Florence is absolutely beautiful, but there are a few spots in the city that will make you feel grateful for having made the trip. You need to see these views of Florence to believe how beautiful this city actually is. Bonus points for people who get to a few of these viewpoints to catch an amazing sunset. I think catching a sunset at Piazza Michelangelo should be on your bucket list!
(Unfortunately, I lost a lot of my pictures from my trip to Europe, so I don’t have pictures to add to this blog, but, use your imagination, or just google the following views and you will see what I mean!)
1. Piazzale Michelangelo
For an expansive view of Florence, there are few spots better than the Piazzale Michelangelo! If you fell in love with Florence after seeing a stunning picture of the city from a distance, chances are, that the picture was taken from here. The Piazza is a great spot for sunset, (maybe the best sunset in Florence) so plan your visit here accordingly.
2. Giardini delle Rose
Just a 300m walk from the Piazzale Michelangelo, is the rose garden (Giardini delle Rose). The view of the city from the garden is beautiful! Your pictures will have roses in full bloom framing the bottom of your view of Florence! It’s quite unlike any other viewpoint in the city!
3. San Miniato Al Monte
A 450 m walk away from Piazzale Michelangelo, this church occupies a higher vantage point from which you can enjoy expansive views of Florence.
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4. Arno River facing the Ponte Vecchio
You can’t see all of Florence from here, but the view of Ponte Vecchio and the Arno River are one of my favourites in Flroence. Ponte Vecchio is a stunning sight especially at sunset!
5. Ponte Vecchio
From Ponte Vecchio, the view of the Arno River, and the city is a calming sight. It’s not magnificent like the other viewpoints, but it is a view that I loved, maybe more so because there was always a cool breeze, and a musical band performing at the bridge to set the mood!
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6. Duomo (Santa Maria del Fiore)
The climb up to Brunelleschi’s dome, the Duomo is difficult and long, but the view makes up for all of it. It is one of the most famed views in the city. Do keep in mind that this is a popular attraction and it is best to book your time slot online and in advance. It will help you cut the line when you are there.
7. Giotto’s Campanile
If you have seen pictures of expansive views of Florence, with the dome of the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral in it-the picture is from the Giotto’s Campanile. It is the bell tower adjacent to the Duomo. It is a narrow staircase that leads up to the viewpoint, and it can be a little claustrophobic, but one has to do what one has to do for great views! The view from here is obstructed by wire netting, so that is a downer on the view, but it is a great view nonetheless.
8. Palazzo Vecchio
If you are not in the mood for another museum visit in Florence, you can skip the museum at the Palazzo Vecchio, and head up to the bell tower. There are tickets for this who just want to visit the bell tower and not the museum, so ask when you get there. Brunelleschi’s dome surrounded by all of Florence can be seen from here, and it is a lesser known spot for a sunset view of Florence! ( which means, you might get the place all to yourself, or with just a few others, which is quite unlike any of the other viewpoints of the city!)
There are plenty of restaurants with rooftop seating which grant beautiful views of the city, do a quick google search to find those restaurants to dine in!