Unique Things To Do In Florence, Italy

An Overview of Florence

Noted for it’s culture, Renaissance artworks, unique architecture and numerous monuments, Florence is a land of museums, galleries and Italian culinary. Based in the gorgeous region of Tuscany, the city rests along the River Arno. It was a vital, culturally potent center of learning and political power throuhgout the Middle Ages and Renaissance. With rolling hills, quiet vineyards, rich orchards and beautiful buildings, there are many unique things to do in Florence.

Unique Things To Do In Florence, Italy

Uffizi Gallery

Widely known as the most famous museum in the city, this is the best art museum of Florence. The building is filled with priceless Renaissance masterpieces and profoundly influential ancient sculptures. The museum specializes in artworks ranging from the Middle Ages to the Modern period.

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore

Also known as the Duomo Cathedral, this is the iconic central Cathedral in the center of Florence. The massive structure is among the largest churches in the world, originally designed with Gothic-style elements and Italian-Renaissance-defining inspirations. The majestic structure was dedicated to the Virgin of Flowers and is filled with stunning architectural and artistic relics, including the Porta della Mandorla (Almond Door), the Cupola del Brunelleschi Renaissance Dome, and the patterned mosaic floors of the Crypt of Santa Reparata.

San Miniato al Monte Church

This is a bright yellow church visible from Ponte Vecchio.  It exists up a steep series of steps, reaching the Piazzale Michelangelo viewpoint.  It is the absolute greatest overlook of the city.  Locals often recommend climbing to the viewpoint in early the morning to see sunrises prior to the arrival of tourist crowds.

Medici Family – Palazzo Medici Riccardi

This plaza is an homage to the Medici family, the unofficial rulers of Florence until gaining political legitimacy as the Gran Dukes of Tuscany.  Their cultural influence is interwoven with the city’s history and many of their strongholds and contributions remain, including the famous Villa Petraia.

Ponte Vecchio

This is a wonderful medieval stone bridge stretching over the Arno River.  Buildings are incorporated into the design allowing for shopping over the water. It was the only bridge fully spared from destruction during the Second World War.

Medici Chapel

Located inside a hidden room, in this chapel contains the sketches and drawings of genius.  The Hidden Michelangelo Drawings are preserved on a marbled wall within the building.

Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy

This tourist attraction is the oldest, continuously operating pharmacy in the world, providing medicine to Florence citizens for over 800 years.

Il Porcellion

Located in a small shopping plaza, Il Porcellion is a famed bronze boar guarding the market area.  The boar’s snout is a golden hue, as visitors often rub it while seeking wealth and good fortune.

Babae Wine Window

This unassuming, historic window has an ancient tradition behind it: Italians would often purchase wine handed out through this window, as a walk-by refreshment.

The Relic of St. Antonius

Resting in the Dominican Church of San Marco in Florence, the 550 year old mummy of St. Antonius exists beneath an alter-coffin of glass, still visible and intact to this day

Boboli Gardens

These are a quaint series of walking paths and botanical gardens behind a series of enclosed garden walls. The Boboli Gardens require a ticket to enter.  There are numerous, beautiful features within, including the Buontalenti Grotta, a large grotto from the 16th century showcasing sculptures of Florence.

Dante’s Dagger

This rusted, ancient dagger is preserved in Florence. The small blade was allegedly wielded by the titan of epic poetry, Dante, author of the Divine Comedy. It can be found within the Dante House Museum.

Stibbert Museum

This is an interesting but unassuming museum located on via Frederick Stibbert on the hill of Montughi. The museum is the passion project of an Italian collector who stocked the building with hundreds of pieces of armor and art. There are over over 36,000 artifacts within, including an expansive collection of armors from Eastern and Western civilizations. 

La Berta

Easy to miss, this is a small bust hanging from a brick wall. According to local legends, the disembodied head of this strange stone woman was supposedly morphed into her current state of petrification by a vengeful alchemist.

Giotto’s Campanile (Giotto’s Bell Tower)

This famous landmark found near the Duomo is a imposing bell tower dominating the Piazza del Duomo in Florence. This Gothic masterpiece is a tall, intricate tower of five distinct levels crafted with polychrome marble.

David of Michelangelo

Undoubtedly one of the most famous masterworks of all time, the iconic sculpture is found in the Accademia Gallery of Florence (Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze) as the pinnacle of Renaissance sculpted art. Created by the Italian Master between 1501 to 1504, the 5.17 meter statue depicts the Biblical figure David.

Corridoio Vasariano

Though this space was once used as the private walkway of Florence elites, this arched road is now a refurbished area for artworks and paintings. The pathway begins from the ground floor of the Uffizi, wanders over Ponte Vecchio and eventually reaches the Medicean Gardens of Boboli.

Orsanmichele’s Donatello’s St. Mark

This is a truly splendid Renaissance piece depicting Donatello’s Saint Mark marble Statue. It’s currently on display at the museum of the Orsanmichele Church.

Archaeological Museum

This vast treasure trove of preserved artifacts is known for housing pristine examples of art from Italy’s Etruscan period. Among the most famous relics, the priceless Arezzo Chimera (of bronze) is housed here.  The Chimera is an ancient piece of unique artwork belonging to the 4th century BCE.

Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence

This small but intricately designed Bascilica is a principal Franciscan place of worship, located in a busy plaza, showing off a unique, patterned design.

Delle Porte Sante Cemetery – Sacred Doors Cemetery

This is a peaceful and serene ancient graveyard and open-air museum full of funeral artwork, memorial pieces and statues. The vast cemetery has many unique sculptures, including the whimsical marble Mazzone siblings dancing united in the afterlife

Tettuccio Thermal Spa

The Tettuccio Thermal Spa is an old mineral salt bath found in a landscaped garden with four different thermal pools for relaxation.  Nearby, there is also a fresco in the on-site café, a historical writing room and a few shops to browse. 

Galileo Museum

This museum remains an excellent homage to the legendary astronomer, physicist and engineer, Galileo Galilei. The museum touches on Galileo’s various works, the rival galaxy models his ideas were compared to and the history of science behind his contributions.

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