What to see in Florence?

It’s for good reason that Florence is regarded as the Cradle of the Renaissance. The city is a haven for admirers of art and architecture, its historic centre a kind of open-air museum that proudly exhibits the city’s immaculately preserved patrimony. Florence’s many museums and art galleries typically feature most prominently on the tourist trail, but the city’s dozens of churches and basilicas each house an array of artistic treasures that would be the main attraction were they to be found in any other city. 

Since the city centre is small, base yourself in any Florence monastery accommodation and you’ll be within walking distance of everything the Renaissance city offers. Here are just some of the highlights that are especially worth exploring.
 

• The Uffizi Galleries. The Uffizi is matched only by the Vatican Museums as Italy’s most extensive art gallery. It exhibits the extensive artistic collection of the Medici family, great patrons of the arts from the fourteenth century onwards, with a particular focus on pieces from the Italian Renaissance. Here reside some of the world’s most instantly recognisable works of art, including Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Spring, Titian’s Venus of Urbino, and Caravaggio’s Medusa.
• The Accademia. Home to Michelangelo’s David, his most marble masterpiece, the Accademia Gallery is smaller and more specialised than its counterpart, the Uffizi. Lovers of sculpture and artworks of the Trecento and Late Renaissance will appreciate its collection, but those with broader interests would do well to prioritise the Uffizi or – for something more modern – Palazzo Pitti. 
• The Cathedral of Santa Maria dei Fiori (the Duomo): Florence’s cathedral is a true architectural wonder, guaranteed to leave all who see it for the first time awestruck. Its iconic redbrick dome, designed by Brunelleschi, dominates the city’s skyline and provides a reference point from which to orientate yourself wherever you are in the city. You can climb to the top of this dome by purchasing the Brunelleschi Pass, but don’t expect to find much inside the cathedral itself as most of its artworks have been moved to the nearby Museo dell'Opera del Duomo.
• The Oltrarno District. Running along the south bank of the River Arno (the name of this district actually means “beyond the Arno”), Oltrarno is Florence’s artisan district and has a slower, more authentic feel than the more crowded city centre to the north. The district converges on two churches: the Basilica of Santo Spirito and the Basilica of San Frediano, both situated at the head of squares – and at the centre of neighbourhoods – that bear the same name. Santo Spirito’s bare fifteenth-century façade might not look like much, but venture inside and you’ll find a wealth of treasures, including Michelangelo’s Crucifix. For a more relaxing time in Florence, consider staying in a monastery in Oltrarno.
• Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens. Once home to the Medici family before briefly becoming Napoleon’s power base in Tuscany, Palazzo Pitti is a grand Renaissance palace filled with treasures, including works by Raphael, Titian, and Rubens, as well as Medici silver and period costumes. Behind it, the landscaped Boboli Gardens charm visitors with its terraced paths, sculptures, fountains, and sweeping views over Florence.
• Piazzale Michelangelo. This scenic square across the river from the centre offers the best view of Florence. Make your way up even further and you’ll reach the eleventh-century basilica of San Miniato al Monte, the finest Romanesque church in Tuscany and one of the most picturesque churches in Italy.

Where to Stay in Florence

Florence’s availability of accommodation has been a long-standing problem, unsurprising given how popular the Renaissance city has become. Between 10-16 million people visit Florence each year, dwarfing its resident population (a little more than 360,000), most of whom live on the outskirts. This recently came to a head with a legally contentious ban on new registrations of Airbnb and short-term rentals, which many tourists prefer to pricier hotel accommodation. During high season, these hotel and short-term rental prices spike even more dramatically. 

Monastery Accommodation in Florence

Monastery stays in Florence provide affordable options in a small but heavily populated city. Not only can you save money by booking Florence monastery accommodation, but these religious guesthouses are often centrally situated and budget-friendly, offering welcoming environments for travellers seeking calm and reflection. 

Restructured and managed by nuns and other religious orders, Florence’s monasteries welcome guests on a B&B, half board or full board basis, depending on their availability or your needs. Many also feature an internal chapel, usually available for the guests, where you can attend Mass, or take some time to reflect and pray.
 

What to eat in Florence?

Florence’s typical cucina povera (poor cuisine) might not sound the most appealing, but it follows the precepts of much Italian cuisine, with simple methods and locally sourced ingredients combining to shape the flavour. Classic starters and light dishes in Florence include ribollita (a kind of bread soup minestrone made from leftover beans and vegetables) and panzanella (a chopped salad of soaked stale bread, onions, tomatoes, and perhaps cucumber, dressed with extra-virgin olive oil and vinegar).

For pasta dishes and mains, on the other hand, the Florentines love their meat. Typical Tuscan pasta dishes include pappardelle (broad tagliatelle) with wild boar ragù or pici (fat spaghetti-like strips) with “aglione” tomato and garlic sauce. When it comes to meaty mains, bistecca alla fiorentina (Florentine steak) is the city’s most famous fare, a t-bone sirloin grilled on coals and  always served rare. More adventurous eaters should also try trippa alla fiorentina (Florentine tripe), simmered with carrots, celery, onions, peppers and tomatoes and sprinkled generously with grated parmesan cheese. 

You cannot come to Florence without indulging in gelato, since the creamy stuff of dreams was supposedly invented here during the Renaissance. There are plenty of excellent gelato parlours (gelaterie) throughout the city centre, with Gelateria Santa Trinità, Gelateria dei Neri and Gelateria Vivaldi being particular favourites. 
 

Getting to Florence

Flying into Florence
Florence’s Peretola Airport, also known as Amerigo Vespucci airport, is situated 10km from the city centre, and is conveniently connected to Florence’s main train station by tram and bus. Depending on where you’re departing from, it may be more convenient to fly into the busier airport of Pisa and take a train or coach to Florence (45/90 minutes respectively). 

Arriving by Train
Florence’s main train station, Santa Maria Novella, runs high speed services between most major Italian cities, like Milan, Venice, Rome and Naples. The station is conveniently situated in the city centre, just a 10-minute walk from the Duomo and the river. For affordable Florence monastery accommodation just 200 metres from the main station, check out Casa Sant’Anna.

Getting around Florence

The best way to explore Florence is by walking around its historic centre. Much of the centre is pedestrianised, meaning your options are limited if you have restricted mobility. But 85 tram and bus lines provide options for navigating parts of the city and exploring areas further out, like the hilltop town of Fiesole.

Useful Tips for Visiting Florence

• Buy your museum tickets in advance. Timed entry tickets for museums like the Uffizi Galleries and Accademia often sell out months in advance, so make sure you book your tickets well in advance. We recommend doing this through the official websites for the Uffizi and Accademia, with prices starting from €20 and €16 respectively. 
• Book your Florence accommodation as soon as possible. More than 10 million people stayed overnight in Florence in 2023, giving you an insight into the strain on the availability of rented accommodation. Monastery guest houses in Florence offer comfortable and affordable alternatives with excellent availability when booked well in advance.

FAQs for Staying in Florence Monasteries

Do monasteries operate curfew hours?
Some monasteries in Florence impose curfews around 11 pm to 2 am. Always check with your chosen monastery accommodation in Florence to see if this applies. 

Are monastery stays only for religious people?
Monasteries in Florence – and elsewhere – welcome all visitors for peaceful and reflective stays. There is no expectation for guests to take part in religious services or liturgical rites. 

How does monastery accommodation differ from hotel stays?
Florence’s monasteries provide quiet, affordable accommodation without some hotel amenities, focusing instead on a tranquil atmosphere and often breathtaking historic settings. 
 

Florence was founded as a Roman colony during the dying days of the Roman Republic. Its founder was none other than Julius Caesar, whom the Senate had sent to set up camp in the foothills below Fiesole, where the traitor Catiline was taking refuge. Following Catiline’s defeat, this camp became a permanent settlement called Fiorenza, some say in honour of one of Caesar’s fallen comrade, Fiorinus, others because the settlement was founded during the flourishing of spring.

Glimpses of Roman Florence still appear throughout the city, such as the remains of the Roman theatre beneath Palazzo Vecchio and the curvature of the Via Torta which follows the cavea (seating area) of the amphitheatre on which it stands. But Florence is not famous for its ancient remains. Rather it is the city’s rich, and beautifully preserved medieval and Renaissance architectural patrimony that makes Florence one of the most stunning cities in the world. 

It was during the eleventh century when Florence emerged as a powerful medieval commune. The city blossomed into an economic and trading powerhouse, and the establishment of the gold florin — Florence’s own currency — elevated the city’s influence across Europe. Governed by merchant guilds, Florence's political scene was rife with fierce family rivalries, notably between the Guelphs and Ghibellines, factions aligned with the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor, respectively. These internal conflicts would eventually lead to the rise of the Medici, a banking family whose wealth and ambition would transform Florence forever.

The Renaissance, which began in Florence in the early fifteenth century, became the defining era of the city’s history. Under the patronage of the Medici family, Florence blossomed into a hub of art, science, and intellectual thought, leading to extraordinary advancements that still resonate today. Familiar artistic and architectural figures like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli, and Brunelleschi were all drawn to Florence, each leaving an indelible mark on its streets and skyline. The construction of Florence Cathedral’s magnificent dome, designed by Brunelleschi, remains a testament to the city’s architectural ingenuity and spirit of innovation. During this period, Florence was not only a crucible for artistic creativity but also the birthplace of the Italian language itself, thanks to literary works in the Florentine dialect by Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio.

Following the Renaissance, Florence saw a gradual decline in political power but maintained its cultural and intellectual influence. By the late eighteenth century, the city came under the rule of the Lorraine dynasty, whose reforms modernised Florence, but the city faced political turbulence during the Napoleonic Wars and the eventual unification of Italy. In 1860, Florence joined the Kingdom of Italy, and for a brief period from 1865 to 1871, it even served as Italy's capital before Rome claimed the title.

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982, Florence’s historic centre remains a treasure trove of Renaissance art and architecture, drawing millions of visitors each year. With its cobblestone streets, ornate palaces, churches and monasteries, and the peaceful flow of the River Arno, Florence etches itself into the memories of all who are fortunate enough to visit.