Florence – Oltrarno-South Florence

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Oltrarno is the area of the historic center of Florence located south of the Arno river, and it features numerous remarkable landmarks, palaces, and gardens. Beyond Oltrarno, the surrounding neighborhoods south of the Arno include mostly residential areas such as Isolotto, Legnaia, and Gavinana, and a few settlements among the hills like Galuzzo.

✪ Ponte Vecchio

Ponte Vecchio is a historic bridge on the Arno river in Florence, and one of the most iconic landmarks in the city. A first bridge was built here in the Roman age, while the current structure was erected in the 14th century. During the Renaissance, the Vasari Corridor, that connects Palazzo Vecchio with Palazzo Pitti, was built on top of the bridge. The structure used to host butcher’s shops, but in 1594 they were banned and replaced by goldsmiths and jewellers, that occupy the stores built along the bridge to this day. Ponte Vecchio was the only bridge in Florence that survived World War II intact, but it was damaged when the city was hit by a flood in 1966. A medieval tower known as Torre dei Mannelli stands at the southern end of Ponte Vecchio.

✪ Palazzo Pitti

Palazzo Pitti is a vast Renaissance palace in Florence, originally commissioned by Florentine banker Lorenzo Pitti and later bought by the Medici family. The building then served as the residence of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany and, after the Italian unification, the Savoy dynasty. In 1919 it was turned into a museum complex. The main art gallery hosted in Palazzo Pitti is the Palatine Gallery (Galleria Palatina), which houses hundreds of masterpieces that were once part of the collection of the Medici family. Among these are works by Raphael, Titian, Rubens, Caravaggio, and many others. Another art gallery inside the palace is the Gallery of Modern Art (Galleria d’Arte Moderna), which hosts paintings by Italian artists covering a period between the 18th and 20th century. Palazzo Pitti also houses the Treasury of the Grand Dukes (Tesoro dei Granduchi), a rich collection of silver artifacts, gems, and jewels, and the Museum of Fashion and Costume (Museo della Moda e del Costume), a museum hosting thousands of historic clothes, costumes, and accessories. Part of the palace are also the richly adorned halls of the former royal apartments of the Medici, Habsburg-Lorraine, and Savoy families. The Boboli Gardens are located just behind the palace.

✪ Boboli Gardens

The Boboli Gardens (Giardino di Boboli) is a large public park located behind Palazzo Pitti. Built starting in the 16th century, these gardens are among the greatest examples of Italian garden. The lavish park is centered around an amphitheater and features numerous decorations. Among these is an ancient Egyptian obelisk, located in front of the amphitheater, and several statues and fountains. One of the best known landmarks in the park is the Buontalenti Grotto (Grotta del Buontalenti), which is decorated with elaborate Mannerist sculptures from the late 16th century. The Casino del Cavaliere is located at the highest point of the park, and it houses the Porcelain Museum (Museo delle Porcellane), a rich collection of historic porcelains made by the most prestigious European manufactures.

✪ Basilica of Santa Maria del Carmine

The Basilica of Santa Maria del Carmine is a historic church in Florence originally erected in the 13th century and rebuilt in the 18th century after a fire damaged the structure. The church features an unfinished facade and numerous decorated chapels. The most notable of these is the Brancacci Chapel (Cappella Brancacci), which luckily survived the 1771 fire and hosts a large series of frescoes painted in the early 15th century by Masolino and Masaccio. These frescoes, which depict the life of Saint Peter and some scenes from the Genesis, are regarded as some of the greatest of their time, and were influential in the development of Renaissance art.

✪ La Specola

La Specola is a historic building in Florence that has served as an astronomical observatory and museum since the late 18th century. Now only a museum, it forms part of the Museum of Natural History of Florence, and it houses a huge zoological collection and several wax anatomical models. One hall inside the building, known as Tribune of Galileo (Tribuna di Galileo), features 19th-century Neoclassical statues and frescoes dedicated to Galileo Galilei and other Italian scientists.

✪ Basilica of San Miniato al Monte

The Basilica of San Miniato al Monte is a large church located on a hill in Florence. Built starting in the 11th century, it is regarded as one of the greatest examples of Romanesque architecture in Tuscany. The church has a decorated facade featuring a mosaic, and its interiors are also richly adorned. The basilica houses a freestanding chapel designed by Michelozzo in 1448, and an ancient crypt. However, the most notable area is the Chapel of the Cardinal of Portugal (Cappella del Cardinale del Portogallo), which hosts an elaborate Renaissance funerary monument. Meanwhile, the sacristy of the church features a large series of beautiful 14th-century frescoes. The basilica stands at the center of a religious complex that includes the Palazzo dei Vescovi, an imposing palace that served as the summer residence of the bishops of Florence. Behind this palace is the Cimitero delle Porte Sante (“Sacred Doors Cemetery”), a 19th-century burial site with several elaborate tombs and monuments.

Basilica of Santo Spirito

The Basilica of Santo Spirito is a large Renaissance church in the Oltrarno neighborhood of Florence. The church was built to replace a previous structure during the 15th century, and it was designed by Brunelleschi. While the facade remained unfinished, the interior of the church hosts several richly adorned chapels and numerous artworks, including a wooden crucifix made by Michelangelo. Adjacent to the church is the Cenacolo di Santo Spirito, the former refectory of the monastic complex that surrounded the basilica. This hall houses a large fresco depicting the Crucifixion and the Last Supper, painted by Andrea Orcagna in the 14th century. The refectory also hosts other artworks, including various sculptures from the Late Middle Ages and some beautiful frescoes, which were once part of the collection of antique dealer Salvatore Romano.

Church of Santa Felicita

The Church of Santa Felicita is one of the oldest churches in Florence, probably founded in the Paleochristian age. Later rebuilt and reworked, the current structure mostly dates from the 18th century. The church houses several artworks and frescoes, and features some decorated chapels, such as the Capponi Chapel (Cappella Capponi), designed by Brunelleschi and decorated by Pontormo. The Vasari Corridor passes in front of the church, and here the passageway features a window that allowed the Medici family to attend mass without mingling with the people.

Forte Belvedere

Forte Belvedere is a 16th-century fortress located on a hill in Florence, next to the Boboli Gardens. The fort is a great example of Renaissance military architecture, and now it is used to host temporary art exhibitions. Due to its position, it offers great views over the entire city of Florence.

Villa Bardini

Villa Bardini is a 17th-century palace in Florence that houses the art collection of the Annigoni Museum (Museo Annigoni), which features works by 20th-century Italian artist Pietro Annigoni. However, the villa is best known for its vast gardens, known as Bardini Gardens (Giardino Bardini). This park is adorned with numerous decorations and features a long monumental staircase.

Bardini Museum

The Bardini Museum (Museo Bardini) is an art museum in Florence, located close to Villa Bardini. The museum houses a rich collection of artworks, including some by Donatello, Tintoretto, Tiepolo, and more. Part of the collection are also several historic ceramics, musical instruments, coins, and pieces of furniture.

Piazzale Michelangelo

Piazzale Michelangelo is a square in the hills south of the Arno river in Florence, and the most famous panoramic point over the city, which allows visitors to enjoy the beauty of all the main landmarks of Florence. The wide square features a large copy of Michelangelo’s David, and it is linked with Porta San Niccolò with a series of ramps.

Walls of Florence

A few sections of the ancient walls of Florence can still be seen south of the Arno river, with the main portion connecting the medieval tower of Porta San Niccolò with Forte Belvedere. Around Florence there are a few other smaller sections of the walls and some towers and gates that once formed part of the fortifications of the city.

Florence Charterhouse

The Florence Charterhouse (Certosa di Firenze) is a religious complex located among the hills south of Florence. The charterhouse was founded in 1341 and was later expanded and reworked a few times. The monastery was suppressed in the 19th century, and many of its artworks were taken away. Now again inhabited by a religious community, it features an art gallery, frescoes painted by Pontormo, a 14th-century church with various decorations, and some adorned halls.