Florence in 10,000 Steps

Galleria dell'Accademia

Home of Michelangelo's original David, the Galleria dell'Accademia holds much more than its most famous statue. Along the corridor to the David stand four unfinished Prisoners, still half-trapped in marble. Beyond it are a hall of over 400 laster casts in a former hospital ward and a musical instruments collection that includes a 1690 Stradivari cello made for a Medici prince. If you only want to see the David, a free full-size copy stands outdoors in Piazza della Signoria.

Florence Cathedral (Santa Maria del Fiore)

Florence Cathedral dominates the city with its marble façade and Brunelleschi’s enormous dome. Begun in 1296, Santa Maria del Fiore became one of the defining monuments of Renaissance Florence. The cathedral itself is free to enter, while the dome and other Duomo monuments require passes. Even without going inside, walk around the building to see how its white, green, and pink marble changes from every angle.

Basilica of Santa Croce

Santa Croce combines Florentine art with the tombs of some of Italy’s most famous figures, including Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli. Begun in 1296, the Franciscan complex also contains Giotto frescoes, Donatello sculpture, Brunelleschi’s Pazzi Chapel, and Cimabue’s flood-damaged Crucifix. Do not stop at the main nave: the chapels, cloisters, and refectory make the full complex worth exploring.

Basilica of San Miniato al Monte

Santo Spirito shows Brunelleschi’s architecture without the spectacle of the Duomo. Behind its unusually plain façade is a beautifully ordered Renaissance interior built around repeated columns, arches, and balanced proportions. The complex also preserves a wooden crucifix attributed to the young Michelangelo. Outside, Piazza Santo Spirito remains one of Oltrarno’s liveliest neighborhood spaces.

Piazzale Michelangelo

Piazzale Michelangelo delivers Florence’s classic panorama: the Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, Santa Croce, Ponte Vecchio, and the Arno spread out below you. Giuseppe Poggi designed the terrace in the 19th century, and the bronze David at its center is a copy. Sunset is beautiful but crowded, so morning offers a calmer experience. Continue uphill afterward to San Miniato al Monte rather than heading straight back.

Boboli Gardens

Behind Pitti Palace, Boboli Gardens turns the Medici landscape into a world of terraces, sculptures, fountains, grottoes, and long avenues. Developed from the 16th century onward, it became an influential model for formal European gardens. This is not a flat city park: expect hills, stairs, and plenty of walking. The reward is a changing mix of monumental garden design, quiet corners, and views over Florence.

Santo Spirito

Santo Spirito shows Brunelleschi’s architecture without the spectacle of the Duomo. Behind its unusually plain façade is a beautifully ordered Renaissance interior built around repeated columns, arches, and balanced proportions. The complex also preserves a wooden crucifix attributed to the young Michelangelo. Outside, Piazza Santo Spirito remains one of Oltrarno’s liveliest neighborhood spaces.

Ponte Vecchio

Ponte Vecchio is Florence’s oldest surviving bridge and feels more like a narrow street suspended above the Arno. The current structure dates to 1345 and has hosted shops for centuries. Goldsmiths replaced the earlier butchers and fishmongers in the late 16th century, shaping the bridge you see today. Above the shops runs the Vasari Corridor. For the best photo, view the bridge from Ponte Santa Trinita.

Piazza della Signoria

Piazza della Signoria has been Florence’s political heart for centuries. Palazzo Vecchio dominates the square, while the Loggia dei Lanzi works as a free open-air sculpture gallery. Look for Cellini’s Perseus, Giambologna’s Rape of the Sabine Women, and the replica of Michelangelo’s David. A pavement plaque also marks the spot where preacher Girolamo Savonarola was executed in 1498.