Florence is an enormous museum and gallery, and it’s
easy to find art treasures turning any corner in
the centre of town. After the Uffizi, after
the Academy, the Duomo,
the Bargello, Palazzo Pitti
(www.firenzemusei.it)
and Cathedrals like Santa Croce or
Santa Maria Novella, our city also means other
lesser-known sights.
Here we offer a short list of small
places we love, where you will appreciate Florentine art
and way-of-life:
ART - Short walking distance from the B&B's
• Cenacolo di Santa Apollonia: admission
free - Tue-Sat 8.30am-1.30pm. From our door turn on the
left and at the corner (Via XXVVII Aprile) turn on your
right. The first door you see is the cenacle entrance (in
case it’s close ring the bell). Frescoes of Passion
of Christ and Andrea del Castagno’s Last Supper (1445-1450),
together with the Crucifixion, Deposition ad Resurrection,
also by A. del Castagno.
• Giardino dei Semplici: admission
E.3,oo – Mon-Tue-Thur-Fri-Sun 9am-1pm; Sat 9am-5pm.
Located less than 5 min. walk from San Marco sq. (enter
in Via Lamarmora and then turn on your right in Via Micheli
3). It’s a 16th cent. garden, a lovely place full
of trees, exotic plants and are variety of flowers.
• Museo Archeologico: admission
E.4,oo – Mon. 2-7pm; Tue, Thur. 8.30am-7pm; Wed, Fri,
Sun. 8.30am-2pm. Recently renovated, the new entrance is
in Via della Colonna, Piazza SS.Annunziata square, church
side (we suggest you to visit the church too, since it’s
between S. Marco sq. and the Archeological Museum). It’s
the best place to see important Etruscan art. The Orator
(bronze) and the Chimera (bronze, mythical beast) are here,
and there is a very important collection of Greek ceramics.
• San Lorenzo Basilica: admission
E.2,5o - Mon-Sat 10am-5pm. Located in San Lorenzo square,
less than 5 min. walk from the B&B. Artworks of Donatello,
Bronzino, the Annunciation of Filippo Lippi, and our favourite
Marriage of the Virgin of Rosso Fiorentino.
• Palazzo Medici Riccardi: admission
E.4,oo – Mon, Tue, Thu, Sun. 9am-7pm. Located 2 steps
from San Lorenzo church. Entrance in Via Cavour 1. The charming
Chapel of Michelozzo is covered with frescoes by Benozzo
Gozzoli and show the Journey of the Magi which is superb.
Don’t miss the Lippi’s Madonna and Child.
• Palazzo Davanzati: admission free
– Mon-Sun, 8-15am-1.50pm. Closet 1st, 3rd, 5th Mon.
of the month, 2nd and 4th Sun. An ancient typical Florentine
aristocrathic house recently restored. 3 floors, enormous
“salotti”, a completely frescoed bedroom, ancient
fireplaces and much more.
ART - On the other side of the river
Arno
• Chiesa di Santa Felicita: admission
free – Mon-Sat 9am-noon and 3-6pm. The main reason
to visit this small church is Pontormo’s Deposition
altarpiece in the Cappella Barbadori-Capponi. Pontormo is
one of the most important artists in Florence during the
Mannerism style.
• La Specola Museum: admission E.4,oo
– Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sun 9am-1pm; Sat 9am-5pm. If
you’re on holiday with kids, maybe it’s not
a bad idea to visit this zoology museum, which, from the
room 24 exposes also realistic body parts and anatomical
models. Elementary schools are used to visit La Specola
during the year.
• Chiesa di San Miniato al Monte:
up the hill where Piazzale Michelangelo is located, overlooking
all the city. Bus n. 13 from the train station; address
of the church: Via delle Porte Sante 34, a very short walk
from the piazzale. It’s one of the loveliest church
in Florence, with the Carrara and Prato marbles façade,
together with glittering mosaics of the 13th cent. The interior
is frescoed and there is an 11th cent. crypt. Gregorian
chant sung daily by the monks at 4.30pm in winter and 5.30pm
in summer.
