Things to Do in Tuscany

Inside the Santa Maria del Carmine church in Florence’s Oltrarno neighborhood is a particularly famous chapel, the Brancacci Chapel. It’s famous not for who is buried there or who the chapel honors, but for the art that decorates it.

The cycle of frescoes that adorn the walls of the Brancacci Chapel were painted largely by Masaccio. He began work in 1424 when he was only 21 years old. Masaccio died only six years later in Rome, leaving the frescoes unfinished. Some were later completed by Filippino Lippi.

After some restoration work, the chapel - called by some the “Sistine Chapel of the early Renaissance" - has been cleaned of centuries of dirt, making the frescoes appear almost as colorful as they might have been when they were first painted. Among the more famous panels is Masaccio’s “The Expulsion from the Garden of Eden” and “Payment of the Tribute Money.”

The drab exterior of the church belies the art inside, so it’s easy to miss if you don’t know what you’re looking for. Tours of the Oltrarno often include the Brancacci Chapel.

This idyllic medieval bridge whose name translates to "Bridge of Mary Magdelene" played an essential role in early Italian history. That's because its stone arches and narrow walkway allowed French pilgrims to make their way over waters to the holy city of Rome. Although locals know that a major flood in the mid-1800s damaged the bridge's original structure, travelers can still see what remains of the restored version, which includes a roadway and new arch that reflects beautifully when the river is calm.

Visitors to this popular Lucca attraction will likely hear the local legend about Ponte della Maddalena's nickname—Devil's Bridge—which comes from a tale of a shepherd who makes a deal with the devil to build the stone bridge.

If Florence is the capital of the Italian Renaissance, the Bargello Museum is the capital of Italian Renaissance sculpture. Housed in the city’s medieval Palazzo del Podestà, the collection includes masterpieces by Cellini, Andrea della Robbia, Luca della Robbia, Michelangelo, Bernini, and Donatello. 

Palazzo del Podestà, Florence’s oldest public building, served as a barracks and prison before becoming the National Museum of the Bargello in 1865. Today, the art museum is home to an extensive collection of Renaissance works displayed in a series of vast apartments, including gold, armor, bronze animals made for the Medici family gardens as well as tapestries. The centerpiece of the Bargello collection, however, is the statuary that dates from the 14th to 16th centuries. 

This is one of the most popular art collections in Florence; avoid a long wait by booking skip-the-line tickets ahead. Many Renaissance Florence walking tours include a stop at the Bargello; there’s a lot of art and history to take in, though, so consider reserving a private tour with an expert guide. 

The Bargello Museum is located on Via del Proconsolo; it’s a 10-minute walk from Santa Maria Novella train station.

The Bargello Museum is free the first Sunday of the month, so those days are especially crowded. The museum is closed on alternating Sundays and Mondays; to avoid confusion, visit Tuesday through Saturday.

With its fortified and crenellated facade, maze-like interior with fine halls, balconies, and loggia overlooking a courtyard, this austere, fortress-like building was the inspiration for Palazzo Vecchio in Florence.

Pass through the arched entrance of Florence’s stately Pitti Palace and into the serenity of the sweeping Boboli Gardens, once the private playground of this Renaissance capital’s ruling Medici family. Dating from the 16th century, the Giardino di Boboli is among the earliest examples of formal Italian gardens, commissioned for the wife of Cosimo I de Medici in 1540. The gardens were expanded in the 16th and 17th centuries, and now cover 11 acres (4.4 hectares) of hillside and include a collection of outdoor sculptures dating from ancient Rome through the 17th century, making it a veritable open-air museum.

The Boboli Gardens are among Italy’s most famous gardens, and a popular attraction in central Florence as they offer a respite from the crowded city streets. Visitors can stroll along tree-lined paths on a private tour—or, for those traveling with kids, a family-friendly garden tour—to admire the expanses of manicured lawns, Renaissance fountains, classical grottos, nymphaea, temples, and an amphitheater with an Egyptian obelisk at its center. Tickets to the Boboli Gardens include entrance to the Porcelain Museum, inside the garden’s 18th-century Palazzina del Cavaliere, and the neighboring Bardini Gardens. Admission is free on the first Sunday of each month.

The Boboli Gardens are located between Palazzo Pitti and Porta Romana in Florence’s central Oltrarno neighborhood. The main entrance on Piazza de’ Pitti can be reached in 30 minutes on foot or 15 minutes by bus from the Santa Maria Novella train station. Florence is a popular destination for shore excursions from the port city of Livorno.

The gardens are best visited from spring through fall, when the weather is mild, and early in the morning or late in the afternoon during the hottest months of the year. 

The Boboli Gardens hold an important collection of Renaissance statues and fountains. Notable works include “Bathing Venus” and “Fountain of the Ocean” sculpted by Giambologna, a copy of “The Prisoners” by Michelangelo, and a number of pieces by Buontalenti.

Taking prize place beside the Town Hall on Piazza Duomo, the Collegiate Church of San Gimignano, or the Duomo of San Gimignano, ranks among most impressive monuments of San Gimignano’s UNESCO-listed historic center.

Behind its comparatively reserved façade, the church’s main claim to fame is its exquisite frescos, which date back to the 14th and 15th centuries, and remain remarkably unrestored. The bold colors and painstaking detail bring to life iconic biblical scenes including Cain and Abel, Noah’s Ark, the Garden of Eden and dramatic depictions of Heaven and Hell, with highlights including works by Bartolo di Fredi, Lippo Memmi, Benozzo Gozzoli and Taddeo di Bartolo.

Adjoining the church, the small Museum of Sacred Art includes more works taken from the Collegiata and other San Gimignano churches, including a Crucifix by Benedetto di Maiano and the ‘Madonna of the Rose’ by Bartolo di Fredi.

A bit of a misnomer, the Dante House Museum was never the 13th-century Italian poet Dante Alighieri's residence. Instead, this small museum is home to reproductions of early manuscripts of his magnum opus, The Divine Comedy, and other engaging exhibits that re-create Dante's life and times.

Although there is nothing on display that actually belonged to the great poet, the museum provides a glimpse into the politics, economy, and social life of medieval Florence. Exhibits include a reconstruction of Dante's bedroom, illustrations of his poems, and reproductions of his magnum opus, written after he was banished from Florence for backing the wrong side in political intrigue. In exile, Dante was forced to wander northern Italy for several years before ending his days in Ravenna in 1321.

The Dante House Museum is included in the Florence Card museum pass and offers guided tours and workshops on the writings of Dante. Otherwise, you can visit the museum during a private electric bike tour or walking tour of Florence that also includes nearby attractions like the Duomo with its Baptistery of San Giovanni and Giotto's bell tower, the Badia Fiorentina monastery, and the Uffizi Galleries.

The Museo Casa di Dante is located on Via Santa Margherita in the heart of Florence's largely pedestrian-only historic center, a short walk from the Firenze Santa Maria Novella train station.

Florence is one of the most popular destinations in Italy, and the attractions in its historic center can be very crowded in the high-season summer months. Consider touring in the spring or fall to take advantage of mild weather and fewer visitors.

This poet who lived between the 13th and 14th century is among the most important writers in western literature. His Divine Comedy is divided into three parts—Inferno, Purgatory, and Paradise—and the most famous copy is a manuscript commissioned by Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de'Medici and illustrated by Botticelli, pages of which can be seen in Berlin's Museum of Prints and Drawings and the Vatican Museums. 

Situated just west of the Duomo Cathedral, the Baptistery of St. John (Battistero di San Giovanni) is one of the oldest structures in Florence. Its iconic octagonal structure dates back to ancient Rome, while its 16th-century bronze doors—sculpted by Lorenzo Ghiberti—were dubbed the Gates of Paradise by Michelangelo himself.

As two of Florence’s most popular destinations, the Baptistery and adjacent Duomo Cathedral are a stop on most city walking tours, which typically offer skip-the-line access, as do some Segway tours. Food, architecture, Dan Brown, Dante, and other themed tours often include a stop to observe the Baptistery’s marble exterior. If visiting independently, to avoid the hassle of purchasing separate tickets, a Duomo Complex pass includes an admission ticket to the Baptistery. The Baptistery is also featured on the Firenze Card, which grants 72-hour access to top Florence landmarks and museums including the Accademia and Uffizi Galleries, Pitti Palace, Dante’s House, and Belvedere Fort.

Segway and walking tours allow you to explore Florence’s top landmarks—including the Baptistery and Duomo as well as the Accademia and Uffizi Galleries, Ponte Vecchio, and Piazza Santa Croce—without the hassle of navigating on your own. While small-group walking tours offer a personal experience, private tours ensure your guide’s full attention and enable you to visit the Baptistery as part of your customized itinerary.

The centrally located Baptistery is in Piazza San Giovanni, just steps from the Duomo. If arriving by taxi, simply provide the Duomo as your destination. It’s easily accessible using the city’s bus system: nearest stops are Santa Maria Maggiore on bus 22 and Vecchietti on bus 6.

The Baptistery is open from 8:15am to 10:15am and 11:15am to 7:30pm on weekdays, and 8:30am to 1:30pm on weekends. Expect longer entrance lines on weekends and at midday on weekdays. For a quieter visit, go on a weekday morning. The annual folk tradition of Scoppio del Carro (Explosion of the Cart) takes place outside the Baptistery on Easter, when crowds flock to the square to watch an elaborate wooden cart light up with fireworks. On June 24 the city honors its patron saint, St. John the Baptist, with a cultural festival in Piazza San Giovanni.

It took Lorenzo Ghiberti 21 years to complete the Baptistery di San Giovanni’s detailed bronze and gold doors. After winning a fierce competition in 1401 against renowned sculptor Filippo Brunelleschi, Ghiberti sculpted the Baptistery’s North and East doors, which are now preserved and on display in the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo. The doors’ design and execution were met with such success that Michelangelo himself dubbed them the Gates of Paradise.

No matter where you walk in Florence, chances are you will spot its famous Duomo—a defining element of the city’s history, geography, and identity—towering above. Beneath its red-tiled dome lies Florence’s largest church, officially known as the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Together with the Museum of the Duomo, an opera museum, the baptistery of San Giovanni, and Giotto's Bell Tower, the Duomo complex has become the city’s most famous landmark.

A visit to the Duomo is essential for understanding and immersing yourself in both Florence and the Renaissance.Tickets to the complex include access to the dome, baptistery, bell tower, crypt, and museum, and are valid for 48 hours from use. As entry to the cathedral is free, there are often long lines. Many visitors opt to join a small-group guided tour to explore the more hidden corners of the complex—and to skip the lines. Audio guides are also available.

The Duomo is at the very center of Florence, fewer than 10 minutes walking from the train station. It is near the must-see Uffizi Gallery, with which it is often visited in combination. Independent travelers and guided tours alike often stop at the Accademia Gallery as well, where Michelangelo’s David resides.

The museum is closed on the first Tuesday of each month. Crowds are unavoidable, but quieter times are early morning and late afternoon, especially outside of the busy summer months (May through September).

The pink, white, and green marble facade of the Duomo is a sight in itself, but the real can’t-miss views are from the top of the cupola. Climbers are rewarded with an unforgettable vista of Florence’s red-roofed skyline, the Arno River, and the rolling hills beyond. There are panoramic views from atop Giotto’s Campanile, as well. Back on ground level, admire the famous stained glass and frescoes that line the cathedral’s interior. The cathedral’s crypt, which includes the tomb of Brunelleschi, is also worth a visit.

Towering above Florence, Filippo Brunelleschi’s dome is an important engineering and architectural feat. Completed in 1436, the fact that this symbol of the city still stands tall over the Duomo more than 600 years later is testament to Brunelleschi’s mastery. Climb to the top for some of the best views over Florence.

Brunelleschi’s octagonal dome on top of Florence’s Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral (aka the Duomo) took 16 years to build and, at 144 feet (44 meters) wide, is one of the world’s largest masonry domes. You can admire the 16th-century Final Judgment frescoes by Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari that decorate the inside of the dome and climb the 463 steps to the top for panoramic views from the lantern overlooking the historic center. The Opera del Duomo museum, just behind the church, holds a fascinating scale model of Brunelleschi’s dome as well as Lorenzo Ghiberti’s original bronze baptistry doors (replicas are on the baptistry outside).

The cathedral dome is one of the most popular attractions in the city, and booking a Florence Duomo tour that includes skip-the-line entrance to the Duomo, Giotto’s bell tower, and the baptistry is essential to avoid long lines to enter. Small-group and private tours of Florence’s Duomo may even include exclusive access to the north terrace, a panoramic rooftop terrace closed to the general public. Many Florence city walking tours also visit highlights like the Uffizi Gallery, Accademia Gallery (Galleria dell'Accademia), and Piazzale Michelangelo.

Brunelleschi’s dome and Piazza del Duomo, in the historic center of Florence, are just a 5-minute walk from the Santa Maria Novella train station.

The Duomo complex in Tuscany’s capital city of Florence is one of the most popular attractions in Italy and can be very crowded during the summer high season. The best time to visit is from November to March, when the city sights are less overrun with tourists.

Filippo Brunelleschi won a competition to design the dome in 1420 with an innovative system of two interconnected shells with an empty space in between. The dome was vaulted with no scaffolding by using bricks laid in a herringbone pattern in the inner shell as a self-supporting structural element; the outer shell serves as a heavier, wind-resistant cover. 

Italy is famous for its fashion and design, and some of the world’s most popular luxury clothing and home decor brands come from this stylish country. If you love Italian elegance, visit Tuscany’s Barberino Designer Outlet to shop for designer brands from Italy at a deep discount. 

With more than 120 stores offering discounts of up to 70 percent off of retail prices, the Barberino McArthurGlen outlet center, just 30 minutes outside of central Florence, makes for an excellent day trip filled with great deals. The spacious outdoor mall is home to a collection of branded boutiques and factory outlet shops with a vaguely Renaissance décor. Consider joining a Florence shopping tour including transportation so you can hit your favorite stores without worrying about getting back and forth between the outlets and Florence’s city center. 

Barberino Designer Outlet is located on Via Meucci in Barberino di Mugello, about 30 minutes outside of Florence. Round-trip shuttle bus service runs multiple times daily from the Piazza Stazione meeting point outside the luggage room of the Firenze Santa Maria Novella (SMN) train station. Free parking is available on-site. In addition, the outlet center is just 45 minutes from Bologna, and there is round-trip shuttle service from the Bologna Centrale Train Station. 

The outlet center can be very crowded on weekends and holidays, so weekday visits are best. Italy has two month-long sale seasons—from January 1 and from July 1—when you can find even better bargains.

Shops include big-name brands including Dolce & Gabbana, Hugo Boss, and Polo Ralph Lauren. You can also find designer labels like Michael Kors, Desigual, and Calvin Klein. For sportier purchases, shop at Puma, Adidas, Nike, and more.  

One of Tuscany’s most beautiful sights, the Abbey of Sant'Antimo (Abbazia di Sant'Antimo) is a 12th-century Romanesque church and monastery set deep in the rolling olive groves outside the hilltown of Montalcino in the Val d'Orcia. The abbey is a popular stop during wine tours or day trips through the Tuscan countryside.

Constructed of cream-colored travertine, the oldest of the abbey’s chapels is believed to have been founded by the Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne, though its apse, frescoed radial chapels, and cloisters were completed centuries later. The Romanesque facade is carved with figures of the Apostles, while the stately bell tower is decorated in Lombard style. Thanks to its proximity to the Via Francigena pilgrimage route between France and Rome, Sant'Antimo was one of the most powerful Benedictine abbeys in Tuscany before Pope Pius II closed it in 1462. During its deconsecrated years, the church was used as a wine cellar and a cow shed, becoming an active place of worship again only in 1992.

The Sant'Antimo Abbey is a popular stop on day trips to Tuscany from Rome, Florence, and Siena that explore the countryside surrounding Montalcino, Montepulciano, Pienza, and San Quirico d'Orcia. One-day sightseeing tours generally include lunch with a tasting of local Brunello di Montalcino wine. 

The abbey is near Castelnuovo dell’Abate, 5.5 miles (9 kilometers) south of Montalcino. There is no public transportation directly to the abbey, so the most convenient way to visit is by joining a small-group or private tour that includes transportation.

The abbey is open for visits daily year-round. The Val d'Orcia is particularly beautiful in the late spring and early fall, when the countryside is lush and green. 

The Abbey of Sant'Antimo was once famous for the daily Mass sung in Gregorian chant by the resident Benedictines, but the monks have left the complex and now Mass is exclusively spoken.

Santa Maria Novella is one of Florence’s most beautiful and—as the city’s first basilica—most important churches. With a striking Gothic-Renaissance facade, interior chapels housing artistic masterpieces, and Dominican cloisters, the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella is one of the main sights in Tuscany’s capital city.

The basilica’s unique green-and-white geometric marble facade, designed by Leon Battista Alberti in the 15th century, immediately draws the eye. Yet the most important art decorates the church’s central nave and a number of chapels inside, most famously the Filippo Strozzi Chapel, the Spanish Chapel, and the Tornabuoni Chapel. Highlights include Masaccio’s Holy Trinity, a crucifix by Giotto, Domenico Ghirlandaio’s Birth of the Virgin Mary, and works by masters like Botticelli, Filippino Lippi, Brunelleschi, Nardo di Cione, and Michelangelo. Adjacent to the church, the Green Cloister was built for the resident Dominican Friars in the 14th century and decorated with frescoes by Paolo Uccello.

With its wealth of architecture and art, the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella is as much a museum as it is a church, and is best visited with an expert guide to fully appreciate its importance. Walking tours of the historic center can include the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella with other Florentine landmarks like the Duomo and Uffizi Gallery.

The basilica is located on Piazza di Santa Maria Novella in the historic center of Florence, just across the street from the main Firenze Santa Maria Novella train station.

Florence is one of the most visited cities in Italy, and its sights can be very crowded in the summer. To enjoy the basilica and other sights in relative peace, schedule a visit for spring or fall.

Officina Profumo Farmaceutica, part of the Santa Maria Novella complex, was founded by Dominican Friars around 1221 and is one of the oldest pharmacies in the world. The shop still produces perfumes and natural body products, which you can purchase in the ornate historic sales rooms.

One of the most historically important churches in Siena, the Basilica of San Domenico is famous for another saint: the city’s own Saint Catherine. It was here that Catherine took her vows in 1363 at the age of 15, and the church holds a number of her relics, including her head, thumb, and whip used for self-flagellation.

 

Join a guided tour that takes in the Basilica of San Domenico and other city highlights, including Piazza del Campo, Palazzo Pubblico, and Torre del Mangia. Many Siena walking and Segway tours also include skip-the-line entrance tickets to Siena’s cathedral (Duomo), along with the adjacent Piccolomini Library—frescoed by Pinturicchio—and the Museo dell'Opera. Siena is a popular day trip from Florence, and tours often include stops in Pisa and San Gimignano, as well. 

 

 

The Basilica di San Domenico is on Piazza Domenico on the very edge of Siena’s pedestrian historic center, an easy walk from most other top attractions and the train station. 

 

The Basilica di San Domenico is usually less crowded than Siena’s cathedral, and can be a quiet and cool respite during the peak hours of midday.

 

The Gothic church was built in 1226 on the Camporegio hill and contains a number of important works of art by the Sienese school in addition to St. Catherine’s relics. Of note are a magnificent Majesty (Maestà) by Guido da Siena, frescoes by Francesco Vanni and Pietro Lorenzetti, and the sumptuously decorated chapel dedicated to St. Catherine, where her head and thumb are displayed. The Chapel of the Vaults (Cappella delle Volte) holds a pretty portrait of the saint.

Florence’s Galleria dell’Accademia is home to one of the world’s most impressive works of art: Michelangelo’s “David.” At 17 feet (5.2 meters) tall, the famous statue of the biblical hero is an overwhelming sight and a masterpiece of Renaissance art. Other works on display include 15th- and 16th-century paintings by the likes of Botticelli and Lippi, unfinished Michelangelo sculptures, and a museum of musical instruments. The Accademia was once Europe’s oldest drawing school; today it is Florence’s second-most visited museum, after the Uffizi Gallery.

The Accademia Gallery is considered a must-see for visitors to Florence, so long entry lines are the norm. To avoid spending hours in line, consider purchasing skip-the-line tickets in advance or opt for a private guided tour. “David” is unsurprisingly popular and set in one of the most crowded parts of the gallery—for the best photo ops, book a coveted, exclusive, early-access tour to be one of the first ones in the gallery and view “David” in relative peace. To maximize your time in Florence, choose a half- or full-day tour that visits both the Accademia Gallery and the Uffizi Gallery or also includes a city sightseeing tour.

The Accademia Gallery is located beside Piazza San Marco and is about a 15-minute walk from the Santa Maria Novella train station. It’s not far from the Uffizi Gallery, which many tours visit in combination with the Accademia.

The Accademia Gallery is busy every month of the year, but especially so in the summer. It’s slightly less crowded in the late afternoon, but can still be impossible to visit without a reservation. Note that the gallery is closed on Mondays.

The scale of Michelangelo’s “David”—carved from a single block of Carrara marble—is enough to impress, but its fine details and expert carving of lifelike features make it a true masterpiece. Travelers spend most of their time admiring “David,” but those interested in Michelangelo’s life and other works should also see his unfinished “San Matteo” or “Prigioni,” or slaves, that adorn the main hallway. The plaster model of Giambologna’s “Rape of the Sabine Women” also shouldn’t be missed.

Built in the 16th century in Florence’s Boboli Gardens, Buontalenti Grotto is the largest grotto in the city. Named after the architect who oversaw its construction in the late 16th century, it was commissioned by Grand Duke of Tuscany and has since featured Dan Brown’s bestselling novel, “Inferno.”

A curious-looking place indeed, on both the outside and inside the grotto’s covered in man-made stalagmites and mythical mosaic creatures including sea goats. Buontalenti Grotto is divided into three rooms with the first, and biggest, styled in the most natural way as a cave full of stalactites and stalagmites. There are also a few anthropomorphic creatures created out of stones and shells thrown in there for good measure.

The next room is similarly decorated to the first, and includes frescoes depicting Minerva and Giunone. The third room is also known for its impressive frescoes, but here you’ll also see a green marble fountain and a ceiling painted to resemble a sky full of birds.

The Basilica of San Lorenzo is one of the most important Renaissance churches in Florence. Commissioned by the powerful Medici family and designed by Brunelleschi, it is home to magnificent sculptural and architectural works by Michelangelo, including the Medici Chapels (Cappelle Medicee) and the Laurentian Library.

The Medicis had the Basilica of San Lorenzo constructed in the 15th century on the site of an older Romanesque church to house family tombs, located in the New Sacristy and decorated by Michelangelo’s monumental statues depicting the reclining figures of Night and Day and Dawn and Dusk. The church is part of a larger complex that also includes Brunelleschi’s Old Sacristy with sculptures by Donatello; the Laurentian Library, with a monumental carved staircase leading to the reading room where even the desks were designed by Michelangelo; the cloister, crypts, and treasury; and the Chapel of Princes by Matteo Nigetti.

The Medici Chapels inside the basilica are among the most popular attractions in Florence, so book a tour that includes skip-the-line entrance to avoid long lines. Many Florence sightseeing walking or Segway tours also visit highlights such as the Uffizi Gallery, Accademia Gallery (Galleria dell'Accademia), and Piazzale Michelangelo. 

The Basilica of San Lorenzo is located on Piazza San Lorenzo, just a few minutes’ walk north of Florence Cathedral (Duomo) or east of the Santa Maria Novella train station.

 

The San Lorenzo Basilica complex is crowded with visitors touring the Medici Chapels during summer; visit in spring or fall for fewer tourists. If visiting Florence on a Sunday or Monday, note that the chapels are closed on the second and fourth Sunday and the first, third, and fifth Monday of every month.

 

The Basilica of San Lorenzo was built by Filippo Brunelleschi in 1419, his first project in Florence and a masterpiece of Renaissance interiors. The rough exterior was meant to be covered by a spectacular facade designed by Michelangelo, but lack of funds and other complications left the church unfinished outside. To see what the facade would have looked like had it been completed, view the scale model in the Casa Buonarroti museum.

The renovated Central Market (Mercato Centrale Firenze) is a trendy gastronomic mecca in the heart of Florence. On the ground floor, you’ll find 19th-century architecture and traditional food stalls; upstairs, there’s an urban food court featuring more than a dozen stands and shops, as well as a cooking school.

Florence’s Central Market, the largest of its kind in the city, has been located in its soaring cast-iron-and-glass pavilion for more than a century. The ground-floor indoor market is crowded with stalls selling gourmet specialties from Tuscany and beyond, including fresh fruit and vegetables, buffalo mozzarella, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and Chianti wine. The second floor has been reworked into a chic food court offering freshly prepared Florentine classics served street-food style—everything from fresh pasta with truffles to hamburgers made with heirloom beef.

A stroll through the market is a highlight of any food walking tour in Florence. Some tours include stops to snack along the way, as well as cooking lessons in the school upstairs.

The market is located in Piazza del Mercato Centrale in the San Lorenzo district, a short walk from the Florence train station.

The ground-floor stalls are open each morning Monday to Saturday, while the upper-floor food court is open daily from 10am to midnight, making it convenient for snacks or meals. Upstairs can get very crowded at mealtimes (1 to 3pm and 7 to 9pm), so it's best to wander through and sample the Tuscan goods at off-hours.

Just outside the Central Market, the San Lorenzo Market (Mercato di San Lorenzo) is known as the best place in the city to find inexpensive leather goods.

Pisa’s exquisite Chiesa di Santa Maria della Spina is covered in intricate and fanciful stonework, a hallmark of the 14th-century Pisan Gothic style. With its fairytale exterior and magnificent Madonna of the Rose by Andrea and Nino Pisano inside, this church is a tiny gem and the perfect foil to the grandeur of the city’s Duomo.

 

Built in 1230 to house a thorn from the Crown of Thorns (now displayed in the city’s Church of Santa Chiara), this small, striped marble church is considered one of the most important Gothic churches in Europe and is a highlight of Pisa. The original church was enlarged in the mid-1300s; in 1871, just as waters of the Arno River began to rise, it was moved from a location along the riverbanks to its present site, on the riverside walkway. The richly decorated exterior features a number of statues by Giovanni and Nino Pisano and other important 14th-century artists from Pisa.

The Chiesa di Santa Maria della Spina is one of the top sights in Pisa, along with the Piazza dei Miracoli, where the Duomo and Leaning Tower is located. Walking and Segway tours often include a visit to Santa Maria della Spina along with skip-the-line tickets to the Duomo, tower, and baptistery. If you have time for a full-day tour, you can easily combine a Pisa visit with nearby Lucca, Siena, or San Gimignano.

The Chiesa di Santa Maria della Spina is built into the promenade wall lining the Arno across the river from the Piazza dei Miracoli. It’s an easy walk from the main train station.

Pisa’s Duomo complex is most crowded from late morning through the afternoon, so try to schedule your tour in the early morning and then move on to Santa Maria della Spina when the throngs of daily visitors arrive. 

The Piazza dei Miracoli, home to Pisa’s Gothic Duomo and baptistery and iconic Leaning Tower, is one of the most popular sights in Tuscany. In addition, you can tour the Monumental Cemetery and Sinopie Museum, which has a collection of preparatory sketches for the cathedral’s frescoes. Finally, the Duomo Opera Museum houses art that’s been removed from the Duomo and baptistery over the centuries.

The Church of San Sisto is one of the oldest churches in Pisa, Italy and was built in the Middle Ages around the late 1000s in a Romanesque style. Despite several renovations throughout the centuries, the church you see today still looks very much like it did when it was first built. The facade is divided into three parts, each separated by pilaster strips. Arches and windows with metal bars can be seen on the upper part of the facade throughout the entire exterior of the church. Visitors will also see replica ceramic basins from the 10th to 11th centuries; the originals can be found in the St. Matthews Museum. 

The interior of the Church of San Sisto is divided into three aisles by two rows of granite and marble pillars. The pillars are crowned by capitals from ancient buildings which were reused in the construction of this church. As Pisa was once a big naval power, you will also see a rudder and a mast from the 14th to 15th centuries in the church. 

In the Oltrarno neighborhood of Florence, behind the 17th-century Villa Bardini, is the Bardini Garden (Giardino Bardini) an often-overlooked gem.

The Bardini Garden’s pretty terraces are closer to the Arno River than the more popular Boboli Gardens, but were only opened to the public in 2012 and remain largely undiscovered by visitors. It was a classic Italian Renaissance garden, with fountains and statues among the symmetrically-placed plants, though the property dates back to the 13th century.

One of the primary reasons to visit the Bardini Garden, in addition to its serene beauty, is to escape the crowds of the nearby Boboli Gardens. As the Bardini Garden is closer to the Arno River, it also offers arguably better views overlooking the city of Florence.

There are many walking tours that include the Boboli Gardens, but only a few also visit the Bardini Garden. Choose a group tour or a private tour for a more intimate experience.