Piazzale Michelangelo

Welcome to Piazzale Michelangelo, perhaps the most iconic panoramic terrace in all of Italy. As you stand here, high above the Arno River, the entire city of Florence unfolds before you like a living map of the Renaissance. …

At the center of the square stands the third version of Michelangelo's David. While the original is protected within the Accademia Gallery and a marble replica stands in Piazza della Signoria, this bronze cast serves as the focal…

If you move to the eastern side of the terrace, your gaze falls upon the Basilica of Santa Croce. From this height, the facade looks like a jewel-box of white marble, but as local experts will tell you, only the facade is marble;…

Dominating the center of your view is the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Duomo. Its red-tiled dome is the largest masonry dome in the world, and from this height, you can see how it dwarfs every other building in the…

To the left of the Duomo, the fortress-like tower of the Palazzo Vecchio rises above the Piazza della Signoria. This is the seat of the city government, a role it has held since the 1300s. …

As the sun begins to set, all eyes turn toward the Arno River and its bridges. The most famous, the Ponte Vecchio, is easily identifiable by the small shops that cling to its sides like barnacles. …

If you are willing to walk just a little further up the hill from the Piazzale, you will find an even higher and more serene viewpoint at the Basilica of San Miniato al Monte. This is one of the most important and beautiful…

As you prepare to descend back into the heart of Florence, take one last sweep of the horizon. From Piazzale Michelangelo, you have seen the city not just as a collection of buildings, but as a masterpiece of human ambition and…