Florence – San Giovanni

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San Giovanni is a historic neighborhood of Florence, which occupies the central and northern portion of the city center. This area includes several of the most famous landmarks of the city, such as the cathedral, and various rich museums, and it strecthes all the way to the perimeter of the ancient city walls of Florence.

✪ Florence Cathedral

Also known as: Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower (Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore)

The Florence Cathedral (Duomo di Firenze) is the main church of Florence and one of the most important religious sites in Italy. An iconic and easily recognizable architectural masterpiece, it was built in Gothic style between 1296 and 1436, when the dome was completed. The initial project was by Arnolfo di Cambio, and later saw the contributions of Giotto, who made the richly decorated bell tower, and Brunelleschi, who won a competition to design the dome of the church. Brunelleschi’s dome is considered one of the most remarkable architectural works of the Renaissance, if not of all time. It remained the largest dome in the world until 1871, and to this day it is still the largest brick and mortar dome ever built. Meanwhile, the extremely elaborate facade of the cathedral was rebuilt in Gothic Revival style in the 19th century, and it features numerous sculptures, mosaics, and decorations. The interior of the church is simple, as many artworks have been removed, but the cathedral still hosts various interesting frescoes and art pieces, such as the bronze doors and wood carvings of the sacristy. Instead, the interior of the dome is decorated by the huge fresco of The Last Judgement (Giudizio Universale) painted by Vasari and Zuccari in the 16th century. Underneath the cathedral are the ruins of the ancient Church of Santa Reparata, which now serves as a crypt and houses some tombs, including that of Brunelleschi.

✪ Florence Baptistery

Also known as: Baptistery of Saint John (Battistero di San Giovanni)

The Florence Baptistery (Battistero di Firenze) is a large octagonal baptistery located in front of the city’s cathedral. Built between the 11th and 12th century, probably over a previous structure, the baptistery is a masterpiece of the Florentine Romanesque style. The decorated exterior is adorned with the copies of the elaborate bronze doors made by Lorenzo Ghiberti and Andrea Pisano, while the originals are in the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo. The interior of the dome of the baptistery features a large Byzantine-style mosaic, created between the 13th and 14th century, and considered one of the greatest cycles of mosaics in Italy. The 14th-century Column of Saint Zanobi (Colonna di San Zenobi) is located just outside the baptistery.

✪ Museo dell’Opera del Duomo di Firenze

The Museo dell’Opera del Duomo di Firenze is a museum dedicated to the history of the Florence Cathedral and its artworks, and it is located just behind the church. The museum houses a rich collection of Renaissance scultpures, including some by Donatello and Michelangelo, and a reconstruction of the original facade of the church. The original bronze doors of the Florence Baptistery, made by Ghiberti and Pisano in the 14th and 15th century are also hosted in the museum.

✪ Basilica of San Lorenzo

The Basilica of San Lorenzo is one of the oldest and largest churches in Florence. Founded in the 4th century, it was rebuilt during the Renaissance but its facade remained unfinished. The structure was partially designed by Brunelleschi, while the interior hosts various artworks by other Renaissance artists. The church is at center of a large complex that includes the Old Sacristy (Sagrestia Vecchia), designed by Brunelleschi and decorated by Donatello. Adjacent to the basilica are the Medici Chapels (Cappelle Medicee), two chapels which serve as the mausoleum of the Medici family, hosting numerous tombs and funerary monuments. The smaller one is the New Sacristy (Sagrestia Nuova), built by Michelangelo and housing various beautiful statues by the sculptor. The larger one, surmounted by a tall dome, is the Cappella dei Principi (“Chapel of the Princes”), which is adorned with several decorations and frescoes. The cloisters of the basilica house the Laurentian Library (Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana), a historic library founded in the 16th century which houses thousands of ancient manuscripts. The library is also known for its architectural decorations, and was designed by Michelangelo.

✪ Palazzo Medici Riccardi

Palazzo Medici Riccardi is a Renaissance palace located near the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Florence. Commissioned by the Medici family, the palace was designed by Michelozzo, while Michelangelo made the peculiar finestre inginocchiate (“kneeling windows”) on the facade of the building. The palace features various decorated halls, such as the Magi Chapel (Cappella dei Magi), which features a rich series of elaborate frescoes painted by Renaissance artist Benozzo Gozzoli. The building also houses the Galleria degli Specchi, a hall adorned with beautiful Baroque frescoes from the 17th century painted by Luca Giordano. The imposing structure now serves as the seat of the Metropolitan City of Florence and as a museum.

✪ Galleria dell’Accademia

The Galleria dell’Accademia is an art museum in Florence, the second most important in the city after the Uffizi. The museum is best known for hosting various sculptures by Michelangelo, including the David, one of the greatest masterpieces of Renaissance art and the world’s most famous statue. The art gallery also features a rich collection of artworks by artists of the Late Middle Ages and the Renaissance, such as Botticelli, Ghirlandaio, Uccello, del Sarto, and many others. The gallery also includes the Museum of Musical Instruments (Museo degli Strumenti Musicali), a collection of historic musical instruments mostly from the 18th century.

✪ Museo di San Marco

The Basilica of San Marco is a Renaissance church adorned with a Neoclassical facade, which houses various interesting artworks and the Salviati Chapel (Cappella Salviati), a decorated chapel designed by Giambologna. However, the church is best known for the adjacent convent, which hosts the Museo di San Marco. The building was constructed by Michelozzo, and during the 15th century housed painter Fra Angelico and preacher Girolamo Savonarola. The museum houses a large collection of paintings and frescoes by Fra Angelico, but also by other artists such as Fra Bartolomeo and Ghirlandaio. Part of the museum are also various cells, including those where Savonarola lived, and two which were reserved for Cosimo de’ Medici.

✪ Museum of Natural History of Florence

The Museum of Natural History of Florence (Museo di Storia Naturale di Firenze) is one of the oldest and most important natural history museums in Italy. Founded in 1775, now it houses millions of pieces, and it is divided into six different collections. The main section, located next to the Museo di San Marco, houses the geology and paleontology collection, which houses thousands of fossils. This area also hosts the thousands of specimens of the collection of mineralogy and lithology, and the rich herbariums of the botanical section. Next to this area is the Giardino dei Semplici, one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world, founded in 1545 and featuring thousands of plant species and various centuries-old trees. Another large section of the museum is the rich collection of anthropological and ethnological items, which is located near the Florence Cathedral and houses pieces from all over the world. Part of the museum is also the zoological collection of La Specola, in the neighborhood of Oltrarno.

✪ National Archaeological Museum of Florence

The National Archaeological Museum of Florence (Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Firenze) is a rich museum of archaeology located in a palace adjacent to the Spedale degli Innocenti. The museum features a huge collection of finds from Tuscany, including several Etruscan artworks and objects. The collection also includes numerous finds from the Roman age, and from ancient Greece. A separate section houses the collection of Egyptian antiquities, one of the largest in Italy. The museum also features a large collection of ancient coins.

Basilica of Santissima Annunziata

The Basilica of Santissima Annunziata is a religious complex in Florence, and the mother church of the Servite Order. The church was founded in the 13th century and it was built in various phases over the following centuries, most notably during the Renaissance. The basilica houses rich Baroque decorations and frescoes, and several chapels adorned with elaborate paintings and statues. Adjacent to the church are the cloisters, which include other decorated chapels, such as the Chapel of Saint Luke (Cappella di San Luca). The church faces Piazza della Santissima Annunziata, a square adorned with two 17th-century fountains and a large monument by Giambologna dedicated to Ferdinando I de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany.

Spedale degli Innocenti

The Spedale degli Innocenti is a historic hospital and orphanage designed by Brunelleschi and built during the 15th century. The building is regarded as a great example of Renaissance architecture and features numerous decorations and frescoes. The structure houses an art museum featuring works by artists such as Ghirlandaio and Botticelli. The building faces the Piazza della Santissima Annunziata.

Chiostro dello Scalzo

The Chiostro dello Scalzo is a small cloister in Florence, which features a large series of frescoes painted in the early 16th century by Andrea del Sarto. The scenes depict the life of Saint John the Baptist and are regarded as one of the greatest works by the artist.

Museo della Fondazione Scienza e Tecnica

The Museo della Fondazione Scienza e Tecnica is a science museum in Florence. Its collection includes thousands of historic instruments and machines used for the study of physics, and a section dedicated to natural history with numerous fossils, minerals, zoological and botanical specimens, and much more.

Cenacolo di Sant’Apollonia

The Complex of Sant’Apollonia is a former monastery in the center of Florence. Suppressed in the 19th century, some of its structures now serve different uses. Part of the complex is the Cenacolo di Sant’Apollonia, which was once the refectory of the monastery. This hall features a 15th-century fresco by Andrea del Castagno depicting the Last Supper, and also hosts various other artworks by the same artist and other Renaissance artists.

Casa Martelli Museum

The Casa Martelli Museum (Museo di Casa Martelli) is an art gallery and house museum hosted in a historic palace in Florence. The museum includes a collection of paintings and other artworks, housed in various richly frescoed halls.

Florentine Museum of Prehistory

The Florentine Museum of Prehistory (Museo Fiorentino di Preistoria) is an archaeological museum in Florence. Its collection includes various prehistoric finds and artworks unearthed around Florence and in all of Tuscany.

Teatro della Pergola

The Teatro della Pergola is a historic theater in Florence. Built during the 17th century, it is regarded as the oldest opera house of its kind in Italy, and its architecture influenced the construction of many theaters across the country in following centuries. Restored several times, the theater still hosts performances to this day.

Fortezza da Basso

The Fortezza da Basso is a 16th-century fortress built along the ancient walls of Florence. The fort was partially demolished during the 19th century, and some areas are now used as an exhibition center.