Florence is a great city for a walking tour because almost all of the main attractions are within two miles of the center of town. Some of Italy’s most famous structures like the Duomo, the Gates of Paradise, the Baptistry of St. John, and Giotto’s Bell Tower are all in the Piazza del Duomo, making it the perfect place to begin.
For a more outdoorsy tour, check out some of the parks and gardens in the city. There are quite a few excellent choices within walking distance of each other so you can make it a walking tour of the outdoors. Be sure to drop off your shopping parcels and backpacks at a luggage storage locker in Florence first to lighten your load for the day.
1. Culture Trip:
Florence Cathedral (Duomo):
In the Piazza del Duomo, you will find at least 10 stunning and important structures starting with the Florence Cathedral. It is one of the most famous buildings in the city so you cannot pass up visiting this on your culture walk.
The Duomo (dome) is the most notable landmark you can see for miles around standing 376 feet high with a lantern and cross on top. Indoors, you will find statuary and artwork by Michelangelo, Michelozzo, Luca Della, and Paolo Uccello. And the carpet of marble artwork is amazing as well.
Gates of Paradise:
At the entryway of the Baptistry of St. John, you will find a pair of gilded bronze doors from the 1450s that were designed by Lorenzo Ghiberti. It was named the Gates of Paradise by Michelangelo and the name has stayed the same after all of these years.
Each door has five large relief panels of scenes from the Old Testament made by Lorenzo Ghiberti. In 1990, the door was taken apart for restoration and replaced with a replica. After seeing how the air was damaging the reliefs, they moved it to the Museo dell’ Opera del Duomo for safekeeping.
Baptistry of St. John (Battistero di San Giovanni):
See where many famous poets and other important residents of Florence were baptized in the Baptistry of St. John.
One of the oldest buildings in the city, it was completed in 1128 and is a beautiful Romanesque design inside and out. Besides the Gates of Paradise on the east side, there are three more gilded doors.
Inside, you can find mosaics dating back to the 13th century as well as a mosaic marble floor with zodiac designs. The walls are even made of white and green marble.
The ceiling is spectacular with mosaics dating back to 1225 made by a friar named Jacobus. Don’t miss The Last Judgment, which is the largest image in the Baptistry.
Giotto’s Bell Tower (Campanile di Giotto):
Built in 1334, the bell tower is over 275 feet tall and you have to walk up over 400 steps to get to the top. But you can stop on each of the five levels to see the works of art and views of the city from inside. The view of the Duomo from the bell tower is an amazing sight.
2. Park and Garden Tour:
1) Boboli Gardens:
Behind the Pitti Palace (which you should also visit) you can find one of the most popular gardens in Florence, the Boboli Gardens.
It is famous for its statuary as well as its stunning array of blooms. Get some selfies with Neptune’s Fountain and the Ocean Fountain as well as the Jupiter, Ceres, and Apollo sculptures.
2) Cascine Park (Parco delle Cascine):
With 395 acres, the Cascine Park is a long green space running along the River Arno to the River Mugnone. What was once the Medici family hunting estate is now a public park for all to enjoy. Visit the hippodromes, velodrome, and an Egyptian-style pyramid and see the 20,000 plants as well.
3) Botanical Gardens of Florence (Orto Botanico di Firenze):
This collection of trees and plantshas been around since 1545 and is one of the oldest gardens in Europe. With over 9,000 species, you can see a plethora of vibrantly colored flowers almost all year long here.
They even have over 60 species of trees with an English Yew that was planted in 1720.
3. Foodie Walks:
Florence Food Tour with Homemade Pasta and Truffle:
Start at the Piazza dell’ Unità Italiana for some Florentine cuisine at the Mercato Centrale to try fresh pasta and fresh baked cantuccini.
Then you will pass the Piazza San Giovanni on your way to Arco di San Pierino for pecorino, finocchiona, ribollita, and pappa al pomodoro. The whole tour takes about 2.5 hours.
Florence Sunset Food Tour:
When the sun goes down, join the 2.5-hour Florence Sunset Food Tour for a walking tour of some of Florence’s best eateries.
Start at the fountain in the Piazza Santo Spirito and stop at six different shops and eateries before ending up at the Via dei Michelozzi for some Santo and biscotti.
4. Wine-Tasting Tours
Taste of Chianti:
This 3-hour Tuscan cuisine tour includes several wineries and a three-course meal at a Tuscan restaurant. See the rolling hills of olive groves and vineyards.
Enjoy up to nine wine and cheese samples at five different wineries and olive groves. After all the wine and lunch, you may be ready for a nap.
Private Tour: Hiking in Tuscany
This is perfect if you like to hike. The 5.5-hour trip starts in the Tuscany hills at the best wineries and olive groves to taste gourmet olive oil and olives.
Then travel through some small towns with medieval towers and ancient churches before ending up at a winery where you get a Tuscan lunch and wine.
Before you leave Florence, be sure to get some selfies with or pictures of Michelangelo’s David. You can see the original at the Accademia Galleria or go see the reproduction outside of the Palazzo Vecchio.
There is also a bronze replica at Pizzale Michelangelo on Firenze just south of the Arno. It is one of the most famous sculptures in the world after all, so it would be a shame to miss it.
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