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Florence · Mixed

Must-see Florence: from Santa Maria Novella to Santa Croce

If you only have a few hours, this is your route. It crosses the centre from west to east, from Alberti's facade to the church of Italy's great names, by way of the Medici, the cathedral and Piazza della Signoria. Each stop tells you what is in front of you and what to look out for.

  • 6 stops
  • 2 km
  • 2 h
  • Free
Start with GPS Read about this stop 1
The Baptistery of St John and the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore with Giotto's bell tower

The route

Stop by stop

  1. 1 Santa Maria NovellaA marble facade that weds Gothic and Renaissance, signed by a merchant and designed by Alberti.
  2. 2 Basilica of San LorenzoThe Medici church, with a bare brick facade that Michelangelo never got to build.
  3. 3 Palazzo Medici RiccardiHome of Cosimo the Elder and Lorenzo the Magnificent: a palace plain outside and lavish within.
  4. 4 Duomo and BaptisteryThe cathedral with the impossible dome and, facing it, the Baptistery with the Gates of Paradise.
  5. 5 Loggia dei LanziAn open-air sculpture gallery on Piazza della Signoria, with Perseus, the Sabine women and the Medici lions.
  6. 6 Basilica of Santa CroceThe Franciscan church where Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli rest, and where Dante has an empty tomb.

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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

Must-see Florence: from Santa Maria Novella to Santa Croce

Florence's highlights

Six must-see places that sum up the Renaissance, from Brunelleschi and Alberti to Michelangelo and Cellini.

The Medici on the street

Their church, their palace and the statues they commissioned to show off their power.

On foot, in one line

A west-to-east walk with no doubling back, through the World Heritage historic centre.

Keep exploring

More routes in Florence

Back to Florence
HistoryFrom Roman Florentia to the palace of the Medici Mysteries & legendsBulls, lightning and hanged men: secret Florence

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