The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is one of the most breathtaking landmarks I've ever visited…read more Pictures truly don't do it justice. The detail on the exterior is incredible, and seeing Brunelleschi's massive dome up close is something everyone should experience at least once. The entire area around the cathedral is beautiful and full of history, making it easy to spend hours exploring. Whether you're admiring it from the outside, going inside, or climbing to the top for the views, it's an unforgettable experience. If you're visiting Florence, this is an absolute must-see and one of the highlights of the city.

The Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore. Also known as Florence Duomo, is the defining landmark of…read moreFlorence and one of the most impressive cathedrals in the world. Dominating the city skyline, it is instantly recognizable for Brunelleschi's magnificent dome, a masterpiece of Renaissance engineering and artistic vision. The exterior is eyecatching , with its intricate façade of white, green, and pink marble that feels both elegant and monumental. Standing in Piazza del Duomo, the scale of the cathedral is awe‑inspiring, especially when viewed alongside Giotto's Bell Tower and the Baptistery. Inside, the cathedral is huge and relatively restrained compared to its ornate exterior. This simplicity emphasizes the immense size of the space. Climbing the dome was a highlight for sure although it nearly took out the hubs. Smile. Folks back in the day must have been tiny because there steps are so small and curvy. When you reach the top, you think you can walk out on the ledge for the spectacular panoramic views. No!!! You have to climb a ladder to get to the perimeter. Similar exhale to that of crossing the finish line at a marathon. The panoramic views are spectacular!

Absolutely gorgeous place to visit. Please go inside if you have the chance but if you don't, the…read moreexterior is absolutely gorgeous. The areas has a lot of hotels (pretty obviously, since the train station is right across the street, on the back side of the church) and quite a few places to eat and drink. Two wine windows are in the area and my best friends favorite gelato shop, you can see from the square.

This review is merely for the exterior and a bit of the surrounding area. I read that they offer…read moretours inside, but we did not have time for one. This church was near our hotel and I wanted to at least see it as I'd taken an architecture course once in college that covered it. The back of the church is close to the front of the main Florence train station, separated by a wide street with multiple light rail tracks. You need to walk around to the far side (from the station) to see the façade, which is the famous view. There are businesses flanking one side of the church (hotels, restaurants, and other shops). There was some booth set up where people attempted to flag down passing pedestrians (I'm not sure if it was some political thing or they were eventually asking for donations, etc.; we escaped without hearing their pitch). Also around the front of the church there were African guys selling trinkets or attempting to engage tourists to sell something. These guys were fairly common throughout downtown Florence, actually. In front of the church is a large plaza which provides good longer-range unobstructed views for photos. The front of the church is sort of a 'late Gothic transitioning into the Renaissance' style. It is quite striking and worth a short detour on your way to the city center. The best lighting for photos seemed to be in the mid to late afternoon.

The Basilica di San Lorenzo is one of the biggest and oldest churches in Florence. The current…read morebuilding has been around a mere 600 years, but the church was consecrated in 393 AD. It was the parish church of the Medici family, who agreed to finance the new building in 1419. Many of the Medici are buried in the basilica. The outer facade was designed by Michelangelo, but for whatever reason, no one ever got around to constructing it. There's an ongoing debate about whether to complete the facade according to Michelangelo's designs, but for now the unfinished look is pretty interesting and distinctive. When we went, there was a temporary installation of contemporary sculptures by Florentine artist Andrea Roggi. Very cool. We visited on a quiet Thursday afternoon and took a quick, self-guided tour. Tickets were €9 apiece and we only spent 10 to 15 minutes in the church, but it was definitely worth checking out. The basilica was, of course, beautiful and opulent, extravagant in its details and full of vibrant artwork. Tons of gray and white marble and an elaborately painted dome. If you're pressed for time in Florence, Basilica di San Lorenzo isn't as mandatory as some of the other attractions. if you have a free half hour, though, you might as well spend it here. It's a great church, where you can get another strong dose of art and history.

I know!! There are sooo many churches in Italy and in Florence and it's incredibly boring if…read moreyou're a kid or unmoved by art and history. But, if you have the good luck to love art and the smarts to love history, then this is definitely one of the three churches you should see in Florence. Although, I don't like to should on people. The was the Medici family church which is nothing to look at from the outside, but the story of the Medicis and how Michaelanglo, one of the teenage mutant ninja turtle and apparently an artist as well, abandoned the project. Cosimo di Medici asked to be buried at the feet of another ninja turtle and artist Donatello. It's shows how much Cosimo adored the artist. He didn't ask to be buried with his wife or mother or children, but with one of the greatest artists of all time.

November 9, 2024 1:30PM…read more What a beautiful church. This wasn't on our must see list while in Florence but so glad we made a pit stop here while looking for the leather school. Very short line to get in, I believe it was about 8 euros per person for a visit. We ended up spending about an hour ish browsing around. There were a lot of famous folks buried here... Right before our honeymoon we had lost my beloved kitty on the operating table for a dental procedure, she was 3.5 yo... on the same day we lost my mother in law to her battle with MS. It had been a rough couple of weeks before our trip. For some reason while sitting in this church I had an overwhelming feeling of sadness and relief at the same time. Which made this place so memorable for me. Known as the "Pantheon of Florence," it's the largest Franciscan church and serves as the burial site for famous Italians like Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli. Its history involves significant artistic decoration, including Giotto's frescoes, and later additions like the Neo-Gothic facade. Such a beautiful historic site with so much to look at. Definitely recommend to check them out if you ever visit Florence.

Located about 2,600 feet southeast of the Duomo, my partner, our friends, family members, and I…read morearrived at the Piazza di Santa Croce and the Basilica of Santa Croce (Italian for Basilica of the Holy Cross) St. Francis visited Florence at the beginning of the 13th century, and a few years later some friars of his congregation decided to stop in the city and build a church with a convent and an adjacent library. Thus was born this church. Today Santa Croce is a museum complex that brings together the Basilica, the chapels, the monastery, the bell tower, and the part dedicated exclusively to exhibitions, such as the former refectory, where we came last Tuesday. The €10 entry fee was well worth it. One has to wear appropriate outfits to gain entry. Basically, just make sure one has long shorts below the knees and arms are covered. Once inside this ornate Florentine gothic style, our attention is immediately drawn to the east end, where the tall narrow stained glass windows pierce the walls. The center nave is wide and well-lit. What is significant about Santa Croce is it became the resting place of so many great Italians, such as the great historian and writer Niccolò Machiavelli, sculptor and painter Michelangelo Buonarroti, astronomer Galileo Galilei, and composer Gioachino Rossini. There were probably more than a thousand art pieces on display here, including works of Brunelleschi, Donatello, and Giotto. One can easily spend half a day here--there is that much to see and explore!

A lovely church located in the heart of Florence. Amazing works of art but the church lacks the…read moregrandeur of other locations. A very nice place to pray and reflect. Very interesting history of construction and reconstruction. Worth a visit.

Santa Maria Maggiore may just be the most forgettable church in Florence. Most tourists will just…read morewalk by this church. We visited because I was interested in the hidden secret (below). It is, after all, one of Florence's oldest churches (some say the oldest). The church has an unfinished exterior. We enjoyed the peace and quiet during our visit. There is a hidden secret on the outside of the church. It is about a "petrified woman" known as "Berta," whose head comes out in a disquieting way from the stones of the walls of the church. You really have to look for it on the Via Cerretani. The story goes that on September 16, 1327, Cecco d'Ascoli, a doctor, astrologer and teacher, was being led to execution after predicting that the future queen of Naples would be 'inclined to lust'--an accurate prophecy as it turned out: (Joanna I had four husbands, one of whom she killed, and she was suffocated to death in her own bed.) As Ascoli was being marched to the bonfire on which he would be burned, crowds poured out into the street to shout and jeer at the poor man. When he passed in front of the church, he begged the crowd for a little water for his parched throat. Berta, watching from a window in the bell tower, shouted cruelly, 'He's a wizard! If he drinks he shall not burn!' Ascoli, in response to the woman's meanness, cursed her, saying, 'And you shall never again lift up your head from that place!' To this day, her petrified head can be seen on the wall of the tower, waiting to be freed from the curse.

This Roman Catholic church was amazingly open on a weekday afternoon so we stopped in to see. And…read moresomehow, neither me nor my travel buddy burst into flames. I guess the church is broken? Basilica di Santa Trinita was founded in 1092 by a Florentine nobleman. The church is home to the Sassetti Chapel, containing 15th-century frescoes by Domenico Ghirlandaio, and the Bartolini Salimbeni Chapel, with frescoes by Lorenzo Monaco. The current church was constructed in 1258-1280 at the site of a pre-existing 11th-century church. Multiple reconstructions occurred over the centuries. The church has approximately 20 chapels, many with masterworks. The most significant are the Sassetti and the Bartolini Salimbeni chapels. Francesco Sassetti had been a manager of the Medici Bank, and some of the Ghirlandaio frescoes capture views of contemporary Florence. It is well worth your time to stop in and I hope that you also do not burst into flames. [Review 17055 overall - 246 in Italy - 571 of 2022.]

We stopped in to see Chiesa di Santa Trinita ("Holy Trinity Church") on the via de' Tornabuoni, one…read moreof the most elegant streets in Florence near the Arno River. (A few steps away stands the Santa Trinita bridge over the Arno.) It is the mother church of the Vallumbrosan Order of monks, founded in 1092 by a Florentine nobleman. The church is extremely rich in artworks, most of them displayed within its chapels. One of the most famous is the Sassetti Chapel, containing notable frescoes by Domenico Ghirlandaio. The church has been renovated numerous times. This church is often overlooked by tourists, but it should not be.

I will be honest here, this was not on my list. I had walked from my apartment to see the Piazzale…read moreMichelangelo, and using side streets had seen this church in the distance so I figured why not? It was a great choice IMHO. This church is located on one of the high points of the city and offered spectacular views of the old city. The church itslef was also fantastic. It was free to enter and boasted some spectacular architecture. There was an much older alter at the rear of the church as well. it is surrounded by a huge cemetery as well. Be forewarned however that there are a lot of steps but the views and are spectacular. One of the benifits is that the location and climb does help thin out the masses as most simply head to the Piazzale Michelangelo and call it a day.

What a beautiful church. Built between the 11th and 13th centuries, the architecture and frescoes…read moreare stunning. Take a walk in back of the church to view the tributes to lost one's. The monuments, statues, pictures, and flowers all show the importance and love of family. One tomb with life sized husband and wife dancing was so beautiful and so sad that they didn't live long enough to grow old together. We took a taxi to the top and walked back down a path into Florence. The views from the church are stunning. The crowds are thin. This was a wonderful way to see the city from above.

Do you remember that poet that wrote an incredibly long poem about a woman that he was madly in…read morelove with, and wouldn't return his love, and how he travels through the depths of Hell and then to the heights of heaven to be with her? Yes, I know, that really doesn't narrow it down, but it is Dante we are talking about, and this used to be the church that he would frequent. It is actually quite a small church, but then again Dante was a poet, not a banker. Still, it is advertised as being Dante's church, and certainly worth a visit for lovers of literature.

Locally referred to as San Gaetano, the historic Chiesa dei Santi Michele e Gaetano is an active…read morechurch serving the local community under the Arcidiocesi di Firenze. It offers tourists a convenient sanctuary on ritzy Piazza Antinori with an elaborate front facade and graceful interior. The distinct baroque-style of the church (uncommon in Renaissance-loving Florence) was built from 1604-1648 on the site of an 11th century Romanesque church (San Michele Bertelde) dedicated to St. Michael. The construction was directed by the religious Theatine order which took over the church in 1592 and funded by Grand Duke Ferdinando I, his son Cardinal Carlo de Medici, and other noble families of the city. The original design by Bernardo Buontalenti was enhanced over the years by others including the famed Matteo Nigheti and Gherardo Silvani. After the canonization of Theatine founder Saint Cajetan (San Gaetano) in 1671, the church adopted its current name dedicated to both saints. We were lured in by the sculptures and decorations on the front façade (made of pietra forte - a local Italian sandstone) that differs from the common geometric ornamentation of most Florentine churches. Stepping inside the peaceful haven, we were inspired by 17th century marble chapels and statues depicting apostles and evangelists. Two standout artworks were Matteo Rosselli's Chapel of the Nativity and Pietro da Cortona's Martyrdom of San Lorenzo. We didn't spend or need much time to appreciate the inspiration and history of Chiesa dei Santi Michele e Gaetano. We were immediately revitalized and refreshed for more shopping on nearby Via Tornabuoni.

From the Middle Ages to the present day, Piazza della Signoria, between Piazza del Duomo and the…read moreArno River, is the beating heart of the historic center of Florence with its distinctive L-shape, which my partner, our friends, family member, and I visited in mid-September. Palazzo Vecchio, the traditional seat of the Florentine government, with its distinctive tower, is yet another symbol of the city. In front stands a copy of Michelangelo's David (the original can be seen at the Accademia Gallery). One of the most impressive squares we've ever seen! The piazza looks like an outdoor museum, full of iconic statues and history in every corner. One can't miss the Fountain of Neptune that was commissioned to celebrate a Medici marriage. It is a colossal statue of Neptune, the Roman god of the sea and the counterpart of the Greek god Poseidon. The atmosphere is vibrant and lively with both tourists and locals, perfect to enjoy both during the day and at night. Definitely a must-see in Florence!

Nice gathering place next to Ponte Vecchio. There's a beautiful fountain here and plenty of places…read moreto gather and dine. I love these Italian palazzos!