

In 1399 the Friars Minor arrived and began to build the small convent next to the church. The lovely cloister looked after and guarded by the friars is one of the memories of that first period of the Friars Minor's stay in Fiesole. Over the years the convent expanded and the friars built another cloister and the large refectory. In 1418 San Bernardino da Siena was the guardian of the convent of Fiesole.

The Convent is an ancient religious complex located on the hill of Fiesole. Founded in the 13th century , the convent has been an important center of Franciscan spirituality and theological studies over the centuries. The main building of the convent is the church of San Francesco , with its Romanesque-Gothic façade and Renaissance frescoes inside. The cloister of the convent is another important architectural element, with its double-arched porticoes and the remains of ancient frescoes. Today the convent of San Francesco is run by Franciscan friars and hosts a religious community, as well as being a place of spirituality open to visitors. The complex is also home to art exhibitions and cultural events. In the oldest part of the convent, the small cell of the saint is still preserved and can be visited.

Via San Francesco 13 Visits: summer, Monday-Saturday 7.30-12 and 15-19, Sunday and holidays 7.30-11 and 15-19; winter, Monday-Saturday 7.30-12 and 15-17; Sunday and holidays 7.30-11 and 16-17.

🟡 The Walk of St. Francis

It is a route that goes from the historic center to the church of San Francesco at the top of the hill.

Along the way you can admire splendid views of the Tuscan countryside or walk in the woods.

The walk is quite steep but offers the opportunity to immerse yourself in nature and enjoy the tranquility and beauty of the surrounding landscape.

Once you arrive at the church of San Francesco, you can visit the interior of the church and enjoy a breathtaking view of Florence and the surrounding hills.

💫Monte Ceceri Park

Moving away from Fiesole's main square, Piazza Mino, walking along Via Verdi you head towards the Monte Ceceri nature park which offers hiking trails and a panoramic view of the city of Florence.

Famous for its pietra serena quarries.

It is also a “Leonardian” place: legend has it that it was here that Leonardo experimented with human flight.

💫 The Medici Villa - The Palace of Fiesole

It is one of the historic residences of the Medici , one of the most powerful and influential families in Italian history. Situated on the hills, the villa offers a panoramic view of Florence and the surrounding hills.

The villa was built in the 15th century and was used as a summer residence by the Medici until the 16th century. During this period, the villa was decorated with works of art and luxurious furnishings, making it one of the most sumptuous residences of the time.

Today the Villa Medicea in Fiesole is open to the public as a museum and place of historical interest.

Visitors can explore the beautiful Italian gardens , decorated rooms and admire the works of art that once adorned the villa.

Via Beato Angelico 2
Visits: garden: Monday-Friday 9am-1pm, on request.

MANY THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR FAMILY IN FLORENCE AND SURROUNDINGS

📌 Ancient Tuscan carousel

This carousel is a historical testimony of the ancient chivalric contest.

From 10:00 to 24:00 Piazza della Repubblica

📌 Pinocchio Museum Experience

Visitors will be able to enter Geppetto's laboratory, the belly of the shark that swallows Pinocchio and Geppetto, the Land of Toys and Mangiafuoco's circus. The tour lasts one hour, for the immersive part. Workshops dedicated to children and teenagers can be booked.

From 10:00 to 18:00 Via Ricasoli

📌 Museum of Illusions

Fun and surprising

Illusions, mysterious works of art, riddles, upside down worlds, incredible photos and much more.

From 10:00 to 19:00 Borgo Albizi 29

📌 Leonardo Da Vinci Museum :

The museum is easily accessible and certainly offers an interesting activity for the whole family.

You can explore and touch to understand how the tools and ingenious inventions designed by Leonardo work. The reproductions are faithful. Highly recommended experience!!

April to October: Open daily from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm (last admission at 6:30 pm)
November to March: Open daily from 10:00 to 19:00 (last admission at 18:00)

The Street of the Servants

📌 Specola Museum

The La Specola Museum is the oldest scientific museum open to the public: in 2025 it will be 250 years old! It is a very interesting scientific museum for both adults and children for the zoology section and for the minerals, coming from all over the world. The most interesting rooms are: the Anatomical Waxes room, a unique collection in the world of anatomical wax models and the Skeletons room with 120 display cases that house skeletons of numerous species of Vertebrates, especially Mammals. The approximately 3000 osteological finds on display constitute a great scientific treasure.

The funniest part😊

April 5th Skeleton Hunt

May 3 Animals at play

June 7th Skeleton Hunt

Animals in Play Play-visit to the zoological collections to learn about and observe animals from all over the world. Exploring the museum, among invertebrates and vertebrates, savannah or forest animals, marine animals or those living among the glaciers, we will discover together a great variety of colors, shapes and adaptations of animals.

Skeleton Hunt Skeletons of whales, dolphins, giraffes, horses, hippos and many other animals await us in the Skeleton Hall. Can you identify them through a series of clues? We will discover together what differentiates them, but also what they have in common, and how much information their skeletons can give us.

From 9:00 to 17:00 Via Romana 17

📌 Galileo Museum

Museum of the History of Science

In the museum you can admire the precious instruments and relics of Galileo Galilei

We recommend consulting the website for updates on the many activities offered https://www.museogalileo.it/it/attivita/calendario.html

From 9:30 to 18:00 Piazza de Giudici 1

📌 National Archaeological Museum

It houses numerous finds of great historical and artistic value.

One of the museum's strong points is the variety of thematic itineraries. Each itinerary is designed to stimulate children's curiosity and introduce them to history in a playful and interactive way. Among the most popular itineraries are the one on ancient Egypt, where children can discover the secrets of mummies, and the one on Greek myths, which tells the adventures of gods and heroes.

The museum also hosts special events throughout the year, such as scavenger hunts, theatrical performances, and animated readings.

The Museum Garden: a splendid visit by reservation

Anyone who walks along the initial stretch of Via della Colonna, between Piazza Santissima Annunziata and Via della Pergola, cannot help but notice the beautiful garden full of flowers, aromatic herbs, centuries-old trees, citrus fruits and papyrus, original Etruscan monuments and marble sculptures from the Uffizi Gallery.

📌 Football Museum:

The Football Museum is located inside the FIGC Technical Center in Coverciano and collects the past and present of the Italian National Football Team. See up close and learn about the places where the Azzurri train, and where the greatest champions of Italian football have passed.

Monday-Sunday, with continuous opening hours 10 - 18 Via Aldo Palazzeschi 20

📌Adventure parks around Florence

Adventure park "The Giant"

6 routes to experience strong emotions on the treetops with cableways up to 100 meters long. Tibetan bridges and suspended passages up to 20 meters high. 12 treetop routes suitable for children aged 3 and up.

Via Bolognese, in front of the Villa Demidoff park.

Villa Demidoff Medici Park of Pratolino

There are many attractions that the Park can offer to the visitor: in addition to hosting the Colossus of the Apennines (a work by Giambologna for which the Park is perhaps best known), it houses the works and artifacts of Buontalenti (Chapel, Cupid's Cave, Stables, Villa Paggeria, Gamberaie), it hosts two Italian gardens and is surrounded by a romantic-style landscape garden, it offers woodland trails for trekking enthusiasts, or simply... to regenerate in nature. Finally, the Park is also an ideal destination for fauna enthusiasts (99 different species live in the park) and flora, with valuable tree species such as the silver fir, large oaks and other monumental trees.

For information, please contact parcomediceodipratolino@cittàmetropolitana.fi.it

Public bus n° 25 or extra-urban line 307/a Via Fiorentina, 276

Vincigliata Adventure Park

8 adventure courses, 15-meter jumps into the void, Tibetan bridges, lianas, nets with inflatable balls and infinite pulleys! All the courses of the Vincigliata Adventure Park are carried out in complete safety and are perfect for all ages.

Always open Via Vincigliata, 21

To visit in Tuscany

📌Other theme parks in Tuscany

Pistoia Zoological Garden

There are many ways to explore the garden, you can follow the itinerary or get lost among the paths to be amazed by every hidden corner, or… test yourself by following the stages of a fun journey! Collect the “Traveler's Passport” at the entrance and collect all the stamps.

I recommend a night visit😊Walking in the natural light of the moon among the rustling of branches, roars and squeaks we will stop in front of the masters of the darkness: lynxes, wolves, red pandas to amaze us with their beauty.

Every day (Monday to Sunday) from 9.30 to 17.00 Via Pieve a Celle 160 Pistoia.

Pinocchio Park Collodi

The land of toys

It is a journey in stages, with sculptures, buildings and greenery where adults and children interact together to recall the Adventures of Pinocchio, up to the Great Dogfish.

The entire Historic Garzoni Garden is populated by symbols and statues that stand out among the greenery or hide there… try to spot the Turk.

The butterfly house is inhabited by hundreds of butterflies originating from tropical or equatorial areas...🦋. alive and free to fly in a tropical garden, lush with plants, flowers and fruits thanks to the perfect reconstruction of the original environment.

Open every day, visit the website for opening hours. Via San Gennaro n. 5 Collodi (Pescia – Pt)

Peccioli Prehistoric Park

The park is made up of about 3 hectares of greenery with 22 life-size dinosaur reproductions🦖

Inside the park there is a go-kart for the kids

Via dei Cappuccini 70/72 – 56037 Peccioli (PI)

In Florence there is a little-known tour route of great cultural interest: the Cenacoli, rich in frescoes and monumental panels with the theme of the Last Supper.

The works are kept in the place for which they were conceived and commissioned between the 14th and 16th centuries.

An itinerary that opens with Taddeo Gaddi in Santa Croce around 1340 and continues with Orcagna, Andrea del Castagno, Ghirlandaio, Perugino, Franciabigio until arriving at the late sixteenth century with Andrea del Sarto and Alessandro Allori, who will close the journey with the Last Supper in the Carmine (1582).

💫LAST SUPPER OF SAN SALVI

In the ancient refectory of the Vallombrosan abbey on the outskirts of Florence, Andrea del Sarto painted the realistic fresco of the Last Supper, his most spectacular masterpiece, one of the most beautiful paintings in the universe (begun in 1519 and completed in 1527).

💫STOCKING SUPPER

The convent where Franciabigio frescoed the entire back wall with the Last Supper (1514) was called S. Giovanni alla Porta di San Pier Gattolino, later deriving its current name from the hood of the Ingesuati monks.

💫THE FOLIGNO LAST SUPPER

Cenacolo di Foligno: in the refectory of the former convent of the Franciscan Tertiaries of S. Onofrio, known as Fuligno, Perugino painted the Last Supper (ca. 1495). Characterized by the bright Umbrian background, while the figures appear to be from the school.

💫LAST SUPPER OF SAN MARCO Domenico Ghirlandaio's fresco depicting the Last Supper (ca. 1482) decorates the small refectory of the Dominican convent of San Marco.

💫THE LAST SUPPER OF ALL SAINTS At the head of the large refectory of the convent of All Saints is depicted the Last Supper by Domenico Ghirlandaio (1480), and the sinopia of the fresco is also visible.

💫LAST SUPPER IN S. CROCE The Last Supper by Taddeo Gaddi (ca. 1340) with the Tree of the Cross and other scenes above it, fresco. Formerly attributed to Giotto, it is perhaps the first great representation of the 'Supper' in Florence.

💫LAST SUPPER OF SANTO SPIRITO Fragment of the Last Supper (underneath the scene of the Crucifixion) by Andrea Orcagna (ca. 1370), fresco.

💫LAST SUPPER OF SANTA APOLLONIA The Last Supper (before 1450), dominated by the Crucifixion, Deposition and Resurrection, is the fresco masterpiece of Andrea Del Castagno.

Discovering Florence.

Florence on this side of the Arno and Florence on the Arno.

📌Florence on this side of the Arno

Don't be "hurry"...there's a lot to see...trust me!

Ready to walk?

If you want to get an idea of how beautiful the historic center, the city and the hills surrounding Florence are, our advice is to start from a panoramic point. You are lucky because you are staying here and can start from the campsite. The first move? Go and discover our terrace! Start from the Reception, quickly walk down the road between the ancient walls of Fiesole and arrive in Piazza Mino from Fiesole. Buy the ticket, stamp it on bus 7.

Path to follow step by step.

At the end of our private road, go right onto Via Corsica and follow it all the way to the fork and go left, via Poeti, via Mari, via di Monte Ceceri, via Verdi and it is right here that a fabulous view of Florence opens up from above: a marvel!! You can see the entire center and the Arno river that divides the city and enters the hills. At the end you arrive in Piazza Mino from Fiesole.

In Fiesole take bus 7 to Florence, grab a seat on the left side to get unique views of the hill and the city. Get off at Piazza della Libertà and take tram T2 and the stop will be in Piazza San Marco, which houses the church, the convent and the museum of San Marco which houses the largest collection in the world of Renaissance works by Beato Angelico, in Via Ricasoli a few steps away is the Galleria Dell'Accademia with Michelangelo's David, to be booked well in advance. I recommend reaching Piazza Duomo from Piazza SS Annunziata. In this square, put your back to the church, on the left is the Palazzo degli Innocenti, up above after the loggia there is "the window always open" no one can close it. Try to count the bees on the statue of Ferdinando I de Medici, it's impossible. Take Via dei Servi where you will begin to "understand" the city. You will arrive at the Duomo and you will not be able to take your eyes off this exceptional monument.

Take a tour around the cathedral, it will be intoxicating, stop and you will discover many things, put your nose up and discover the dome. The wonderful innovation brought by Brunelleschi was to vault it without the use of supporting frameworks, no wooden structure could have supported that weight. We Florentines always say "even today we don't know how he was able to do it." (we don't know how he was able to do it).

Look carefully… on the facade there is a bull’s head. Do you want to know more? The head is a tribute to the animals that helped transport the materials for the construction, but legend has it: it speaks of a betrayal. In via Ricasoli there lived a tailor who was very jealous of his wife who instead was happy with a master builder, the tailor discovered the affair and reported them both. The master builder quick quick (fast quick) placed the head of the bovine facing the tailor’s windows to remind him that he was a betrayed husband.

From here you go directly to Piazza della Signoria (the hub of Florentine political life), a beautiful open-air museum, the Loggia dei Lanzi, the Palazzo Vecchio and the statue of the fountain of Neptune by Ammannati, known by the Florentines as the “Biancone”, built with the precious Carrara marble, it is the whitest statue of all.

Continue towards the Ponte Vecchio passing by the Uffizi... needless to say what a museum it is!!! News, after years of closure the Vasari Corridor reopens, it will take you to walk over the Ponte Vecchio so as to reach the other side of the Arno, the Boboli Gardens and Palazzo Pitti.

Look at Florence from the Ponte Vecchio, the golden bridge that connects this side of the Arno to the Diladdarno. You will see Piazzale Michelangelo, the church of San Miniato, the other bridges and much more and know that the lungarni are full of fascinating buildings with many stories and characteristics: I am talking about the church of S. Iacopo Sopr'Arno for the irreverent Florentines it is called the church with the bottom in the Arno or the church that has the apse that rests on the architectural protuberances that support it and make it protrude over the river.

If you are still in the center eat a homemade ice cream, have an aperitif and wait for the sunset because in the dark the city is different and very beautiful! On Lungarno Acciaioli you can take fantastic photos with really particular lights and shadows.

Wait…….we still have some tips for you….work in progress

PITTI SQUARE

• It is dominated by the facade of the majestic Pitti Palace of fifteenth-century origin, which bears the name of its first owner, Luca Pitti, a Florentine banker. Later purchased by Cosimo I de' Medici, it was also the residence of the Habsburg-Lorraine and Savoy dynasties. Home to numerous museums (including: the Treasury of the Grand Dukes, the Palatine Gallery, the Royal Apartments, the Gallery of Modern Art and the Museum of Fashion and Costume) and enriched by a wonderful park, the Boboli Gardens, one of the greatest examples of an Italian garden. Inside, among the various works, you can admire the Roman amphitheater with the Egyptian obelisk in the center, the Buontalenti Grotto, large fountains, such as that of Neptune and the Ocean and the lemon house.

SANTA MARIA NOVELLA SQUARE

• The large square houses the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella. The elegant facade in white and green marble is in typical Renaissance style. Inside are extraordinary masterpieces, including the Trinity by Masaccio, the frescoes by Ghirlandaio in the Tornabuoni Chapel, the Crucifix by Giotto and the Crucifix by Brunelleschi.

SAN LORENZO SQUARE

• The Basilica of San Lorenzo is the first Florentine cathedral, consecrated by Saint Ambrose in 393 AD and rebuilt by Filippo Brunelleschi in the 15th century. Michelangelo's project for the façade was never realized and is still unfinished today. Inside: the Cloisters, the Treasure of San Lorenzo, the underground, the chapter archive and the Old Sacristy.

• The Medici Chapels, the burial place of many members of the Medici family, include Michelangelo's New Sacristy and the Chapel of the Princes. In the New Sacristy, note the tomb of Giuliano which rests under the sculptures of Day and Night and the tomb of Lorenzo which rests under the sculptures of Dawn and Dusk both made by Michelangelo.

• The Laurentian Library, designed by Michelangelo and completed by Vasari and Ammannati, was commissioned by the Medici family to house their treasure of papyrus, manuscripts and volumes.

SANTA CROCE SQUARE

• The Basilica of Santa Croce, in Gothic style, is one of the largest Franciscan churches. It houses an immense artistic heritage: frescoes by Gaddi and Giotto, the burial place of great and powerful people of Florence including: Michelangelo Buonarroti, Galileo Galilei, Niccolò Machiavelli, Vittorio Alfieri, Ugo Foscolo, Gioacchino Rossini and it also houses the memorial to Dante (buried in Ravenna, after his exile from Florence).
  The Museo dell'Opera di Santa Croce is located inside the old refectory and the wing of the convent that divides the two cloisters. It houses numerous works including the crucifix by Cimabue, symbol of the 1966 flood in Florence. CHURCH OF ORSANMICHELE
  In 1290 Arnolfo di Cambio, on the site of the church, erected a loggia for grain trading on commission from the municipality. After the fire of 1304 it was rebuilt even larger and the old building was raised by 2 floors. In 1380 the loggia was closed and transformed back into a church, maintaining its original form, unusual for a religious building.

PIGLET FOUNTAIN

• The Porcellino Fountain (even though it is actually a wild boar), created by Pietro Tacca in 1633, is located to the side of the loggia of the Mercato Nuovo. Popular tradition has it that touching the Porcellino's nose brings good luck, and if you put a coin in the animal's mouth and it slips and falls into the grate, your wish will come true.

CASCINE PARK

• Parco delle Cascine is the largest public park in the city. It is characterized by rich vegetation, large lawns, avenues and is the ideal place to spend free time. “Le Cascine” is also a market place (every Tuesday morning) and a venue for musical (Arena del Visarno), cultural and trade fair events. At the edge of the park is the new municipal theater “Opera di Firenze”.

FORTRESS FROM BASSO

• Renaissance fortification built between 1534 and 1537, designed by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger and commissioned by Alessandro de' Medici. Since 1967 it has been the exhibition and conference center of Florence.

ST. MARK'S SQUARE

• The Church of San Marco was part of the Convent of the same name, the intellectual center of the city. In fact, some of the most important representatives of the spirituality and culture of the fifteenth century worked and lived in this Church, such as Beato Angelico, a Dominican friar and artist of the early Renaissance, Fra Bartolomeo and Girolamo Savonarola.
  The Museum of San Marco includes the architectural spaces of the convent, the cloister of Sant'Antonio, the Cenacolo by Ghirlandaio, the Refectory and Chapter rooms. It is rich in Renaissance frescoes by Beato Angelico including the Annunciation from 1440.

ACADEMY GALLERY

• Since 1873, the Accademia Gallery has housed the famous David by Michelangelo and other famous sculptors such as the Prisoners and the Saint Matthew. The museum also houses The Rape of the Sabine Women by Giambologna, the Madonna and Child and the Madonna of the Sea by Botticelli and some works by Perugino, Filippino Lippi, Pontormo and Bronzino. The Gallery houses the museum of musical instruments where you can see a violin that belonged to Stradivari and the oldest upright piano.

SANTISSIMA ANNUNZIATA SQUARE

• The Spedale degli Innocenti, an architectural work by Brunelleschi, was built to welcome abandoned children as early as 1440. Inside it houses a museum that develops the theme of hospitality and tells visitors the essence of the Institute in its six centuries of activity.
  The Church of the Santissima Annunziata dates back to the mid-13th century. Characterized by the Baroque style, it has splendid organs inside, frescoes by Andrea del Sarto, Pontormo and Rosso Fiorentino.
  The Archaeological Museum contains one of the most complete collections of Italian archaeology. There is a Greek section, where you can admire the François Vase, an Etruscan section, where you can see the Chimera of Arezzo, and a Roman section. Inside, the Egyptian section, the second largest collection in Italy after the one in Turin, gathers works from private collections and from excavations of the 1930s.
  In the square there are the two fountains of the sea monsters by Pietro Tacca, masterpieces in late Mannerist style. In the center there is a bronze monument commissioned by Ferdinando I de' Medici to Giambologna, then finished by Pietro Tacca. A curiosity of this monument are the bees that are on one side of the pedestal: counting them is truly a feat!

MICHELANGELO SQUARE

• Piazzale Michelangelo is the panoramic terrace par excellence. A view of Florence that is absolutely not to be missed! From here you can clearly see all the monuments and the Arno River that crosses the city.
  It was built in 1869 by the architect Giuseppe Poggi, the year in which Florence was still the capital of Italy and the entire city was engaged in urban renewal.
  In the center of the Piazzale are the bronze copies of two works by Michelangelo: the four allegories of the Medici Chapels of San Lorenzo and the David. Curiosity: the monument was carried up by nine pairs of oxen on June 25, 1873.

CHURCH OF SAN MINIATO AL MONTE

• Located in one of the highest places in Florence, behind Piazzale Michelangelo, it enjoys a wonderful view of the historic center of Florence.
  Built between the 11th and 13th centuries, the exterior of the church is decorated with green and white marble. The interior is in Romanesque style with three naves. The monumental cemetery houses the tomb of Carlo Lorenzini (Collodi), the author of Pinocchio.

BELVEDERE FORTRESS

• Fortified villa, located at the highest point of the Boboli hill, can be reached from Costa San Giorgio, via Belvedere, via San Leonardo and the Boboli Gardens. From here you can also have an excellent view of the city. Built between 1590 and 1595 by order of the Grand Duke Ferdinando I de' Medici who entrusted the project and construction to Bernardo Buontalenti. Venue for temporary exhibitions and cultural events.

TORNABUONI STREET

• The Roman walls passed through this street and, during the period in which Countess Matilde di Canossa reigned, the Mugnone River flowed through it. Today it is the most elegant street in the city, full of many high fashion shops.
  Overlooking this street is the “cube” of the great Palazzo Strozzi, one of the most significant Renaissance buildings in Florence. The Palace has a large and majestic courtyard accessed by three large arches. Today it hosts important art exhibitions.

REPUBLIC SQUARE

• It was once in Roman style, while the current appearance with nineteenth-century buildings and a triumphal arch is the result of the urban redevelopment of Florence, the capital of Italy. Historic cafes overlook the square: Caffè Gilli, Caffè Paskowski and the Caffè delle Giubbe Rosse, meeting points for many artists and writers of the past. Under the loggia, instead, is the Hard Rock Cafe Florence.

MEDICI RICCARDI PALACE

• The Renaissance palace was commissioned by Cosimo Il Vecchio de' Medici to Michelozzo in the mid-1400s. Inside is the Chapel of the Magi frescoed by Benozzo Gozzoli: a religious subject (the Cavalcade of the Magi) where, however, members of the Medici family and political figures of the time are portrayed.

SANTO SPIRITO SQUARE

• It is located in the Oltrarno district, it is a place of markets and fairs and full of restaurants, night clubs, artisan workshops and artists' studios. Surrounded by beautiful fifteenth-century buildings and the Basilica of the same name.
  The Basilica of Santo Spirito was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi in 1444. The interior contains notable works of art including a wooden crucifix attributed to a young Michelangelo.

CARMINE SQUARE

• The square, dominated by the unfinished facade of the basilica, is one of the main squares in the Oltrarno district.
  The Basilica of Santa Maria del Carmine, founded in 1268 as part of a Carmelite convent, was largely destroyed by the fire of 1771. Famous for hosting the Brancacci Chapel, founded by the Brancacci family in the late fourteenth century. It houses the famous cycle of frescoes depicting stories from the life of St. Peter and the Original Sin, begun by Masolino and Masaccio in 1424 and completed by Filippino Lippi.

PASSERA SQUARE

• It is a small and characteristic square in the Oltrarno district. A meeting place for Florentines and foreigners.