The Piazza di Santa Maria Novella, situated just a short walk from Florence’s main railway station, is one of the city’s most elegant and historically significant squares. Dominated by the magnificent façade of the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, the piazza offers an exquisite blend of medieval charm, Renaissance artistry, and vibrant urban life. The origins of the square date back to the Middle Ages, when it served as an open space in front of the Dominican church and convent of Santa Maria Novella, begun in the 13th century. Over time, it was enlarged and paved to accommodate religious gatherings, public events, and even sporting competitions. In the late 16th century, under the patronage of Grand Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici, the piazza underwent significant transformation.

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The Chiesa di San Frediano in Cestello, rising gracefully along the left bank of the Arno in the Oltrarno district, is one of Florence’s most distinctive Baroque landmarks. Its pale stone façade, crowned by an elegant dome and bell tower, is a familiar sight to anyone strolling along the river between the Ponte alla Carraia and Ponte Amerigo Vespucci. The church’s history stretches back to the early Middle Ages, when the site was occupied by a small parish dedicated to Saint Fridianus (San Frediano), a 6th-century Irish bishop of Lucca renowned for his piety and miracles. In the 17th century, the property was given to the Cistercian nuns of Cestello, a community originally based in the Borgo Pinti area. They commissioned a complete reconstruction of the church and adjoining convent, entrusting the work to Gherardo Silvani and later Antonio Maria Ferri, two prominent Florentine architects of the period.

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Tucked away in the vibrant Oltrarno district, the Piazza del Carmine is a spacious and atmospheric square that serves as the forecourt to one of Florence’s most important churches. the Basilica di Santa Maria del Carmine. While less crowded than the city’s more famous piazzas, it offers a rich blend of art, history, and neighbourhood life, making it a rewarding destination for those seeking an authentic Florentine experience. The square takes its name from the Carmelite convent established here in the late 13th century. Over time, the Basilica di Santa Maria del Carmine became renowned for housing the Brancacci Chapel, whose fresco cycle, begun by Masaccio and completed by Masolino and Filippino Lippi, s considered a cornerstone of Renaissance painting. These works, celebrated for their ground-breaking use of perspective and naturalism, influenced generations of artists, including Michelangelo.

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The Chiesa di Santa Maria del Carmine, located in the lively Oltrarno district of Florence, is one of the city’s most significant churches, renowned above all for housing the celebrated Brancacci Chapel, a cornerstone of Renaissance art. Though its plain exterior may not draw immediate attention, within its walls lies a treasure that has profoundly shaped the course of Western painting. The church was founded in 1268 by the Carmelite Order, who established a large convent complex on the site. Over the following centuries, the building grew in importance, enriched by chapels commissioned by prominent Florentine families. The most famous of these is the Brancacci Chapel, begun around 1424 by Felice Brancacci and decorated with frescoes by Masaccio and Masolino da Panicale, later completed by Filippino Lippi. 

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Porta Romana is a historic gateway located in Piazzale di Porta Romana, Florence. Built in the late 13th century, this imposing structure was one of the key entrances to the city, originally part of Florence’s defensive walls. The gate’s strategic location on the southern side of Florence controlled access from the Roman road that led to Rome, marking its significance in medieval times. The architecture of Porta Romana combines both medieval and Renaissance elements. The gate features a robust, arched design typical of medieval fortifications, with a large central archway that allowed passage for both people and goods. The tower above the arch provided a vantage point for guards to oversee and manage the flow of traffic into the city.

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Perched high above Florence on the crest of the Monte alle Croci, the Abbazia di San Miniato al Monte is one of the city’s most beautiful and oldest religious monuments. Its striking white-and-green marble façade, shimmering in the Tuscan sunlight, dominates the skyline and offers some of the most breath-taking panoramic views over the historic centre. The abbey’s origins date back to the early 11th century, when construction began on the present basilica over a site associated with Saint Minias (San Miniato), a Christian martyr believed to have been beheaded in the 3rd century during the persecutions of Emperor Decius. According to legend, Minias picked up his severed head and walked to this hilltop, where he chose to die, making the location a place of deep spiritual significance.

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The Piazzale Michelangelo is Florence’s most famous panoramic terrace, offering sweeping views over the city’s historic centre and the Arno River. Perched high on the southern hills in the Oltrarno district, it has become an unmissable stop for visitors seeking the quintessential postcard view of Florence, where the Duomo’s red-tiled dome, the towers of the Palazzo Vecchio and Santa Croce, and the graceful arches of the Ponte Vecchio unfold in a single breath-taking scene. The piazzale was designed in 1869 by architect Giuseppe Poggi during a major period of urban renewal, when Florence briefly served as the capital of the Kingdom of Italy (1865–1871). 

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Tucked away on the slopes of Florence’s famed Oltrarno district, just below the panoramic Piazzale Michelangelo, the Giardino delle Rose (Rose Garden) is one of the city’s most enchanting and peaceful green spaces. Created in 1865 by the French architect Giuseppe Poggi, the garden was part of a wider urban redevelopment project marking Florence’s brief role as the capital of the newly unified Kingdom of Italy. Poggi envisioned a terraced oasis where locals and visitors could enjoy sweeping views of the city’s domes, towers, and red-tiled rooftops framed by the gentle hills of Tuscany. Covering about one hectare, the garden is home to over 350 varieties of roses from around the world, blooming in a dazzling array of colours and scents from late spring through early summer.

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The Ponte Vecchio, or “Old Bridge,” is one of the most famous landmarks in Florence and an enduring symbol of the city’s rich history, artistry, and resilience. Spanning the River Arno at its narrowest point, the bridge is not only a practical crossing but also a masterpiece of architecture and culture. Built in its current form in 1345, it is considered the oldest stone bridge in Florence, replacing earlier versions destroyed by floods. Its unique design, with a series of shops constructed directly upon it, has made it one of the most recognizable bridges in the world and a quintessential stop for anyone visiting the Tuscan capital.

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In the heart of Florence’s historic centre, the Piazza di Santa Croce stands as one of the city’s most iconic and vibrant public squares. Dominated by the magnificent Basilica di Santa Croce, this rectangular piazza has been a focal point of Florentine civic, social, and religious life for centuries. The area takes its name from the Franciscan church that anchors it, a Gothic masterpiece begun in 1294 and often called the “Temple of the Italian Glories” for the many illustrious figures buried or commemorated there, including Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei, and Niccolò Machiavelli. The origins of the square trace back to the Middle Ages, when it served as a gathering place for markets, festivals, and public assemblies. Its open layout and proximity to the Arno River made it an ideal site for both solemn ceremonies and exuberant public spectacles. 

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The Chiesa di San Firenze, or Church of San Firenze, is a striking example of Baroque architecture in the heart of Florence, just a short walk from the Uffizi Gallery and Piazza della Signoria. Unlike the city’s more famous Gothic and Renaissance churches, San Firenze stands out for its theatrical façade, elaborate ornamentation, and harmonious integration with the surrounding square that shares its name, Piazza di San Firenze. The site has a layered history. Originally, a small Romanesque church dedicated to Saint Florentius stood here, but in the 17th century, the Oratorians of Saint Philip Neri commissioned a grand new complex to serve as both a church and an oratory. Construction began in 1645 under architect Pier Francesco Silvani and continued through the 18th century, with contributions from notable Florentine artists and designers, including Ferdinando Ruggieri, who completed the central façade in the 1730s.

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Piazza della Signoria is the political and historical heart of Florence, a grand open-air stage where the city’s civic life has unfolded for more than seven centuries. Situated just steps from the Arno River and the Uffizi Gallery, the square has been a centre of power, art, and public gathering since the late 13th century. Its distinctive L-shape is framed by some of the city’s most important buildings, monumental sculptures, and architectural treasures, making it both a living museum and a vibrant social space. Dominating the square is the Palazzo Vecchio, Florence’s formidable town hall, with its crenellated walls and soaring Arnolfo Tower. Built in 1299, it was the seat of the Florentine Republic and remains a symbol of the city’s independence and civic pride

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Piazza della Repubblica is one of Florence’s most elegant and historically layered squares, a space that reflects the city’s transformation across the centuries. Located in the heart of the historic centre, it stands on the site of the ancient Roman forum, the political, commercial, and social hub of the city in antiquity. Over time, the area evolved into the bustling medieval Mercato Vecchio, a maze of narrow streets, workshops, and market stalls, before undergoing a radical transformation in the late 19th century during Florence’s brief period as the capital of the Kingdom of Italy. Between 1885 and 1895, much of the old quarter was demolished as part of an ambitious urban renewal project aimed at modernizing the city. The result was a grand rectangular piazza framed by imposing arcades and stately buildings in the Italian neoclassical style.

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Piazza del Duomo is the monumental heart of Florence, a dazzling stage where some of the most celebrated masterpieces of Italian Gothic and Renaissance architecture stand side by side. Located in the historic centre, this square is dominated by the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, whose soaring red-tiled dome—designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, has become the city’s most recognizable symbol. Around it, the Baptistery of San Giovanni, Giotto’s Bell Tower, and the cathedral’s intricate marble façade together form one of the most harmonious and breath-taking architectural ensembles in the world. The piazza’s history stretches back to Roman times, when this area served as a central point in the ancient settlement of Florentia. The Baptistery, with its octagonal plan and richly decorated bronze doors by Andrea Pisano and Lorenzo Ghiberti, predates the cathedral and stands as one of the oldest buildings in the city, dating to between the 11th and 12th centuries

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