1. Home
  2. Italy
  3. Florence
  4. History

Florence · History

From Roman Florentia to the palace of the Medici

Florence began as a Roman colony beside the Arno and grew into a republic of merchants that ended up in the hands of a single family. This route follows that thread on foot, from the old forum to the Pitti Palace, crossing the river on the only bridge that survived 1944.

  • 6 stops
  • 1.3 km
  • 1 h 35 min
  • Free
Start with GPS Read about this stop 1
Ponte Vecchio over the Arno with its shops hanging over the water

The route

Stop by stop

  1. 1 Piazza della RepubblicaThis was the forum of Roman Florentia, and later a medieval market that was flattened in the 19th century.
  2. 2 OrsanmicheleA grain store turned church, decorated by the guilds with the finest statues of their day.
  3. 3 Palazzo VecchioThe fortress of the Florentine republic, where the priors, Savonarola and the Medici all held power.
  4. 4 Uffizi GalleryA block of government offices designed by Vasari that became one of the world's great museums.
  5. 5 Ponte VecchioThe goldsmiths' bridge, the only one in Florence the Germans did not blow up in 1944.
  6. 6 Pitti PalaceThe palace of a rival banker that became home to the Medici, the Lorraine dukes and the kings of Italy.

Loading the map…

Start with GPS

Guide mode

Walk it with GPS.

Open guide mode on your phone: you’ll see your position and the distance to each stop, and we’ll let you know when you arrive. Then read or listen.

Start with GPS

  1. Turn on your location

  2. Walk to the spot

  3. Check the photo and listen

What you’ll discover

From Roman Florentia to the palace of the Medici

A city of merchants

The wool, silk and banking guilds paid for statues, churches and palaces, and their mark is on every facade.

From republic to duchy

How a city that kept expelling its lords ended up ruled by the Medici for three centuries.

The river and its bridge

Ponte Vecchio, its shops hanging over the water and the hidden passageway that linked the palaces of power.

Keep exploring

More routes in Florence

Back to Florence
Mysteries & legendsBulls, lightning and hanged men: secret Florence MixedMust-see Florence: from Santa Maria Novella to Santa Croce

Itineraries

How many days do you have in Florence?

We’ve planned it day by day for you: which routes to walk and in what order, what else to see and where to eat.

1

Florence in 1 day

All three routes in one full day: the highlights, the history and the legends at dusk.

See the itinerary 2

Florence in 2 days

A gentler pace: the three routes over two days, plus extra sights and where to eat.

See the itinerary 3

Florence in 3 days

The city in depth: one route a day, extra museums and neighbourhoods, and a day for good food.

See the itinerary