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Historic Centre of Florence

Florence · Italy

Background

World Heritage since
1982
Type of site
Cultural
Height of the Medici
15th–16th c.

Built on the site of an Etruscan settlement, Florence rose to economic and cultural pre-eminence under the Medici in the 15th and 16th centuries. UNESCO calls it the symbol of the Renaissance, with 600 years of extraordinary artistic activity seen above all in the 13th-century cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Church of Santa Croce, the Uffizi and the Pitti Palace.

The protected area sits inside the line of the 14th-century walls. Piazza del Duomo is its spiritual centre, with Giotto's bell tower and the Baptistery's Gates of Paradise; south of it lie the Palazzo Vecchio, the Uffizi and Santa Croce, and across the Ponte Vecchio the Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens.

More on the UNESCO listing More on Wikipedia

  1. 13th c.Work begins on the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
  2. 14th c.The wall circuit that still bounds the historic centre is built
  3. 15th–16th c.Florence leads the Renaissance under the Medici
  4. 1501–1504Michelangelo carves the David
  5. 1982Inscribed as World Heritage

Find Your Way Around

The main parts of the site, in the order most visitors see them

  1. 1
    Santa Maria del Fiore
    The cathedral, with Brunelleschi's dome, Giotto's Campanile and the Baptistery of St John opposite.
  2. 2
    Piazza della Signoria
    The political heart, with the Palazzo Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery beside it.
  3. 3
    Accademia Gallery
    Home of Michelangelo's David.
  4. 4
    Santa Croce
    The Basilica of the Holy Cross on the east side of the centre.
  5. 5
    Ponte Vecchio and Oltrarno
    The goldsmiths' bridge leads to the Pitti Palace, the Boboli Gardens and Santo Spirito.
  6. 6
    Piazzale Michelangelo
    The classic panorama of the old town, with San Miniato al Monte above it.

Know Before You Go

From Wikivoyage and the GoGo guides

Book the Big Three
Wikivoyage says the Uffizi, the Duomo and the Bargello can mean hours of queueing: pre-book, and the dome climb needs a timed slot.
Walk Everything
The historic centre crosses in about half an hour on foot, end to end.
Don't Rush It
Wikivoyage's advice: see less, and leave time for the churches and the ambience between the museums.
Watch Your Bag
Pickpockets work the crowds around the station, the buses and the Ponte Vecchio at night.

A Day in the Renaissance City

From the GoGo Florence guide · Open the Florence Guide ›

  1. 08:30
    Climb Brunelleschi's Dome1 hr
    Then Giotto's bell tower and the Baptistery's bronze doors.
  2. 10:45
    Baptistery's Bronze Doors45 min
    Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise.
  3. 14:30
    Cross the Ponte Vecchio30 min
    The goldsmiths' bridge over the Arno.
  4. 15:15
    Boboli Gardens2 hrs
    The Medici garden behind the Pitti Palace.
  5. 19:00
    Sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo1 hr
    The classic view of the dome.

Best Time to Visit

Best months: May–Jun, Sep.

Typical highs

Best monthsRain: wettest Nov (96 mm), driest Jul (33 mm)

Climate: NASA POWER

Pair It With

Other World Heritage sites nearby, by distance

WORTH A NIGHTDAY TRIPSAME DAYDistance not to scale · tap a site
Do These Together
The Medici Villas and Gardens are scattered around the city, and Siena, Pisa and San Gimignano are each about an hour away by bus or train.
Sources
UNESCO World Heritage Centre, listing 174 · Wikipedia: Historic Centre of Florence · Wikivoyage: Florence (CC BY-SA 4.0) · GoGo Florence guide · UNESCO listing