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FLORENCE
Category · 11 guides

History & Architecture

How Florence came to look the way it does – the Medici, the guilds, Brunelleschi’s dome and Savonarola’s bonfire – written for people standing in front of the buildings.

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Florence's octagonal Baptistery displays geometric green and white marble walls, with the cathedral facade and dome rising behind visitors in the square.
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Florence Baptistery & Gates of Paradise Complete Guide 2026

Complete guide to Florence Baptistery and Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise: octagonal Romanesque building, three sets of bronze doors, Byzantine mosaics, tickets and hours.

11 min read
Aerial view showcasing Florence's skyline and iconic Giotto's Bell Tower under a clear sky.
Giotto’s Bell Tower Florence Complete Climbing Guide 2026 Complete guide to climbing Giotto's Bell Tower: 414 steps, tickets (Giotto Pass €20, Brunelleschi Pass €30), hours, photography tips, accessibility. 12 min · 4 Aug 2026
Facade with classic statues in Florence, Tuscany; showcasing Italian architectural elegance.
Renaissance Florence Walking Tour 2026: Self-Guided 13-Stop Itinerary A complete self-guided walking tour through Renaissance Florence: 3.5 km, 4-5 hours, 13 stops from Baptistery to Pitti Palace with full historical context. 13 min · 3 Aug 2026
Close-up of the Basilica di Santa Croce facade in Florence, Italy, framed by scaffolding.
Basilica di Santa Croce Florence Complete Guide 2026: Tombs & Tickets Complete guide to Florence's Santa Croce: tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Rossini; Giotto frescoes; Pazzi Chapel by Brunelleschi; tickets and hours. 12 min · 2 Aug 2026
Stunning view of Palazzo Vecchio illuminated at night in Florence, showcasing Renaissance architecture.
Piazza della Signoria Florence Guide 2026: Open-Air Museum Tour Complete guide to Florence's Piazza della Signoria: David replica, Loggia dei Lanzi sculptures, Neptune Fountain, Palazzo Vecchio, history and best times to visit. 13 min · 1 Aug 2026
Low angle view of Santa Maria Novella's historic facade in Florence's gloomy weather.
Beautiful Churches in Florence Italy 2026: Beyond the Duomo The 8 essential Florence churches beyond the Duomo: Santa Croce, Santa Maria Novella, San Lorenzo, Santo Spirito, San Miniato, Orsanmichele, Santa Trinità. 16 min · 31 Jul 2026
Ponte Vecchio’s projecting shops and three stone arches reflect in the Arno beneath a pale pink evening sky in Florence.
Ponte Vecchio Florence Complete Guide 2026: History, Shops & Bridge The Ponte Vecchio of Florence: 1345 history, why it survived WWII, the Vasari Corridor, jewelry shopping, photography tips, and visitor information. 14 min · 30 Jul 2026
Explore the stunning architecture of the Palazzo Medici Riccardi courtyard in Florence, Italy.
The Medici Family of Florence: Complete History 2026 Guide How the Medici dynasty rose from Tuscan farmers to Europe's wealthiest bankers, rulers of Florence, Grand Dukes of Tuscany, and patrons of the Renaissance. 19 min · 29 Jul 2026
Climbing Brunelleschi's dome — 463 steps to the top of Florence's signature monument.
Climbing Brunelleschi’s Dome Florence: 463 Steps, Tickets & Tips 2026 Everything about climbing Florence Duomo's Brunelleschi dome: 463 steps, tickets, what to expect, accessibility, photography tips, and best times to climb. 18 min · 28 Jul 2026
The Florence Duomo (Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore) — built 1296-1436, with Brunelleschi's revolutionary dome.
Florence Duomo Complete Guide 2026: Tickets, Hours & Cathedral Tour Complete guide to Florence Cathedral (Santa Maria del Fiore): tickets, opening hours, what to see inside, climbing Brunelleschi's dome, Giotto's Bell Tower. 19 min · 27 Jul 2026
Ornate facade of Florence Cathedral at night, showcasing Gothic architecture.
Florence Italy History & Architecture: Birthplace of the Renaissance (2026) From Roman Florentia to Medici power and Brunelleschi's dome — a deep guide to Florence's 2,000-year history and the architecture that made it the birthplace of the Renaissance. 32 min · 25 Apr 2026