Alternative Sights to See
The following sights are some of the more unique or off the beaten track sights to see in Florence.
Boboli Gardens
Across the Arno River, in the Oltrarno neighbourhood directly behind the Pitti Palace you will find the largest green space in Florence, the Boboli Gardens. Originating in 1549 as the gardens for the Medici royal palace, the Pitti Palace Gardens became a model for royal gardens all across Europe. The gardens were designed geometrically, with symmetrical, regular positioning of trees and flowerbeds. Over the centuries more elaborate landscape architecture was added including grottoes, a maze, an amphitheatre and many fountains and statues. Today the gardens are a welcome green escape from the city with plenty of quiet, shady walkways and spectacular views over the city.
Tickets to enter the gardens are €6 and include access to Giardino Bardini (discussed below) too.
Palazzo Vecchio
Piazza della Signoria, 50122 Firenze Fl
The Palazzo Vecchio was designed between 1299 and 1314 as a building for the city government. During its history it also served as a royal palace for the Medici family. Today the palace is still home to the office of the mayor, as well as the municipal council. You can tour the spectacular building and its former royal residences, before climbing the tower for a stunning view over Florence. Over the centuries and with the conversion of the palace into a royal residence, many of the leading artists and architects of the time added to the palace, including Vasari, Donatello, da Vinci and Michangelo. Today you can tour the lavishly decorated offices and royal apartment, as well as courtyards and halls including the Salone dei Cinquecento, or Hall of the Five Hundred with its panelled ceilings and epic wall frescoes depicting Florentine victories in battle. You can also explore the numerous secret passages built into the palace. For a grand view over Florence, climb the 418 steps to the Torre d’Arnolfo, perfect for watching the sun set over the ancient rooftops.
Piazza Santo Spirito
Across the Arno in the Oltrarno neighbourhood you can find the picturesque Piazza Santo Spirito. Away from the hordes of tourists, the piazza is popular with locals and makes you feel like you’ve found the real Florence. Each weekday morning a street market fills the square and each evening bars and restaurants spill out on to the square for aperitivo. The Basilica di Santo Spirito with its unique blank façade dominates one side of the square and is a beautifully quiet place to sit and ponder the history and beauty of your surroundings. Explore the surrounding streets to find more authentically Florentine cafés, restaurants and boutiques.
Mercato Centrale
Mercato Centrale is the fresh food market of Florence. Located about 5 minutes walk from either the train station or Duomo, it is centrally located and a great spot to grab some fresh food to eat or cook, or to just experience a traditional Italian market. Located in a beautiful 19th century building the market is split over two levels. On the ground floor you will find the traditional produce stalls selling fresh fruit, bread, cheese, oils and spices, wine as well as fresh meat and fish. On the first floor there is a food hall with a huge array of eating options including pasta, fish, truffles, burgers, pizza, sushi and gelato. The food here is top quality and it makes for a convenient place to grab lunch as you can choose what you want and then sit at one of the communal tables to eat. Outside the food market you will find the San Lorenzo Market which sells a huge array of objects including souvenirs, clothing and plenty of leather goods. While often cheap, not everything sold here will be particularly good quality and many items will be made outside of Italy. Don’t forget to bargain!
Giardino Bardini
Just across the Ponte alle Grazie in Oltrarno you’ll find the serene Giardino Bardini, the Bardini Gardens. Much smaller and less visited than the popular Boboli Gardens, Giardino Bardini provides a green haven with spectacular views over the city just a short walk from the centre of the city. The gardens are terraced up the hill and can be split into three sections: the Italian Garden with a grand baroque staircase, bordered by irises; an English-Chinese garden with its lawn, statues and canal; and the Agricultural Park which is home to an orchard of fruit trees and an olive grove. Perhaps the most famous aspect of the gardens is the spectacular wisteria arch that creates a stunning purple tunnel when it flowers in April. It’s a lovely garden and mostly ignored by tourists, making it the perfect place to have a stroll and literally smell the roses while you gaze upon the ancient majesty of Florence.
Tickets to enter the gardens are €6 and include access to the Boboli Gardens too.
