Discover Florence: Holiday Apartments, Art and History

Florence leads into the heart of a historic centre regarded as a unique social and urban work, shaped by enduring creativity. The historic centre covers 505 hectares and initially exerted a decisive influence in Italy, followed by Europe, on the development of architecture and the visual arts. The Arno flows through Florence from east to west.

Culture

The city's museums bring different periods and collections to life. The Galleria dell’Accademia displays Michelangelo's four Prigioni. Michelangelo's David was moved from Piazza della Signoria to the Galleria dell’Accademia in August 1873. The Musei del Bargello comprise five independent institutions and together form a multifaceted museum complex presenting Florentine art and history before, during and after the Renaissance. The Museo dell’Opera del Duomo houses more than 750 works spanning over 720 years of history.

The Boboli Gardens also unite art and garden history: they are an open-air museum featuring ancient and Renaissance sculptures. The Medici shaped their design, creating the Italian garden style that served as a model for many European courts. Four entrances lead into the gardens: at Piazza Pitti, via the Annalena entrance at Via Romana 37/A, at Forte Belvedere and at Porta Romana.

Santa Croce offers guided tours with its own staff as well as an audio guide for independent visits.

Cityscape and Routes

Firenze Santa Maria Novella railway station is located in the city centre, a five-minute walk from the cathedral. From there, Santa Croce can be reached on foot through the historic centre in around 20 minutes. As the official tourism website and app of the City of Florence and the Metropolitan City of Florence, Feel Florence brings together the city's urban and metropolitan offerings.

For getting active in the city, there is Parco delle Cascine: locals and visitors use it for sports, walking and relaxation. Florence's Bicipolitana helps visitors discover cycle paths in the city, in parks and along the riverbanks.

Markets and Local Character

The Mercato di Sant'Ambrogio opened in 1873. The covered Mercato di Sant'Ambrogio houses food shops. At the Mercato Centrale, visitors can sample various typical dishes in small trattorias.

Other Local Pages

Other local pages in this Florence selection: Castelfiorentino, Cerreto Guidi, Empoli, Firenzuola, Fucecchio, Gambassi Terme, Londa, Marradi, Montaione, Palazzuolo Sul Senio, Reggello, Montespertoli, Vinci, Barberino Val D'elsa, Certaldo, Figline Valdarno, Greve In Chianti, Bagno A Ripoli, Borgo San Lorenzo, Calenzano, Dicomano, Florence, Impruneta, Montelupo Fiorentino, Pelago, Pontassieve, Rignano Sull'arno, Rufina, San Casciano In Val Di Pesa, Scandicci, Sesto Fiorentino, Barberino Di Mugello, San Godenzo, Scarperia, Vicchio, Fiesole, Lastra A Signa, Tavarnelle Val Di Pesa, Signa, Campi Bisenzio, Incisa In Val D'arno, Capraia E Limite, Vaglia, Montecarelli, Petrognano, Il Castagno D'Andrea, Marliano, San Pierino, Meleto, Spedaletto, Linari, Bassa, Limite, Lazzeretto, Polcanto, Pian De' Cerri, Le Vedute, Sant'Ansano, Pastine, Antella, Monterappoli, San Mauro, Pinete, Gaville, Ostina, Fontanella, Leccio, Gavena, Turignano, Chiocchio, Polvereto, Marcoiano, San Piero a Sieve, Paterno, Legri, Marcignana, Romita, Le Quattro Strade, Sambuca, Gigliola, Montefioralle, Massarella.

To the higher-level travel overview: Tuscany.