Along the Arno River, the Ponte Vecchio is one of the city's most noteworthy landmarks, lined with…read moreshops and rich in history. The Ponte Vecchio ("old bridge" in Italian) is a working part of Florence's daily activities. Crossing the bridge for the first time, what stands out immediately is how unusual it is. It feels like a narrow street or marketplace suspended above the water, sprinkled with small shops. This distinctive layout with shops built directly onto the structure has existed for centuries and gives the Ponte Vecchio a special character unlike any other bridge in Europe. The current bridge dates to the mid-14th century, rebuilt in 1345 after earlier versions were destroyed by floods. Over time, it has evolved from a practical commercial crossing into a symbol of Florence's artistic and cultural identity. Originally filled with butchers and traders, it was transformed during the Renaissance when the Medici decreed that only goldsmiths and jewelers could operate here. Today, virtually every retail type is featured.

There can be few sights that capture the alluring beauty of Florence better than the Ponte Vecchio,…read moremeaning "Old Bridge" in Italian, renowned for its timeless charm and history. Its soft yellow facade and mighty brick piers were gently illuminated under the soft light of the Tuscan sun and reflected in a perfect mirror image in the glassy waters of the river Arno, where my partner, our friends, family members, and I visited last Tuesday. First constructed in Medieval times, it was the only bridge across the Arno River up until 1218. Since the 13th century, shops have been populated with butchers, tanners, and fishmongers. The arrival of jewelers dates back to the late 16th century. As of today, 48 shops exclusively sell jewelry or high-end trinkets such as rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, pendants, and much more. One can even watch the goldsmiths craft their creations by hand through the shop windows. It does get crowded. We managed to escape the rain showers with the building covering. From the middle of the bridge at the plaza, one gets stunning views of the river and its surroundings. A must-visit spot for history, beauty, and atmosphere!

This piazza is truly a lively piazza. It has all kinds of businesses! Produce store, newspaper,…read morebutcher, enoteca, gelateria, restaurants, pubs and gift stores. Not only that but here you can catch the nuns walking by, the accordion player, old italian men hitting on you, and a lady selling fruit and veggies who will yell at you if you touch her pomodori from her stand. Still not cool enough for you? There is Arco San Pierino built in the 1170's, part of the old city wall! The other arch you see, the actual "pretty" one is the remains of the San Pier Maggiore church that was built between the 1000 and 1300s, but demolished in 1783 cause it was not structurally stable so the beautiful arch is the only part that remains. You want more? With Eby's right there and several other watering holes around the area, at night there is a nice flow of people gettin' their drink on or making their way to Santa Croce. Come at night and witness this become Party Piazza, where you can see study abroad students get wasted and crawl out of Lion's Fountain Pub only to fall on their face. A real treat I tell you.

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!

I have lived and traveled in Florence for years, yet I discovered this wonderful little market at…read morePiazza del Grano only last year. I will go back. If you go, ask for Sayeed. He and his friends are gracious, attentive and really gave us great prices. my leather carryon fits perfectly in an overhead compartment and has taken a lot of abuse yet still looks brand new. Thanks for everything Sayeed!

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.

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.

This was a pleasant surprise for me while arriving in Florence!! Our driver dropped us off at our…read morehotel and he casually mentioned that this perfume shop was the same one filmed in the movie "Hannibal" . Say less... ...made my way over to the shop and walked around four or five times before approaching the nice ladies behind the fragrance bar. Told her what scents I liked and she picked out three for me. The one I bought she put in my arm and told me to walk around and sniff it for a bit and then come back. I did just that and bought the big bottle. It was worth every euro that I paid for it! Good thing is that they do have an online store and will ship to the US!! I plan to buy another bottle just so I have a back up!

This store if you can even call it that was like stepping into an old movie .. it was magical . I…read moreknow about their products from the store in New York and when we were visiting Florence of course we had to visit. We waited in line for a few minutes outside before we could enter and I actually appreciate how the staff does this because it really ensures you have a perfect shopping experience.. I don't know the history of the building but once you step inside there are a couple of small ballroom size rooms with tables displaying different perfumes and products.. they have a separate cashier room towards the back where we tell them everything you'd like and they collect it for you there . I didn't buy too many things but the saleswoman was still very friendly and courteous. I will treasure every item I bought and would love to go back !