Florence for Free

Sights and experiences that are admission-free in Florence, Italy

Florence tourist information
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Florence tours

Precious little in Florence is free. They even charge admission to three of the four main churches now.

At least wandering the medieval streets is still free...for now. So are the following sights:

Duomo (Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore) ★★★—Renaissance frescoes, della Robbia sculptures, Uccello frescoes, and the chance to climb between the onion-like layers of Brunelleschi's Dome, an ingenious feat of engineering that rewards the effort with a city panorama from the top (though there is a charge to do this)... » more

Baptistery ★★★—Glittering mosaics inside (adm), and three sets of giant bronze doors (free), two of which—designed by Lorenzo Ghiberti—are held by many art historians to be the first true works of the Renaissance and which were so beautifully sculpted they were nicknamed "The Gates of Paradise" by none of than Michelangelo himself... » more

The Ponte Vecchio ★★★ - Hanging off either side of this ancient bridge over the Arno are strings of teensy shops selling gold and jewelry, some of them dating back to the Renaissance... » more

Piazza della Signoria ★★★ - A lively, statue-studded square lined with cafés and home to the Gothically imposing, fortress-like Palazzo Vecchio, off which stretches the "U" of the Uffizi Galleries, Florence's great art museum, next to the open-air Loggia dei Lanzi, crowded with ancient Roman and late Renaissance statues... » more

The San Lorenzo leather market ★★★ - The streets around the Medici family church are now filled with a daily outdoor market of leather goods, T-shirts, and other excellent Florentine souvenirs. I get much of my holiday shopping done here (who doesn't appreciate a leather wallet or belt straight from Florence?). Of course, it's only free if you manage not to buy anything... » more

San Miniato al Monte ★ - Florence's only real Romanesque church—with a beautiful facade and a wondrous, moving space inside—perches atop a hill amid greenery in the Oltrarno. For every 10,000 people who say "Oo! Look at that pretty church up there!" and snap a photo of it, maybe one bothers making his way up here to see it up close. Their loss. (Oh, and no matter what the movie showed, it was a vista across the Arno to this church that was the "view" discussed in EM Foster's famous book, "A Room with View.")... » more

Santa Trìnita ★ - This was the first Gothic church in Florence, built in 1250–58, perhaps by Nicola Pisano (but likely by a lesser-known artist), and best-known for the richness of its Renaissance frescoes—especially the courtly works by Domenico Ghirlandaio in the Sassetti Chapel—nominally of religious events, but populated by parades of contemporary figures (including Lorenzo de' Medici and his kids) in scenes reproducing faithfully the squares and streets of late 15th century Florence... » more

Santissima Annunziata ★ - Founded in 1250, this church near the northern edge of the tourist center was rebuilt in 1444-81 by Michelozzo and completed by Leon Battista Alberti, two of the greatest architects of the Renaissance, and decorated by some of the most important Mannerist artists of the High Renaissance... » more

Orsanmichele - This former granary—which, given its location halfway down the historic center's major street, you'll keep passing as you criss-cross Florence—is ringed by (replica) statues of saints by Donatello, Ghiberti, and Verrocchio, and contains a massive and gorgeous gothic altar by Andrea Orcagna... » more

Santo Spirito - The blank brick non-facade hides a perfection of Brunelleschian architecture inside, along with some fine altarpieces... » more

San Marco - The church of San Marco itself is no great shakes—dark and moody, with only a few minor works—but the attached monastery ★ (which, unfortunately, you do have to pay admission to) was decorated by its most illustrious resident, the great Renaissance monk and painter Fra' Angelico. It was also later the base of operations for ruling theocrat Girolamo "The Mad Monk" Savonarola... » more

Badia Fiorentina - Florence's only pointy bell tower rises above a Benedictine abbey and Gothic church where Dante once gazed longingly at his Beatrice. The interior has an uninspired baroque overlay, but there are also tombs sculpted by Mina da Fiesole and Bernardo Rossellino, a painting by Giorgio Vasari, several nice but ruinous frescoes by Nardo di Cione, and Filippino Lippi's 1485 Madonna Appearing to St. Bernard. Lovely Renaissance cloisters... » more

Santa Margherita de' Cerchi - A tiny medieval church with several Dante associations. Though the Badia was the big church in the neighborhood, most folks worshipped at Santa Margherita de' Cerchi, founded in the 12th century and just up the block from the Dante Museum. This wonderfully spare medieval church has a lovely altarpiece of the Madonna Enthroned with Four Saints by Neri di Bicci, and regularly hosts music concerts... » more

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This material was last updated April 2013. All information was accurate at the time.

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Florence for Free

Sights and experiences that are admission-free in Florence, Italy

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