Florence, a city on the Arno River, was once the capital of the Duchy of Medici, the center of the Florentine Republic, and the Italian Kingdom. Today, it is the administrative center of the province of Tuscany. This city is the birthplace of renowned Italians such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Girolamo Savonarola, Niccolò Machiavelli, Dante Alighieri, and Galileo Galilei. Two continents are named after the great Florentine explorer Amerigo Vespucci.
Florentine thinkers heralded the Renaissance era, leading to the city’s nickname, “The Cradle of the Renaissance.” The Florentine dialect became the foundation of the modern Italian language. The city is rich in squares, palaces, cathedrals, monasteries, and luxurious mansions with incredibly beautiful interiors, not to mention the museums and art galleries.
Tourists with only one day in Florence often wonder what to see. To avoid an information vacuum while walking around the city, tour operators advise using a smartphone audio guide app. Here’s an optimal list of attractions to see in one day.
Palazzo Strozzi
This palace on Via Tornabuoni owes its existence to a member of the wealthy Strozzi family, merchant and businessman Filippo Strozzi the Elder, who spent almost his entire conscious life buying and demolishing buildings around his residence. He aimed to obtain land necessary for constructing the largest palace in Florence, which could surpass the Palazzo Medici in size. The palace still amazes tourists with its grandeur.
In 1489, architect Giuliano da Sangallo made a wooden model of the palace (preserved in the Bargello Museum). The design’s authorship is still disputed. Construction began the same year, but halted two years later due to the unexpected death of the patron. The project progressed slowly due to a lack of funds from Strozzi’s heirs.
By 1507, only the building’s base was completed. After many delays, the palace was finally finished in 1638. In 1999, the building was nationalized by the municipality. Today, the Palazzo Strozzi houses the administration of the Palazzo Foundation, the Institute of Humanities, and several cultural communities.
The palace was built in the style of early Renaissance Florentine city palaces. Its prototype was the Palazzo Medici Riccardi. The structure is a perfect square in plan. All four facades are identical, divided into three tiers, with the top tier featuring Venetian double-arched windows crowned with a powerful cornice. All wrought iron details, from torch and flag holders to horse tie rings, are masterpieces of Western European art, credited to master Niccolò Grosso.
Santa Maria Novella
Located on the square of the same name near the city train station, this church was built in the 14th and 15th centuries. It became the first and main Dominican church in Florence. Before that, there was an oratory (prayer chapel) for Dominican monks and their monastery. The first stone for the future basilica was laid in the 13th century, and monks actively raised funds for its construction.
The church was finally completed in 1420. Thirty years later, the facade was rebuilt, resulting in a beautiful and delicate front that still amazes visitors. The church’s interior was mainly created in the 16th century. Statues of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary are installed around the perimeter of the hall. Giotto’s giant crucifix hangs from the ceiling in the center. The church’s courtyard is in Romanesque style. Visitors can pass from the church to the Monastery of the Dead and then to the Great Monastery. The walls are covered with frescoes by Florentine artists from the 15th and 16th centuries.
A terracotta bust of Saint Anthony, an ancient and valuable piece, stands out. The altar’s opulence is stunning, and the stained-glass windows surrounded by wall paintings with biblical scenes create a peaceful atmosphere.
Central Market
Located on the square of the same name around the Basilica of San Lorenzo, the market building was constructed in 1874 by architect Giuseppe Mengoni. Traders from all over Tuscany bring their goods here.
The market is divided into six main sectors, each selling:
- Cheeses made from cow, sheep, and goat milk, especially the exquisite Pecorino Toscano cheese with spices and truffles
- Meat, poultry, and the famous prosciutto (Italian ham)
- Seafood and fish caught off the Italian coast
- Vegetables and fruits
- Various delicacies, including spices, pickles, marinated olives, and more
Leather goods stalls occupy a separate section. Here, you can buy leather clothing, shoes, accessories, and souvenirs at the lowest prices in Tuscany. Tourists often take home pasta gift sets, olive oil, vacuum-packed cheese, prosciutto, and local wine as gifts.
Basilica of San Lorenzo
This is the resting place of the last Medici. Initially, a small family church of the Medici family stood here. Its history dates back to 393 when the Archbishop of Milan laid the foundation for a church dedicated to Saint Lawrence.
The church was rebuilt in the 11th century. In the 15th century, a group of notable citizens led by Giovanni Medici financed the extensive expansion of the San Lorenzo Cathedral. The chief architect was Filippo Brunelleschi, who was already famous as a great Italian scientist, sculptor, engineer, mathematician, decorator, and architect of the Renaissance.
The cathedral was constructed with three naves: central and two side naves. They were formed by square traves (spans). The naves are separated by Corinthian columns supporting semicircular arches. The halls of the cathedral form a Latin cross in plan.
The central space is covered by a dome. The basilica’s interiors are considered masterpieces of architecture, impressing with their lightness and elegance.
Piazza del Duomo
One of the most popular tourist spots, this square is surrounded by numerous architectural monuments, including the famous Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, Giotto’s Campanile (bell tower), and the Baptistery of San Giovanni. The square is a 10-minute walk from the Santa Maria Novella station. It’s always crowded with tourists from around the world.
Historically, the Cathedral Square never witnessed important political and public events, nor was it used for trade. It has always been the spiritual and religious center of Tuscany’s capital, home to significant Catholic church buildings.
After the construction of the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, the square became known as the Heart of Florence. The western part of Piazza del Duomo is called Piazza San Giovanni.
Santa Maria del Fiore
Visible from the farthest corners of Tuscany’s capital, the cathedral occupies a central place in Piazza del Duomo. In the 5th century, a church dedicated to Saint Reparata stood here. According to legend, Saint Reparata was killed for refusing to renounce Christ when she was only 12 years old.
At first, she was thrown into a furnace but emerged unharmed. She was then beheaded. Reparata was canonized and became Florence’s patron saint.
By the 13th century, the church could no longer accommodate all the faithful and was in a state of disrepair due to partial collapses. The city authorities decided to demolish the old structure and build a new, spacious cathedral in its place. The renowned architect Arnolfo di Cambio worked on the cathedral’s project, but construction halted after his death in 1302.
In 1375, the church of Saint Reparata was demolished. The new cathedral’s walls were fully erected by 1380. The remaining challenge was to cover the cathedral with a massive dome.
For 40 years, the construction awaited an architect capable of solving this problem—creating and erecting a dome of such enormous size. The task fell to the great sculptor and architect Filippo Brunelleschi. He managed to build a brick dome, still considered an engineering marvel. The dome was constructed over 15 years. In 1436, the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral was consecrated. The cathedral’s roof has since been called Brunelleschi’s Dome.
Giotto’s Campanile
Located next to the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, the bell tower took over 60 years to build. Construction began in 1298 by Italian sculptor Arnolfo di Cambio, who laid the foundation. The bell tower was consecrated in 1359. The 84.7-meter-tall structure has an observation deck accessible via a narrow staircase with 414 steps, popular among tourists.
Visitors climb the bell tower to enjoy views of Piazza del Duomo, the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, the Baptistery, and the picturesque city surroundings against a backdrop of green hills. The Campanile’s facades and interiors are adorned with artworks by renowned artists and sculptors.
The bell tower is a square structure with 15-meter-wide walls. It is named after the master who designed it, though he only completed the lower tier.
Florentine Baptistery
This separate addition to the Catholic church is where baptismal ceremonies are held. The octagonal, three-tiered Baptistery of San Giovanni is the oldest religious building in Tuscany. It took nearly 70 years to build, from 1059 to 1129. Until the early 19th century, all newborns in the city, including those from the Medici family, were baptized here.
The baptistery houses the tomb of Antipope John XXIII, created by famous Renaissance sculptors Donatello and Michelozzo. The tomb is topped with an image of the Madonna and Child under a canopy. The interior is decorated with mosaic scenes of the Last Judgment.
The baptistery doors are particularly noteworthy. The oldest southern doors are adorned with bas-reliefs depicting the deeds of John the Baptist and the main virtues.
The ten gilded panels of the eastern doors, known as the “Gates of Paradise,” depict biblical scenes sculpted by Lorenzo Ghiberti from 1425 to 1452.
Piazza della Repubblica
Visible from Giotto’s Campanile observation deck, this square is one of Florence’s most popular tourist spots. In ancient Roman times, it was a forum, and in the Middle Ages, it was a market square. In 1895, the square was redesigned and became a center of political and public life.
The buildings around Piazza della Repubblica house cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops, and boutiques. Children and adults enjoy riding the Old Tuscan carousel. The majestic arch impresses with its grandeur and beauty. It was erected in honor of Victor Emmanuel II, King of the Kingdom of Sardinia.
Street musicians and artists are always present, except in the early morning. Café tables on open verandas warmly welcome visitors. In the evening, the square is particularly lively and cheerful.
Porcellino Fountain
Porcellino means “piglet” in Italian, referring to the famous Florentine fountain, which is more of a trickle of water from the mouth of a bronze wild boar than a traditional fountain. Italians probably call all artificial water flows fountains.
The animal sculpture is a copy of an ancient Roman marble statue given to Cosimo Medici by Pope Pius IV in 1560. The original is in the Uffizi Gallery. In 1634, Ferdinando II de’ Medici commissioned the famous sculptor Pietro Tacca to recreate the image in bronze.
The old boar figure was replaced with a new bronze copy in 2008. Since the 16th century, locals have rubbed the boar’s snout for luck and placed coins in its mouth. If the coin falls through the grate into the collection box, good fortune is expected.
Tourists quickly adopted this tradition, polishing the boar’s snout to a golden shine. The collected coins are donated to a Catholic charity. The fountain is located on the south side of the Central Market.
Loggia dei Lanzi
This open corner gallery was built between 1376 and 1382, designed by Benci di Cione and Francesco Talenti. The loggia served as a meeting place for members of the Florentine Signoria and other public gatherings. It is a typical example of Tuscan quattrocento architecture.
The term “quattrocento” refers to the early Renaissance period of the 15th century. The structure is an arcade on columns with arches supported by pilasters, following the Gothic tradition.
In 1583, a viewing terrace with a lace parapet was added to the loggia’s roof. The loggia faces Piazza della Signoria and the Palazzo Vecchio. Today, it is a kind of open-air museum with sculptures from the Uffizi Gallery collection.
Marble lions installed in 1780 flank the central entrance. The arches house Benvenuto Cellini’s “Perseus with the Head of Medusa,” an ancient Roman replica of the Greek sculpture “Menelaus with the Body of Patroclus,” late antique sculptures “The Rape of the Sabine Women,” “Hercules Killing Cacus,” and “The Rape of Polyxena.” The sculptural group “Hercules Defeating the Centaur” makes a strong impression on visitors.
Piazza della Signoria
This square is an open-air museum and one of the most beautiful places in the city. It has witnessed many significant events in Florence’s cultural and political life. In ancient Roman times, this site was a theater, leaving no remnants for future generations.
Later, residential towers housed members of the Uberti clan. In the 13th century, all houses were demolished, and the area was paved, giving birth to the famous city square.
The square has changed names several times, initially called the Piazza of the Priors, then the Grand Duke Square, then the Nation Square, and finally the Piazza della Signoria. This was influenced by the building constructed in the 13th century, which served as the rulers’ residence before becoming the Palazzo Vecchio.
A plaque near the Neptune Fountain marks the spot where Girolamo Savonarola, a fanatical monk and reformer deemed a heretic and briefly the ruler of Florence, was executed in 1498.
The square features the beautiful Neptune Fountain and Michelangelo’s statue of David. The marble and bronze fountain, completed in 1560, is an example of Mannerist sculpture and architecture from the late 16th century.
The equestrian statue of Cosimo I by sculptor Giambologna was installed in 1594. Contemporaries noted the resemblance between the Grand Duke of Tuscany and Emperor Marcus Aurelius, whose monument is in Rome.
Palazzo Vecchio
This imposing building overlooks Piazza della Signoria. Designed by prolific 13th-century Italian architect Arnolfo di Cambio, the building resembles a medieval fortress in Romanesque style.
The structure’s highlight is the clock tower, intended to soften the fortress’s harsh silhouette. The exterior is simple, with no architectural embellishments.
The town hall resembles a three-layer cake. The lower tier looks like a fortification. The second and third levels feature beautiful arched windows with cross-shaped frames. The town hall is crowned with a battlemented cornice supported by vaulted pilasters filled with the emblems of the Florentine Republic.
Tourists and visitors first notice the main entrance to the Palazzo Vecchio. The starry portal on a blue background above it was installed in 1528. In the center is a marble panel with an inscription guarded by lions. The Latin inscription “Rex Regum et Dominus Dominantium” translates as “King of kings and Lord of lords,” essentially a monogram of Jesus Christ.
To the left of the entrance stands a marble statue of David, and to the right, on a larger pedestal, is Hercules defeating the evil Cacus, also made of marble. Due to time constraints (one day), it’s unlikely to visit the interior of the palace. However, if you return to Florence, it’s worth exploring the halls and rooms filled with sculpture and painting masterpieces.
Uffizi Gallery
Even with only one day in Florence, it’s worth rushing to see the masterpieces of the Uffizi Gallery. Not visiting is like leaving St. Petersburg without seeing the Hermitage. The gallery is easy to find, located near Piazza della Signoria.
Its collection spans 13,000 square meters, housing one of the largest collections of masterpieces by famous Italian and foreign sculptors and painters from the 13th to the 18th century. The gallery, opened in the 16th century, is one of the world’s oldest museums.
Visitors can enjoy works by Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Sandro Botticelli, Raphael, Rubens, Rembrandt, and others. The Medici family founded the collection, bringing together unique paintings and sculptures from around the world at that time. The Uffizi’s symbol is Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus.”
A gem of the gallery is the “Medici Venus” sculpture created before our era. All works in the 50 halls are arranged chronologically, allowing visitors to observe the development of art from the 13th to the 18th century and how painting and sculpture styles evolved.
Ponte Vecchio
Connecting the banks of the Arno River at its narrowest point in 1345, this is the city’s oldest structure, maintaining its original appearance. Essentially, it’s a residential area and trading square on water. The supporting structure consists of three stone arches resting on the riverbed.
The bridge is 84 meters long, with a 30-meter central arch and two 27-meter side spans. The bridge passage is 32 meters wide. Above the central arch is a stone-paved square, flanked on both sides by buildings.
On the northern side is a covered gallery with three arched openings and a pedestal with Benvenuto Cellini’s bust, surrounded by an iron fence. On May 26, 1901, a monument-fountain dedicated to the renowned sculptor, jeweler, and painter was unveiled to commemorate his 400th birthday.
In the 14th century, butcher shops occupied the bridge, now replaced by jewelry shops and souvenir stalls. The bridge is opposite the Uffizi Gallery. Initially, a bridge built during ancient Roman times stood at the site of Ponte Vecchio. Floods repeatedly destroyed it until the current stone bridge was constructed.
An interesting fact about Ponte Vecchio is that the term “bankruptcy” originated here. For centuries, when a trader couldn’t pay their debts, the guard (rotto) came to the bridge and broke the shop (banco), hence the term bancorotto, meaning broken bank.
Church of Santa Felicita
This is the oldest Roman Catholic church in Tuscany’s capital. In the 2nd century, Syrian and Greek merchants brought Christianity here. The first church was built in the early 5th century and dedicated to Saint Felicity of Rome. It was rebuilt in the 11th century and demolished in 1736. A new church was built on its site in 1739 by Ferdinando Ruggieri. The church’s facade adjoins the Vasari Corridor.
Inside, the church features the beautiful Barbadori-Capponi Chapel, Canigiani Chapel, Great Chapel, chapter hall, and sacristy. Visitors can admire the 14th-century “Madonna and Child with Saints” by Taddeo Gaddi, the 15th-century “Adoration of the Magi” by Francesco d’Antonio, and “Saint Felicity with Seven Sons” by Neri di Bicci. There are also masterpieces like “The Martyrdom of the Maccabees,” “The Meeting of Saint Anne and Saint Joachim,” “The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary with Saints,” and “The Deposition from the Cross.” The sacristy houses a painted crucifix dating back to 1310.
Palazzo Pitti
Near the Ponte Vecchio Bridge lies one of Florence’s largest and most magnificent palaces, the Palazzo Pitti. It was built out of envy by Florentine banker Luca Pitti towards the power and wealth of the Medici family. Once a loyal friend to the Medici family, Luca Pitti orchestrated a plot against the ruling Medici power in 1458. At the same time, he planned to build a palace surpassing the Medici Palace in size and beauty.
According to the latest version, the nobleman entrusted the design of the palazzo to Luca Fancelli, a student of Brunelleschi, an architect of the Florentine quattrocento school.
The architecture of Palazzo Pitti is done in the Renaissance style. The palace is cube-shaped, with the building’s height equal to its depth. The exterior walls are clad in rusticated stone.
From the back, the central building, with its perpendicular wings, forms an inner courtyard where visitors can see a splendid fountain in front of the building and another beautiful one in a grotto. The façades between the windows are decorated with carved pilasters. All three floors are 10 meters high, making it the tallest palace in Florence.
After Pitti’s death, the Medici moved all their art collections from Palazzo Vecchio, including paintings by famous artists, sculptures, silver, and jeweled artifacts. Soon, the second floor transformed into a luxurious gallery. There appeared rooms of mythical Venus, Jupiter, Apollo, Mars, and Saturn.
Later, the collection expanded with paintings from Lorraine. Over time, this became known as the Palatine Gallery, which opened to the public in 1828. The gallery houses paintings by famous artists such as Caravaggio, Velázquez, Tintoretto, Van Dyck, and notably, 11 works by Raphael Sanzio.
The Gallery of Modern Art exhibits paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries, featuring works by the Florentine group of artists known as the Macchiaioli, who used a technique of painting with bright, colorful spots.
The third floor houses the Silver Museum and the Carriage Museum. The Silver Museum displays vases, sculptures, and jewelry made of gold and silver. The Carriage Museum showcases early carriages without springs, comfortable coaches from various eras, and early automobiles.
Boboli Gardens
If you feel tired after exploring Palazzo Pitti, it’s time to take a break and visit the Boboli Gardens behind the palace. Here, you can enjoy panoramic views of the city, admire sculptural compositions, and relax by the fountains. However, there is no shade from the trees, so it’s best to visit after lunch when the midday heat has subsided.
The Boboli Gardens were first mentioned in archival documents from the 16th century. At that time, Cosimo I Medici moved to Palazzo Pitti and decided to create gardens on the hill behind the palace, offering a beautiful view of the city.
The garden design was entrusted to the famous sculptor Niccolò Tribolo, who did not live to see its completion. His work was continued by masters such as Giorgio Vasari, Giulio, and Alfonso Parigi.
For a long time, the park was a closed zone for the city’s residents. It was only opened to the public in 1760. Today, the Boboli Gardens are an open-air museum of garden and park art. Visitors can see the finest examples of garden sculpture from antiquity to the 17th century.
Piazza Santo Spirito
Located in the Oltrarno district, this square was paved with stone in the 13th century in front of the important religious building, the Church of Santo Spirito. At that time, believers gathered on the square to listen to the sermons of the Augustinians, the then-owners of the basilica. Today, the square is home to many restaurants and nightclubs, craft and art workshops.
From early morning until 2:00 PM, the Santo Spirito Market operates on the square, and in the evening, it becomes a gathering place for young people. During warm weather, you can often hear lively musical rhythms from concerts. Before football matches, a large screen is hung on the church wall to show the games. On Sundays and holidays, the square hosts antique markets, selling souvenirs and many other items.
Basilica of Santo Spirito
This is the last architectural masterpiece of Filippo Brunelleschi. The church was built in the 15th century and underwent two restorations, the last in 1970. The basilica was constructed on the site of a 13th-century monastery, which burned down along with original works by poet and writer Boccaccio.
The project and construction of the church were entrusted to Brunelleschi. The foundation was laid in the 1430s. Construction dragged on for many decades. After Brunelleschi’s death, well-known architects of that time, including Antonio Manetti, Giovanni da Gaiole, and Salvi d’Andrea (responsible for creating the dome), took over the project. The church was consecrated in the early 16th century.
The building is designed in the shape of a cross. The basilica’s façade is quite modest, adorned only with a rose window. Despite the austere exterior, the interior boasts a complex of works of sculpture and painting. Two rows of columns supporting arches on both sides lend the space a solemn and spiritual atmosphere.
The magnificent altar beneath an equally magnificent Baroque dome is adorned with bronze inlays and carved stone. Marble sculptures are located at its base. Around the perimeter of the basilica are 38 chapels.
How to Get from the Airport to the City Center
For tourists arriving at Amerigo Vespucci Airport, the quickest way to get to the center of Florence is by taxi. Taxis are readily available outside the terminal, but there is a risk of being overcharged due to unclear tariffs, non-existent detours, and additional charges for each piece of luggage.
Understanding this may be challenging without knowing Italian. English won’t help either, as it’s not widely spoken or desired here. You’ll either have to agree to the high fare or take another route. You can book a transfer in advance on the Russian-language website kiwitaxi.ru, providing a fixed price.
A budget option is to take the bus. Buses from the airport will take you to the city center, stopping at “via Santa Caterina da Siena, 17” (Santa Caterina Street). The bus station is to the right of the terminal exit.
The trip takes 20 minutes. Buses run from 5:30 AM to 12:30 AM with intervals of 30-60 minutes. Tickets can be purchased at the airport ticket office or from the driver.
Conclusion
Florence, with its rich history and cultural heritage, offers a plethora of attractions to explore, even if you only have one day. From the grandeur of its palaces and cathedrals to the charm of its markets and squares, the city promises an unforgettable experience. Whether you’re admiring the masterpieces in the Uffizi Gallery, strolling through the Boboli Gardens, or marveling at the architectural wonders of the Renaissance, Florence is sure to leave a lasting impression.