Florence

Reviews of Attractions in Florence, Italy

Also see our reviews on:

Italy: Hotels Rome • Tuscany (Florence) • Bologna

Florence

Florence is like an open air museum that people live in. There are amazing things to see without ever paying an entrance fee. It seems public artwork is everywhere you look. And the countryside is a tapestry of poppy fields and grape vines.  

Florence countryside

Piazza della Signoria (free)

This large piazza is home to numerous sculptures. Kids can get up close to the statues without feeling the constraints of the more staid environment in a regular museum. Most of the statues have a proud, conquering, dominating nature to them. Perseus holding Medusa's head severed from her body is pretty gruesome but of course, a favorite with the kids. A few of the statues are replicas (including Michelangelo's David) with the originals housed elsewhere for protection.

Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral (Duomo)

Photo is Florence city street with Duomo in background.

For our family the most significant impression of the Duomo came the moment we turned a corner of yet another narrow, windy street and there it was!! - a stunningly, beautiful, marble cathedral. It was like a fairytale structure; we could not stop taking pictures of it. The Baptistry building is immediately across from the front entrance of the cathedral. The replica of the famous, renaissance doors "the Gates of Paradise" by Ghiberti is located on the exterior. Some of the original panels are traveling around the USA as of this writing, March 2008. They are to be permanently reinstalled at the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo for the summer of 2008 with the rest of the original panels. The wait to enter the cathedral was not long. The cathedral itself is so enormous it is hard to imagine it ever being overly crowded. From the inside the most interesting sight for our kids was the frescoed dome depicting the Last Judgment. Some of the scenes were rather gruesome. We did climb the stairs (there is no elevator) to the top of the dome. The entrance for the dome climb is outside on the north side of the cathedral. You will see the long line snaking down the sidewalk. There is a separate charge for this. The kids did have a close up look at the interwoven bricks that support the dome designed by Brunelleschi. The passage ways are very narrow, slanted and hot. The view is quite nice but if you have a choice of climbing the bell tower or the dome, I would choose the Bell Tower (Campanile). The line was not as long, the climb slightly shorter, not as hot or congested. The views of the Duomo are beautiful and the views over the city are similar to those from the Dome. The website www.operaduomo.firenze.it (English translation available) has great pictures and facts for kids to learn before they go.

Galleria dell'Accademia - David by Michelangelo

The sculpture of David by Michelangelo dominates this museum. This was by far the most memorable piece of art for my children. They were truly awestruck, as were we. We made reservations well before we left for Italy through our hotel. This made for almost no waiting at all. I will say the line for those without reservations was not as long as we had seen for other museums. The museum is not overwhelming in size for kids. www.polomuseale.firenze.it/musei/accademia

Palazzo Pitti

The Pitti Palace is a large imposing structure that we passed frequently on our way into town, just before we crossed the Ponte Vecchio. Lines were never long to get in.  The jewel box interior is in stark contrast to the hard crust exterior.  There were many important pieces of art in the galleries, but they had been left displayed as they had been originally hung by the last inhabitants, which is a bit chaotic for the viewer.  The kids were initially awed by the grandeur and then a bit numb.  They were most intrigued by the Vasari Corridor, which is a passageway leading from the Palace to the Uffizi (offices). It was built for the ruling Medici family so they could avoid exposure to assassination attempts or having to mix with the crowd.  It is not open to the public in general, but the kids can follow its progress from the north end of the Pitti Palace across the neighboring buildings, the Ponte Vecchio, more buildings and then the Uffizi.  The Boboli Gardens are also part of the Pitti Palace.  The admission price is in addition to the price of touring just the Palace itself. www.sbas.firenze.it/musei/pitti2

Ponte Vecchio (free)

The Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) presently standing dates from 1345.  It has a hodge podge of little businesses mostly jewelry stores running the length of the span with a small break of three arches in the center.  This is a good spot for a photo and to fill up your water bottle.

Piazzale Michelangelo (free)

The Piazzale Michelangelo sits up on a hill over looking Florence and the Arno. There is a copy of the David by Michelangelo hence the name of the piazzale. This was our familie's favorite view of Florence. Pretty little gardens surround the piazzale. A gelato stand is nearby. If you have already hiked up the hill to this location you may as well continue on up to San Miniato al Monte (free) a beautiful romanesque church housing the remains of Saint Minias. The views from here are also spectacular. There is a clean public bathroom near the base of the steps to the church for a small fee.

Back to Top