Soak in the sun and watch the action from your own private terrace overlooking Piazza Santa Croce! This charming, cozy and light filled retreat boasts city and hillside views from every window.
This historic palazzo in Piazza Santa Croce contains totally up-to-date apartments in central Florence, Italy. Not only are the furnishings luxurious, the views over the piazza to the handsome medieval church are breathtaking. Each apartment features its own historic atmosphere with Renaissance murals, family heirloom antiques, and talented decorating. Many guests spend the season here, returning year after year.
Location
Conveniently located in the heart of the historical center of Florence, in Piazza Santa Croce, the palazzo is a landmark Renaissance Palazzo, and one of the few left in the historic center of Florence with a dramatic frescoed facade.
During late May thru late June there is noise in the piazza related to the Calico Storico, historic soccer matches. Late May is bleacher set up, June is practices and matches. If you can catch any of the play-offs (dates not advised in advance) or the final on June 24th, you'll get a lifetime treat and the "best seat in the house". We were astounded when we watched a game from this palazzo. For more information look up Calcio Storico on YouTube or Netflix Home Game series Episode 1.
Exterior
Many people passing through Piazza Santa Croce notice Giovanni di Ser Giovanni`s 1620 frescoes on the overhanging facade this handsome building, but few realize they can actually stay here. The 16th-century palazzo is owned by the gracious Contessa Piccolomini, who rents out truly spacious apartments to anyone who has ever dreamed of lying in bed near a roaring fire under a 17th-century frescoed ceiling or sipping tea in a living room surrounded by trompe d`oeil Roman ruins with a 16th-century wood ceiling above.
Interior
The glory of this apartment is the large terrace overlooking Piazza Santa Croce. You can enjoy this wonderful view day and night. We find ourselves frequenly enjoying the view as the atmosphere and light change throughout the day.
The large and comfortable living has a working fireplace. A separate dining room seats 6.
Living and dining rooms have French doors to large terrace overlooking the piazza.
The kitchen and the bedrooms windows have lovely southern views across the Oltrarno to San Minato al Monte.
Fully equipped kitchen. Independent heating and air conditioners.
Guests, including us, become devoted to the friendly atmosphere, comfortable layout, terrace and views of Mimi and return season after season. Book early!
Access: Elevator 6 steps up from building entrance.
Utilities/Taxes: Stays longer than 14 nights: utilities are paid as consumed.
Other: Check in 2:00 to 6:30pm.
Room Details
Room
Beds
Details
Bedroom 1
Dual King (1)
Dual king bed (71in x 79in; 180cm x 200cm) which can be separated to form two single beds
Bedroom 2
Extra-Wide Queen (1)
Extra-wide queen bed (63in x 75in; 160cm x 190cm)
Living room
Foldaway Bed: Single (2)
Two sofas that convert into two single beds (35in x 75in; 90cm x 190cm)
Bathroom 1 (en suite to Bedroom 1)
Bathtub (handheld showerhead), sink and toilet
Bathroom 2 (en suite to Bedroom 2)
Shower, sink and toilet
Kitchen
Kitchen
Fully Equipped
Coffee Maker
Dishwasher
Microwave
Oven
Stovetop
Toaster
Refrigerator
Accessibility
Private Entrance
5th Floor North American
Elevator
Bathroom
Hairdryer
Connectivity/Entertainment
WiFi
TV - Limited English Programs
Gym
Heating/Cooling
Heating
A/C
General Amenities
Toiletries
Smoke Detector
Carbon Monoxide Detector
Kid/Family Friendly
High Chair
Travel Crib
Laundry
Washer/Dryer Combo
Laundry Service
Outdoor
Terrace
Special Features
Balcony/Terrace
Amenities
Elevator
Air Conditioning
LEAVE A REVIEW
Thank you for submitting your review. It will be processed shortly!
July 5, 2023 - Manual Entry
Everything was just perfect
by Jeanette F
Bongiorno, we had a wonderful stay in Florence in the Mimi and Benozzo apartments. Everything was just perfect. Look forward to visiting you again.
November 18, 2019 - Website
S Croce Mimi Review
by Jane
We have only wonderful things to say about this charming, comfortable and delightful apartment with the PERFECT terrace overlooking Piazza Santa Croce! My daughter and I spent a month here and we adored Mimi and did not want to leave. The photos on the website are accurate, but it's even more inviting in person. It is not overly grand, no frescoes on the ceilings like some of the other apartments in this building, but it's warm, welcoming and very comfortable......and its crowning glory is the large, private terrace with multi-million dollar views.Stepping out onto that terrace every day (with the Santa Croce Basilica to your right, views of the the hills of Fiesole over the rooftops directly ahead and the Duomo to your left) was like living in dream. Or a Merchant/Ivory film. Simply glorious! Being able to step out onto that terrace at any time of the day or night, watch the sunrise, see the sunset, dine outside, have a glass of wine looking out over the city and seeing and hearing all the life buzzing around you was priceless. We loved hearing the bells and the hum of the people in the piazza below and the location was so convenient to everything the historic center has to offer. The Arno river is only a couple of blocks away, the Duomo is about a 10 minute walk. There are too many wonderful shops and restaurants to mention (well I'll mention Boccadama as it's literally right downstairs and we ate there about 7 times because it was so delicious) plus a large and excellent Conad grocery store is about a 5 minute walk from Mimi. There's even a taxi stand right in the piazza, super convenient! In terms of the interiors: the pretty master bedroom is roomy with plenty of closet space and a very comfortable bed with good linens and great pillows. The delightful second bedroom is smaller, but also had plenty of closet space and was really cozy for one person with a very comfortable, wider than normal single bed. Showers and water pressure in both (clean) bathrooms worked well. Both bedrooms were quiet at night as they do not face the Piazza, so we slept peacefully. As you can see from the photos, the living room is very charming with a small sofa and two comfortable armchairs with a lovely view out across the Piazza. There is a nice dining room with a sturdy table for 4 people and French doors out the the terrace...although my daughter set up her office on the table so we really didn't use it as a dining table!We loved the kitchen! It's really functional and very well stocked, we cooked a number of meals in it and it had everything we needed. There is a good sized refrigerator with a freezer (ice trays), dishwasher and a combination washer/dryer that came in very handy for a month-long stay. One of the things we enjoyed most about the kitchen was the gorgeous view from the large window....it looks out across beautiful terracotta rooftops, in the direction of the Arno and up to the Bardini Gardens and San Miniato al Monte. The beautiful views and nice natural light that comes into the kitchen from this window gives the kitchen an open and airy feeling and it's a lovely space to work in. Another benefit of Mimi, is the professional management that is onsite. Cecile, the greeter, is responsive and dependable, so any issues that might arise will be dealt with promptly. And the team at Italy Perfect was terrific to work with as well! Side note: the elevator is small (2 people)...but modern and runs well. Oh, and bring a pair of travel binoculars...we had fun from the terrace looking at the folks at the top of the Duomo, the Torre di Arnolfo and the people in the Piazza, as well as the pretty surrounding hillsides! As you can tell, my daughter and I had a marvelous experience and are already planning our next trip back to Florence and the lovely Mimi...."our" charming rooftop nest with a terrace of dreams. Grazie mille Italy Perfect! [Thank you for your lovely review Jane! We are so pleased to hear you had such a wonderful time staying in Santa Croce Mimi! We look forward to welcoming you back next year. The Italy Perfect Team]
July 29, 2018 - Website
S Croce Mimi Review
by Doris
Wonderful location overlooking the piazza Santa Croce. We spent lots of time on our top floor balcony admiring Santa Croce to the right and Brunelleschi’s dome and Giotto’s bell Tower to our left. Lots of neighborhood restaurants to choose from and easy walking to the grocery and market. The Santa Croce leather school makes gorgeous leather goods and we enthusiastically supported their efforts. We looked at lots of art and liked being able to walk to all the sights. I would most definitely stay in this apartment again or one in this neighborhood. [Thank you Doris, we are happy you enjoyed your stay! The Italy Perfect Team]
May 31, 2018 - Website
S Croce Mimi Review
by Joseph
This apartment is on the outer edge of the tourist area but only a few blocks from everything. For someone who wants to have some of their meals in the apartment it is ideal. It is only about 7 short blocks from a terrific outdoor market for fruits, vegetables, cheese, bread, meat, etc. There is an outdoor terrace overlooking the piazza which is fabulous. We ate more than half our meals there. It is a 15 minute or less walk to any attraction. The only downside to the apartment at all is that there are steps up or down between the rooms which you have to pay attention to, especially at night. Other than that, it is perfect, very clean, well furnished and a joy to experience. “Thank you for staying with us at Italy Perfect; we loved hearing about your experiences in the neighborhood, please come back soon! From the Italy Perfect Team"
April 14, 2018 - Website
S Croce Mimi Review
by Andy
Our apartment was very comfortable and of a good size. Clean and well maintained. But what stood out the most was the view. We had an incredible view of the entire Santa Croce area and sitting on the patio at night was wonderful. And if you want to be in good shape don't take the small elevator since walking up and down the 4-5 floors offset much of the eating we did. Nice place and great location. Italy Perfect did a great job. [Thsnk you so much Andy, we are pleased you had a wonderfull time! The Italy Perfect Team]
November 26, 2017 - Website
S Croce Mimi Review
by Julie
Great Location!Charming apartment. Wonderful terrace. Great views of the Piazza. Loved staying there for a long weekend![Thank you Julie! The Italy Perfect Team]
September 25, 2016 - Website
S Croce Mimi Review
by CatherineG
We stayed in this apartment recently and thoroughly enjoyed it. The location was perfect for us as we could walk everywhere and had a lot of history attached to it. The terrace was another nice addition, which we used quite a bit.The apartment was exactly as it appears in the online photos and the descriptions were right on.It had everything we needed. A/C was a nice touch which we used in the bedrooms at night.The elevator, as expected, is quite small but more than adequate.Kitchen had everything we needed to make meals, brew coffee, etc.There were 2 of us in the apartment and it was spacious enough for us.We were very close to grocery stores, restaurants, and other historical sights.The apartment was quite clean and management personnel were great.I would recommend the apartment and Pat at Italy Perfect. This was the 2nd time we worked with Pat and I would not hesitate to work with her in the future.[Oh, thanks so much. The Italy Perfect Team]
December 8, 2015 - Website
S Croce Mimi Review
by Denise
We booked our trip to Florence through Italy Perfect and that's just what it ended up being. We stayed in the Mimi at Palazzo Antellesi in Piazza Santa Croce for a months stay. The location was excellent. Lots of great sightseeing in the Piazza, especially enjoying it from their outdoor terrace. We actually even got to see the pope during our stay when he drove through the Piazza in his popemobile. The apartment was outfitted with everything you could need. It was very spacious and comfortable and decorated with a very homey Italian flair. The management there was also very nice and helpful. I would highly recommend using Italy Perfect. From beginning to end they were very professional and represented both the property and location accurately. Top Notch! We are already thinking about our next trip to Florence and plan to stay at the Mimi again.[Thank you so much, Denise. How amazing you saw the Pope there! The Italy Perfect Team]
November 30, 2015 - Website
S Croce Mimi Review
by Benedicte Valentiner
On the advice of two friends who rented an apartment in Firenze through Italy Perfect in 2013 I did the same for October 2015. For four weeks I stayed in the Palazzo Santa Croce in Firenze in a beautiful apartment on the third floor with a charming sitting room, large southern exposed terrace, small but superb kitchen, two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The owners of the Palazzo had left nothing to chance; everything was perfect, nothing was missing. It was a joy to return to such lovely surroundings every day. Danish and Scottish friends came to stay, and whether we ate out or in, all was most enjoyable. The location was right on Piazza Santa Croce, within walking distance of everything. I am already planning for my next Italian visit through Italy Perfect. [It was a pleasure to work with you, Benedicte. The Italy Perfect Team]
August 31, 2015 - Website
S Croce Mimi Review
by Mary
When we rented the apartment in Florence we had no idea just how much it would enhance our stay. Each day we returned to our HOME with appetizers in hand. Then we would sit on our private terrace, enjoying wonderful italian cheeses and wine while discussing our day. We were traveling with 2 twenty year olds and had we all returned to separate hotel rooms our experience would not have been shared or enjoyed nearly as much. We will travel this way from now on. [Thank you so much, Mary. Your appetizers on the terrace sound delicious. Nice to enjoy with your 20 year olds rather than be separated. Please come again! The Italy Perfect Team]
July 31, 2015 - Website
S Croce Mimi Review
by Lori
We had a wonderful stay in Florence. This apartment is very spacious and comfortable. The location was great. Our greeter was very helpful. Would highly recommend this apartment for families. The restaurant right next door was very good and very friendly. Thanks Italy Perfect for the wonderful stay. Would definitely recommend them to friends. [Thank you so much! The Italy Perfect Team]
June 30, 2015 - Website
S Croce Mimi Review
by Carol
Our apartment was very comfortable, quiet, clean, and well equipped. It was located in a historic palazzo turned into apartments on the Piazza Santa Croce. Our interests were in history, art, and architecture so the location was perfect. We were able to walk everywhere and even manage one of our party in a wheelchair. There is a "super" market a few blocks away for anything from staples to fine wine. We ate well everyday in a restaurant near our morning excursions, so all over the historic area. Food was great everywhere. Our travel companions are world-class consumers of gelato and give world-class honors to the small gelateria around the corner, facing the convent associated with Santa Croce. The folks at Italy Perfect were very helpful. And, yes, I would certainly seek them out again and recommend them to friends.
June 25, 2015 - Website
S Croce Mimi Review
by T. Patton
My friend and I spent a relaxing week in the San Croce Mimi penthouse, a furnished and well-maintained apartment at the edge of the historic district. Comfortable, spacious and with all the modern conveniences - elevator, microwave, TV with English news, air conditioning and a mobile phone to rent - we enjoyed every minute. The large patio overlooks famous San Croce Piazza, and arguably the most beautiful church in Florence. Steps away from shops, cafes and a tourist center, the apartment is still quiet inside its thick walls. Tips for future guests: bring mosquito repellant. The gardener services the plants on the gorgeous patio every other day; when he does, mosquitoes enter the apartment. Otherwise, gracious accommodations, fine service from our Italy Perfect agent and good value made for a lovely vacation.
June 4, 2014 - Website
S Croce Mimi Review
by Martha M
All eight of us were enchanted with "Mimi" and "Medici" in Florence. The apartments were lovely, comfortable, very well equipped. And Cecile and Greta took wonderful care of us. As I'm sure you know, the location is wonderful. I was one of the ones staying in "Mimi". I can't stop missing that terrace, with the views of the Duomo and Santa Croce and of the Tuscan hills, all to the sound of real (not recorded) church bells.
May 14, 2012 - Website
S Croce Mimi Review
by Nigel and Suzanne M.
Enjoyed this apartment very much. Would love to return. Excellent service. Thank you!
September 21, 2011 - Website
S Croce Mimi Review
by Edith T.
Wonderful stay in the Mimi apartment. Can't wait to return!
May 11, 2011 - Website
S Croce Mimi Review
by M Hebbard
We adored Mimi. It was perfectly set up for ourselves and our teenage son, who even had his own bathroom. The beds were blissfully comfortable, and the bedrooms were quiet with lovely views of the Tuscan hillside and roof tops. We loved sitting out on our balcony overlooking Piazza Santa Croce enjoying tea in the morning and cocktails before dinner. The sitting and dining rooms were beautifully decorated with lovely local ceramics and comfortably furniture. The highlight of Florence was the local gem of Santa Croce church with it's lovely art treasures, Pazzi chapel, cloisters and the superb leather workshop. The quality of the leather is superb, and you can have one of the artisans emboss your initials in your new purchases while you watch. We found the restaurant below our apartment to be very good homestyle cooking. The only negative aspect to our stay at Mimi was that we arrived to a Rock concert taking place in the Piazza which went all day till midnight. This Piazza has always been the focus for local celebrations since Renaissance times and while it was lovely to see it still being used and loved by the City, it was a bit of a surprise for us. Fortunately Palazzo Vecchio was open till Midnight that night, so it wasn't a big problem and our son enjoyed a free concert! My tips for Florentine sites: For tickets to all the major sites go to the ticket office at Or San Michele.We found the food at the Uffizi to be appaling, so we suggest eating lunch before you go, and booking for a 12:30 start to the Uffizi. Another treasure not to be missed was the exquisite Medici Chapel with it's stunning paintings of the Magi by Gozzoli in the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi. In summary, the Mimi apartment was a wonderful base for exploring all the wonders of Florence and we felt priveleged being in such an historic building.
August 25, 2009 - Website
S Croce Mimi Review
by Robert M
We had an extended visit to Florence in 2009 and stayed at apartment Mimi. It is perfect for two people. A very comfortable home away from home with a charming ambiance and lots of character. The north facing terrace is a luxury in Florence and made all the difference to our stay. We regularly ate breakfast or dinner on the terrace which looks out to Fiesole and is dominated by the striking facade of Santa Croce. Mimi is well located and within walking distance to Florence's many treasures. The small functional kitchen was well used. Shopping at the local supermarkets, butcher in Via dei neri and nearby fresh food markets made the stay even more special. If we didn't feel like eating in there were a number of excellent restaurants and wine bars nearby. The locals we met in the restaurants and local shops were very friendly. The staff at Palazzo Santa Croce were very helpful and also very friendly. We enjoyed our stay and will return.” We look forward to your return trip in 2011! IP
July 7, 2008 - Website
S Croce Mimi Review
by Jennifer Z
Oh my gosh, the trip was the most beautiful experience we could have asked for. Wonderful!!! Thank you for your services! I would go back tonight if I had the chance. The Medici Apartment in Florence is simply the most beautiful apartment in the world. Perfect for our big group. Stately and palatial, with every accommodation we could want. Huge windows open onto the square where excitement and life take place before your eyes. Felt like living in a Renaissance Palace!!! Renee, who manages the Pallazzo, was so wonderful and kind and warm. We most enjoyed the sights, the activity on the Piazza, the local cafes in the Ambrogio (sp?) neighborhood, the art, the palatial, restful apartment. The art, the art, the art! Noise was an issue but we got a system down of using the air conditioners and fans at night to drown out the partying on the square. It turned out fine and we got used to the system of windows closed and white noise on. No other drawbacks or problems at all - everything was truly perfect. The noise wouldn't have bothered us if we didn't have to be up in the AM with the kids, if we could have slept late like the locals it would have been fine. perfect, the perfect location - walked everywhere and best gellati in the world was only two blocks away. the Medici Apartment is right in the middle of things - the ONLY place to stay in Florence is what we all decided. The Ambrogio neighborhood was perfect, very authentic and no tourists, The Standa market was perfect - we went there daily to get food to cook in our apartment every night. We ate out only once and enjoyed great dinners around the huge dining room table. The leather school behind Santa Croce was wonderful! Tips: Try to live like a local, get off the beaten path, book museum tickets ahead of time from home to avoid lines. Your service was wonderful and thorough and helpful in every way. Seriously.
June 30, 2005 - Website
S Croce Mimi Review
by Trina G
We rented two apartments in Palazzo Santa Croce from July 2nd to the 16th and spent 6 weeks in Italy overall. It was a marvelous trip and we have returned highly recommending staying in apartments to our friends. We loved and would certainly return to apartments in Florence, particularly Miravista which was light and lovely, and had the wonderful terrace.
April 30, 2005 - Website
S Croce Mimi Review
by Richard E
The Palazzo Santa Croce was the perfect base for our daily wanderings through Florence. Donatello was grand and more than large enough for the four of us.
Base Nightly Rates – May Not Include Fees such as Greeting, Cleaning, Damage Waiver, Payment Processing and Tourist Taxes. For full price, please put in dates.
Available Unavailable Check-In Only Check-Out Only
March 2024
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
$1100
21
$1100
22
$1100
23
$1100
24
$1100
25
$1100
26
$1100
27
$1100
28
29
30
31
April 2024
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
May 2024
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
$1100
25
$1100
26
$1100
27
$1100
28
$1100
29
$1100
30
$1100
31
$1100
June 2024
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
01
$1100
02
$1100
03
$1100
04
$1100
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
$1100
28
$1100
29
$1100
30
$1100
July 2024
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
01
$1100
02
$1100
03
$1100
04
$1100
05
$1100
06
$1100
07
$1100
08
$1100
09
$1100
10
$1100
11
$1100
12
$1100
13
$1100
14
$1100
15
$1100
16
$1100
17
$1100
18
$1100
19
$1100
20
$1100
21
$1100
22
$1100
23
$1100
24
$1100
25
$1100
26
$1100
27
$1100
28
$1100
29
$1100
30
31
August 2024
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
September 2024
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
October 2024
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
November 2024
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
01
02
03
04
05
06
$1100
07
$1100
08
$1100
09
$1100
10
$1100
11
$1100
12
$1100
13
$1100
14
$1100
15
$1100
16
$1100
17
$1100
18
$1100
19
$1100
20
$1100
21
$1100
22
$1100
23
$1100
24
$1100
25
$1100
26
$1100
27
$1100
28
$1100
29
$1100
30
$1100
December 2024
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
01
$1100
02
$1100
03
$1100
04
$1100
05
$1100
06
$1100
07
$1100
08
$1100
09
$1100
10
$1100
11
$1100
12
$1100
13
$1100
14
$1100
15
$1100
16
$1100
17
$1100
18
$1100
19
$1100
20
$1100
21
$1100
22
$1100
23
$1100
24
$1100
25
$1100
26
$1100
27
$1100
28
$1100
29
$1100
30
$1100
31
$1100
January 2025
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
01
$1100
02
$1100
03
$1100
04
$1100
05
$1100
06
$1100
07
$1100
08
$1100
09
$1100
10
$1100
11
$1100
12
$1100
13
$1100
14
$1100
15
$1100
16
$1100
17
$1100
18
$1100
19
$1100
20
$1100
21
$1100
22
$1100
23
$1100
24
$1100
25
$1100
26
$1100
27
$1100
28
$1100
29
$1100
30
$1100
31
$1100
February 2025
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
01
$1100
02
$1100
03
$1100
04
$1100
05
$1100
06
$1100
07
$1100
08
$1100
09
$1100
10
$1100
11
$1100
12
$1100
13
$1100
14
$1100
15
$1100
16
$1100
17
$1100
18
$1100
19
$1100
20
$1100
21
$1100
22
$1100
23
$1100
24
$1100
25
$1100
26
$1100
27
$1100
28
$1100
March 2025
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
01
$1100
02
$1100
03
$1100
04
$1100
05
$1100
06
$1100
07
$1100
08
$1100
09
$1100
10
$1100
11
$1100
12
$1100
13
$1100
14
$1100
15
$1100
16
$1100
17
$1100
18
$1100
19
$1100
20
$1100
21
$1100
22
$1100
23
$1100
24
$1100
25
$1100
26
$1100
27
$1100
28
$1100
29
$1100
30
$1100
31
$1100
April 2025
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
01
$1100
02
$1100
03
$1100
04
$1100
05
$1100
06
$1100
07
$1100
08
$1100
09
$1100
10
$1100
11
$1100
12
$1100
13
$1100
14
$1100
15
$1100
16
$1100
17
$1100
18
$1100
19
$1100
20
$1100
21
$1100
22
$1100
23
$1100
24
$1100
25
$1100
26
$1100
27
$1100
28
$1100
29
$1100
30
$1100
May 2025
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
01
$1100
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Local Sights
Piazza della Signoria (7 mins Walking) Center of power of Florence since ancient times with the David statue by the Palazzo Vecchio, the ancient seat of government, and the loggia of dramatic statues each of which has a story about politics and power. Imagine the Bonfires of the Vanities here and the triumphal return of the Medici. Uffizi Gallery (7 mins Walking) One of the greatest museums in the world. The defining collection of Renaissance art. A tour is recommended. Duomo (8 mins Walking) Florence's famous and glorious cathedral, Santa Maria del Fiore, beautiful to gaze at since the 1300s. Don't miss and, if you can, read about -- then visit the amazing dome by Brunelleschi erected without scaffolding! Ponte Vecchio (12 mins Walking) Awesome ancient bridge over Florence's Arno river that has survived 800 years. Famous for the shops of goldsmiths along its length.
Public Transport
Santa Maria Novella Train Station (20 mins via Taxi) Florence's main train station