Art & Culture in Florence

The Duomo - In Italy, “duomo” is a word for a cathedral. In Florence, the Duomo (Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore) is a work of art and one of the city’s main attractions. The Duomo is topped by a large dome that represented a major engineering breakthrough when it was designed by Renaissance architect Brunelleschi in 1420. Climb to the top of the dome for one of the best views of the city, and then reward yourself with some rich, creamy Italian gelato afterwards.

Baptistery and the Gates of Paradise - The Baptistery is an octagonal building decorated by a stunning set of bronze doors. The north and the east doors were designed by master Renaissance sculptor Lorenzo Ghiberti. When Michelangelo saw them, he declared them “worthy to serve as the Gates of Paradise,” and that name has stuck ever since.

Campanile - Giotto was a revolutionary artist who helped move Italian art from the flat, two-dimensional Gothic style to the realistic, three-dimensional style of the Renaissance. He was also an architect, and he designed the bell tower for the cathedral. Climb the steps for another great view of Florence, this one including Brunelleschi’s dome.

Galleria degli Uffizi - When it was built, the Uffizi was the headquarters of the grand duke Cosimo de Medici. Today, it houses one of the most stunning collections of Renaissance art anywhere. Inside, you’ll find elegant paintings by Botticelli, dreamy scenes from Titian, stark, dramatic paintings by Caravaggio, and much, much more. 

Ponte Vecchio - This scenic bridge across the Arno River is also a great place to shop for jewelry, and has been since 1593, when Ferdinando de’ Medici kicked out the “common” shopkeepers and tradesmen that used to sell their wares on the bridge. 

Piazza della Signoria -  This charming square is a great place to people-watch, and is decorated with copies of Renaissance sculptures, including Michelangelo’s David.

Palazzo Vecchio -  Florence’s city hall has been standing since the 1300’s, and its fortified, castle-like architecture is definitely worth seeing. If you pay the admission to go inside, you can see the room where the 500 members of the Great Council met to govern Florence after Savonarola, Florence’s own mad monk, had the Medici exiled from 1494-1498, when he was burned at the stake.