Sights near San Lorenzo and San Marco in Florence

A list of the sights just north of the heart of the centro storico in Florence, Italy

The Accademia ★★★

So much more than just Michelangelo's David (but, yes, that is here), this fine arts academy houses works by Botticelli, Giambologna, and Andrea del Sarto as well as several more Michelangelo sculptures that are, to many, more interesting than the David: a group half-finished Slaves that showcase the master's carving technique... » 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?)... » more

Michelangelo's Tomb of Giuliano in the Medici Chapel of the Princes of Florence

Medici Chapels ★★

Don't be put off by the tasteless "Chapel of the Princes" at the beginning—picture having all the money in the world, none of the renowned artistic taste of your famous ancestors, and a firm belief that, the more ostentatious and festooned with precious marbles your tomb, the greater your chances of getting into Heaven. It's what's in the basement that counts: three Medici tombs designed and carved by Michelangelo himself... » more

San Lorenzo ★

The Medici's home church was decorated with works by the family sculptor, Donatello, and its library's staircase is a wonderful example of Michelangelo's felicitous and playful architecture. A separate entrance by the back of the church leads to the "Chapel of the Princes," containing Medici tombs, several decorated with statues by Michelangelo... » more

Palazzo Medici-Riccardi ★

Not really a museum (though it hosts many temporary exhibits), but a nice stopover in the main Medici family palace, famous for the chapel with a vibrant, 360-degree fresco by early Renaissance great Benozzo Gozzoli depicting the Procession of the Magi but populated by Medici and other famous Florentines of the age... » more

The Annunciation by Fra' Angelico in San Marco, Florence

Museo di 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 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

The nave of the church of SS. Annunziata and its Chapel of the Annunciation in Florence. (Photo by Richard Mortel)

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

Mercato Centrale

For great picnic pickings—not to mention photo ops—head to Florence's 19th-century covered food market, snuggled behind the outdoor stalls of the San Lorenzo leather market. It looks a bit like a old grandiose train station inside, all dingy glass and steel struts, but actually was purpose-designed to be a market in 1870–74... » more

Cenacolo di Sant'Apollonia ★

This masterful Last Supper by Andrea del Castagno dates back to 1450. So few people know about this location resulting in no lines at this former convent and no crowds. Walk right up and ring the doorbell... » more

Museo Archeologico ★

This embarrassingly rich collection is often overlooked by visitors in full-throttle Renaissance mode. It conserves Egyptian artifacts, Roman remains, many Attic vases, and an important Etruscan collection. Parts of it have been undergoing restoration and rearrangement for years and are closed indefinitely, including the garden... » more

Museo del Opificio delle Pietre Dure, Firenze. (Photo by Kent Wang)

Museo Opificio delle Pietre Dure

In the 16th century, Florentine craftsmen perfected the art of pietre dure (misnamed "Florentine mosaic"), piecing together inlay of cut pieces of precious and semi-precious stones. The Medici founded this institute devoted to the craft in 1588, and while the collection in this museum is small, the pieces are uniformly excellent... » more

The Sepdale degli Innocenti, Florence. (Photo by Richard Mortel)

Spedale degli Innocenti

Europe's oldest foundling hospital, opened in 1445, is still going strong as a convent orphanage, though times have changed a bit. The lazy Susan set into the wall on the left end of the arcade—where once people left unwanted babies, swivelled it around, rang the bell, and ran—has since been blocked up... » more

Tips & links

Florence tourist info

Via Cavour 1R
tel. +39-055-290-832
www.firenzeturismo.it

Around the Oltrarno

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How long does Florence take?

Planning your day: Florence would well be worth a week, but you can still fit a lot into just a day or three.

To help you get the most out of your limited time in the Cradle of the Renaissance, here are some perfect itineraries, whether you have one, two, or three days to spend in Florence.

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