This is a bridge with a gorgeous view that takes you across the Arno River in Florence. It's just…read morenorth of the Ponte Vecchio, which is a wildly popular shopping destination. This bridge has better shopping on the east side of it, if you're seeking designer, because there are many over there. It's popular for stopping in the middle of it to take pics of the river and various views of the city.

The "Holy Trinity Bridge" is named for the nearby Basilica di Santa Trinita…read morehttps://www.yelp.com/biz/basilica-di-santa-trinita-firenze?hrid=_HOZbsEAMD4p7GBFRSU-lQ and dates back to 1252 at this site. It is the oldest elliptic arch bridge in the world and crosses teh Arno between Ponte Vecchio https://www.yelp.com/biz/ponte-vecchio-firenze?hrid=NKwmanPnwPUKMkkNMwMcow to the wast and Ponte alla Carraia https://www.yelp.com/biz/ponte-alla-carraia-firenze?hrid=F2pGIQICjjNsRYi2ELsdgQ to the west. Constructed by Bartolomeo Ammannati from 1567 to 1569 it started off as a wooden bridge in 1252 that only lasted until 1259 when it was washed away in a flood. The next iteration was a stone bridge that was destroyed in 1557. The retreating Germans destroyed the bridge in 1944 and this current structure was rebuilt in 1958 with the original stones recovered from the riverbed. This bridge is open to vehicular and motorcycle traffic but there are curb-protected sidewalks on both sides for pedestrians. The view from here, much like the other bridges in Firenze, is wonderful and worth consideration for your sunset photos. [Review 17059 overall - 248 in Italy - 575 of 2022.]

Very creative presentation of the life and times and MANY works of Toulouse Lautrec…read more I whish it were a little longer, but I do appreciate the interactive sections and inclusion of his contemporaries.

Cannot recommend this amazing museum enough. It is one of the best museums in Florence. Amazing…read morestories are told here. You will learn about the children who came through the orphanage for 500 years, as well as the history of the orphanage. They've preserved the baby window and that in itself is fascinating. Also, you can see absolute masterpieces of art with no crowds. Botticelli? Yeah it's here. The staff here are incredibly friendly and kind. There's a great rooftop perfect for a drink or snack to top off your visit! Can't wait to come back here.

Out of all the Big 3 cities in Italy I collectively walked the most steps in Florence. Not only is…read morethe city pedestrian-friendly (small city plus a huge car-free zone around the Duomo), some of the best views are rewarded if you work hard for it. I was very fortunate to be able to do the main 3 climbs of the city: the cupola (dome) climb, Giotto's Campanile (bell tower) climb and the Arnolfo tower climb. Spread out over the course of the entire Florence leg of my trip this is how I justified eating whatever I wanted. The Arnolfo Tower is 95 meters high and is erected atop the Palazzo Vecchio. It is named after the architect of the palace, Arnolfo di Cambio. During construction he decided to incorporate an ancient tower formerly located at the site - hence why the tower itself is off-center. The purpose of the tower was for defense of the city. - The clock built into the tower serves as the city's first public clock. Only one hand tells the hour while increments in the hours themselves denote the minute by 15-minute increments. - There's a "alberghetto" inside the tower, which in reality is a small prison. Famous inhabitants included Cosimo the Elder (first member of the Medici family dynasty) and Savonarola (a devout Dominican monk) before their exile and executions, respectively. The tower can be accessed via its own separate admission fee (€10) or as part of a combo-ticket with the Palazzo Vecchio (€14) and the archaeological site (€18). It also keeps separate hours from Palazzo Vecchio itself; check the website for exact hours as they differ depending on the season. Remember that last entry is an hour to close. Difficulty: in the middle between the harder Cupola climb and the easier Campanile climb. While 418 is the official step count, the actual number of steps of the tower climb itself is a bit over 200. This is because you have to climb some steps in order to reach the starting point of the Palazzo Vecchio rooms open to the public, which is the same floor as the entrance to the tower. On busy days there is also a waiting period to climb the tower as only 20ish people can access the tower at any given period with a maximum time of 30 minutes per group. This provides ample opportunity to "rest" halfway, though on actual tower climb itself there are fewer opportunities to rest than the Campanile. The tower climb shows its reward when you reach the top. It is the single best view inside the city of the entire Duomo cathedral, including Giotto's Campanile. You can photograph the entire cathedral within one frame. The best view is specifically marked as such and highly encourages people to take the best view/selfie shots. I enjoyed this view as it did give me the best shot of the Duomo. I was not able to go to Piazzale Michelangelo for my chance to take a picture of "the best shot of Florence". PS: In retrospect I'm glad that I paid for the separate €10 admission. Had I done the combo-ticket on the same day I visited Palazzo Vecchio it would've been a challenge to tackle *both* the cupola and this climb several hours after.

Literally towering over Florence is the Tower of Palazzo Vecchio. It stands 311 feet tall and is…read morethe city's most recognizable symbol and focal point. The oldest parts of the building were built between 1299 and the early 14th century, possibly to a design by Arnolfo di Cambio, as the seat of the city's government. For a fee, (€ 6.50 for the tour or € 10 for the tour and museum), you can climb the tower. We are from Baltimore where we have The Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower, which was modeled after the Palazzo Vecchio. It has been a Baltimore landmark since its construction in 1911. So we have always felt a connection to this tower.

There are quite a number of museums in Florence. Some are well known (and crowded) while others are…read morenot. This is one of those overlooked museums that is less crowded, less expensive...and for me, less interesting. This is a preserved residence built several hundred years ago which has avoided being razed for the sake of modernization. It has been fitted with furnishings from the time period and gives a flavor of life in Florence back then. It's interesting to see but after half an hour I was done. Start with the introductory video on the main floor that explains the history of the place. The upper floors are the various rooms of this home. For whatever reason the top floor, which includes the kitchen, was closed to the public (although tour groups seemed to have access which I felt was unfair). One room is dedicated as a special section devoted to the history of lace and embroidery. It's quite a beautiful and spectacular collection. My wife enjoyed it but it held little interest for me. Worthwhile but I wouldn't put it on the top of my list of things to see while in Florence.

Lovely museum which does not seem. So known. What i liked:…read more-on a hot day its still nice temperture inside -it feels a bit 'off the beaten track' - very nice to learn more about renaissance living Do note, you need to be fit... -They have a tiny elevator. If you have difficulties climbing stairs and are claustrophobic, i would not recommend. -make sure to see the video down stairs that explains what will be there to see on differeent floors.

Owned by the fameous Medici Family, this historical palace was just okay for me…read more Part of this is the price to visit seems a bit much compared to the other attractions given the relatively small sized venue. That being said nobody put a gun to my head and forced me to go in either. The palace itself is impressive for a residence and the art was interesting. There is a small garden on the way out as well. Backpacks are not allowed but they had a convenient free locker system to check them when you enter. Aside from that I think it comes down to what exactly interests you and what you want to see......

Beautiful, historic, impressive, and overpriced like everything in Florence…read more One of the most ancient and important palaces in Florence, Palazzo Medici Riccardi belonged to the infamous Medici family who started construction in 1445 under the direction of Michelozzo di Bartolomeo, completing the palace in about 10 years. Palazzo Medici Riccardi sits prominently on the northwest corner of Via L. Gori just one block north of the Piazza del Duomo (take the street that heads north just between the Battistero di San Giovanni - aka Baptistry of Saint John - and Santa Maria del Fiore - aka "Duomo" or "Cathedral". Entrance is €7 for adults and includes the impressive Capella dei Magi di Benozzo Gozzoli (Chapel of the Magi by Benozzo Gozzoli), the Medici family chapel and the first thing you visit as you enter the apartments on the second (European first) floor. Not very large, the chapel's ornate frescoes, painted in the mid-Fifteenth Century by Gozzoli, tell the story of the journey of the three kings to Bethlehem interspersed with members of the powerful Medici family along the way. The rest of the apartment has a few pieces of furniture, some statues, paintings and tapestries, but the most impressive thing is the palace itself, its beautiful courtyards, and the chapel of course. There are art exhibitions in three locations around the courtyard on the ground floor which are included in your admission. Definitely worth a visit, I am not sure it is worth €7 ($7.60) and would be a much better value in the €4 to €5 range. Florence would definitely benefit from a "reasonably priced" all inclusive museum day-ticket option other than the Firenze Card (€72 - good for 72 hours). The Amici degli Uffizi card (€60/adult and good from Jan 1 - Dec 31) used to allow free entry into most of the major museums and churches, including unlimited access to the Uffizi Gallery and Galleria L'academia (Michelangelo's statue of David), but starting in June 2015 they limited entry only to the Uffizi, making it a much less attractive option. CombatCritic Gives Palazzo Medici Riccardi 6 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

"You may not want to be a god, Perseus, but after feats like yours, men will worship you. Be good…read moreto them. Be better than we were." - Zeus to Perseus Ciao! Want to know a Florentine secret? One of the most unique galleries in the world can be seen here absolutely free! No, you don't need high-cheek bones and Ferragamo shoes to enter. All you need is a passion for the arts, a temperature check at entry, and the willingness to say "Mille Grazie"... Loggia dei Lanzi has a storied past. It dates to the 1300's with some statues that predate the high arcs, most date to Italian Renaissance of the 1500's, and a chosen few even later. For me, I absolutely love this open-air gallery, not only cause I'm frugal lol, but because of it's rich history and how eclectic it is. Medici lions guard the steps of the Loggia, marble statues of lions, heraldic symbols of Florence; the lion on the right dates around the birth of Christ, and the lion on the left was sculpted by Flaminio Vacca in 1598. Almost immediately you will notice on the far left the bronze statue of Perseus by Benvenuto Cellini. It depicts the mythical Greek hero holding his sword in his right hand and holding up Medusa's severed head in his left. It's a gruesome scene with blood gushing from the head and the neck of the dead Medusa. Truly the highlight, imo. Other impressive statues tower around you as you gaze upwards, a feeling of mortality, ominous aura you're in a battle scene of Clash of the Titans! The sculpture Hercules and Centaur, by Giambologna dates to 1599, another of my favorites. Not as celebrated or thought provoking as his Rape of the Sabine Women nearby, but a mighty statue that will grab your attention. Just the Greek Mythology nerd in me, I guess lol. Ti amerò per sempre! Lining the back wall of the Loggia are five marble female statues (three are identified as Matidia, Marciana and Agrippina Minor), Sabines and a statue of a barbarian prisoner Thusnelda from ancient Roman times from the era of Trajan to Hadrian. Discovered in Rome in 1541and brought to Loggia in the 1700's. Where they stand today. In the end, I highly recommend a visit to Loggia dei Lanzi in Florence. It's inevitable, because it's in the heart of it all, surrounded by the Uffizi Gallery and the historic Piazza della Signoria. Finally, the name Loggio dei Lanzi derives from the German mercenary guards who were once stationed here in the 16th century! How eclectic is that, right?! Ti Amo!

Free art. I love it. The Loggia dei Lanzi is an open air sculpture gallery in the Piazza della…read moreSignoria. Complete with rope chains and a security guard, it did not look like it is open but it is. Even the building is an artwork - pilasters with Corintian capitals. The structure was built between 1376 and 1382 by Benci di Cione and Simone di Francesco Talenti. The name Loggia dei Lanzi dates back to the reign of Grand Duke Cosimo I. After the construction of the Uffizi at the rear of the Loggia, the Loggia's roof was modified by Bernardo Buontalenti and became a terrace from which the Medici princes could watch ceremonies in the piazza. The building deserves serious study as there are many hidden sculptures built in that need to be noticed. Look for the façade trefoils that represent Fortitude, Temperance, Justice and Prudence. On the side of the Loggia, there is a Latin inscription from 1750 commemorating the change of the Florentine calendar in 1749 to bring it into line with the Roman calendar. (See https://www.yelp.com/biz/april-fools-day-trento?hrid=YOwCjdLmgSnJo4kXxkYGEg.) The sculptures are themselves fantastic and worth viewing. Classic artworks that each tell a story and should be read up on as well. My favorite was the bronze statue of Perseus that shows the hero holding Medusa's severed head. Gross. [Review 17011 overall - 214 in Italy - 527 of 2022.]

Pretty neat chapel. Artwork is beautiful and relatively well preserved. Took the guided tour…read morewhich provided good background on the themes in the work. Not sure if I would prioritize over a lot of other things in Florence, but if you have an extended stay, worth checking out.

To see where michelangelo got his inspiration for the sixtinth chapel, search no more. This chappel…read moreholds a beautiful early renaissance chapel. how beautiful? Just have a look at the photos i posted. Tip: Try to reserve ahead. During covid times limited guests can be in the chappel (for only 30mins).

On the south side of the Arno (the river that runs through Florence) there are a couple of city…read moregates from the medieval period. This is one of them. I found it simply by sitting on one of the tour busses and they basically took us past it. Okay, it may not be that wonderful, but it is still cool seeing the old entrances and exits to the city, as well as the walls that surrounded the city. It sort of puts things into perspective as to what a city was like back during the renaissance.