And when I thought of Florence, it was like a miracle city embalmed and like a corolla, because it was called the city of lilies and its cathedral, St. Mary of the Flowers.
Marcel Proust, Italian Hours (1909)
More than a hundred years after Proust wrote these words, little has changed. Florence remains one of the most beautiful cities on the planet.
But where can you capture the best views of Florence?
This is where I can help. I have visited this gorgeous Tuscan city many times and have found the best spots for photographing Florence in all of her Renaissance splendour.
Whilst you will have to pay for some of these views, many others are free (including my favourite Florence viewpoint). And all of these photo spots give you timeless perspectives of this beautiful city.
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Best Viewpoints in Florence in a Nutshell
In a hurry? In no particular order, here is where to find the best views in Florence:
- Piazzale Michelangelo
- San Miniato al Monte
- Ponte Vecchio
- Ponte Santa Trinità
- Fiesole
- Brunelleschi’s Dome
- Giotto’s Campanile
- Tower of Arnolfo
- Uffizi Galleries
- Boboli Gardens
- Bardini Gardens
- San Niccolò Tower
- Rose Garden
If you find it helpful to map things out, here’s one that I prepared earlier. For an interactive map, simply click here or on the image itself.
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Free Views of Florence, Italy
Many of the best views in Florence are to be found in the Oltrarno district, on the south side of the River Arno.
1. Piazzale Michelangelo
Include Piazzale Michelangelo in your Florence itinerary for its classic postcard view of Florence.
Florence’s major landmarks are laid out before you, from Brunelleschi’s dome to the bridges across the Arno River, including the famous Ponte Vecchio. There’s also a good café with an outside terrace and a fake David – one of Florence’s best-known sculptures – in the centre of the square.
Considering the hordes that descend on Piazzale Michelangelo, it is surprisingly chilled.
MY TOP TIPS
It’s a 15-minute uphill hike to Piazzale Michelangelo from the Ponte Vecchio. This is steep in places. Map location here.
If you don’t fancy the walk, catch bus #12 (from Boboli Gardens), bus #13 (from Ponte Niccolo), or the hop-on-hop-off bus.
Visit in the morning for the best light, or at (or after) sunset.
2. San Miniato al Monte
Dedicated to St. Minias who was beheaded on the banks of the Arno in 250 AD, this is the oldest church in Florence. Although it has an art-filled sacristy and a ceiling of glazed terracotta panels – well worthy of a look – most people visit San Miniato al Monte for its stunning views of Florence.
For a bonus photo spot, head to the Sacred Doors Cemetery, directly behind the Church of San Miniato al Monte.
3. Ponte Vecchio
Not all of the gorgeous views in Florence are from above. Take a stroll across a few of Florence’s famous bridges for some of the best views in town.
Lined with jewellers’ shops, the beautiful Ponte Vecchio – “Old Bridge” – is synonymous with the city itself. So much so that it has become a character in some of the best films set in Italy (including my favourite, A Room with a View).
There’s been a bridge straddling this point of the Arno as far back as Roman times. Today’s Ponte Vecchio dates back to the 14th Century.
The views east to Ponte alle Grazie or west towards Ponte Santa Trinità from the centre of Ponte Vecchio are equally wonderful.
MY TOP TIPS
For the best light, point your camera lens westwards in the morning, and towards the east in the evening.
If you want to take a photograph of the bridge itself, visit as early in the day as possible when the Ponte Vecchio will not be crowded.
Map location here.
4. Ponte Santa Trinità
I think that the view east from Ponte Santa Trinità trumps those from Ponte Vecchio. This is in no small part thanks to the view that you get of Ponte Vecchio.
Featuring graceful arches and stone decorations, Ponte Santa Trinità itself is a stunner. This 16th Century bridge connects the basilica of the same name with that of Santo Spirito in the Oltrarno.
Map location here.
5. Fiesole
You have to head out of town for the last of my free views of Florence.
Keeping watch over Florence from the glorious Tuscan countryside, Fiesole is perfect for history fangirls or fanboys. Its Etruscan roots are evident in its Etruscan-Roman Archaeological site, which includes remnants of Etruscan walls, a Roman amphitheatre and Roman baths.
But shutterbugs won’t feel short-changed. From the centre of Fiesole village, there are panoramic views over the rolling countryside, for which Italy is famous, to the city of Florence beyond.
And if you are a history buff and a shutterbug you’ll be like a dog with two tails.
Although you can walk to Fiesole from Florence in an hour, it may be easier to catch bus #7 from Piazza San Marco. At busy times of the day, there are 3 – 4 services an hour and the journey takes around 20 minutes. Fiesole is also served by the hop-on-hop-off bus.
Map location here.
Stunning Views of Florence for the Price of a Ticket
Sadly, some of the most beautiful views of Florence only come with the price of a ticket. But trust me; these admission costs are an excellent use of your holiday euros.
Most of these viewpoints are clustered around Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Signoria.
6. Brunelleschi’s Dome
One of the most popular viewpoints in Florence is from Brunelleschi’s dome.
The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, simply known as the Duomo, is ground zero of the Italian Renaissance. This is the visual and geographic centre of Florence. If you get lost, just look upwards.
Climbing the Duomo is not to be undertaken lightly.
There are 436 steps, some of them steep, and at times the passageway is narrow. If you suffer from claustrophobia or vertigo, skip this one.
I climbed Brunelleschi’s dome some years ago and I am not in a rush to repeat the experience.
Nonetheless, there are two excellent reasons to consider this climb.
If you are an art lover, it provides a cannot-be-bettered view of Giorgio Vasari’s frescoes of the Last Judgment that decorates the dome’s interior.
And when you emerge onto the dome’s lantern, there are unobstructed views of Florence. However, it goes without saying that this photo spot doesn’t put Florence’s famous dome in the picture.
Map location here.
7. Giotto’s Campanile
Piercing the sky above the historic centre of Florence, this 270-foot bell tower, designed by Giotto, was built between 1334 and 1359.
For my money, Giotto’s Bell Tower offers an equal, if not better, viewpoint of Florence than Brunelleschi’s dome. There are sensational views in all directions, including those of the dome itself.
But there is a but.
The safety grill on the exterior walkways obstructs the view of the city. However, with a bit of fiddling around / careful placement of your camera lens you can get a clear shot of your surroundings. It just takes a bit of experimentation.
Although you are at a lower vantage point than the dome, I don’t think that this matters.
As with the dome, this is a long and sometimes steep and claustrophobic climb, particularly near the top where it becomes narrow and twisting. But there are three levels where you can sit and catch your breath before attacking the next set of steps.
But my word; those views are worth the huffing and puffing. This is as close to the outside of Brunelleschi’s dome as you will get.
Map location here.
8. Tower of Arnolfo
If you are out of luck with tickets for the dome of Giotto’s Campanile climb, head to the Tower of Arnolfo. The views from the top of the sky-scraping medieval tower of the Palazzo Vecchio are among the best in the city.
Entering through the palace, a guide takes you to the first set of steps where they had over to a colleague who directs you to the rest of the route. At 233 steps, this is a moderate climb and not as arduous as climbing either Giotto’s Tower or Brunelleschi’s dome
That works for me.
Buy your ticket in advance. I bought my ticket the day before my visit at a quieter time of year and availability was limited.
You will need to deposit your bag in a (free) locker. For safety reasons, the tower is closed if it is raining
Map location here.
9. Uffizi Galleries
The main reason for stepping foot over the threshold of the Uffizi Galleries is to ogle its collection of world-famous Florentine Renaissance art. But did you know that this gallery is home to one of the best photography spots in Florence?
Make your way to one or both of these locations.
From the lovely terrace cafe, you can eyeball some of Florence’s most iconic landmarks, including the Duomo and Palazzo Vecchio. However, it will blow a hole in your holiday budget to stop for lunch here.
But I think that the best view of Florence from the Uffizi is through a window at the end of the gallery’s great hallway. Just look for a gaggle of visitors aiming their cameras towards a pane of glass.
For a bonus viewpoint of Florence, take a look out of the window near room A31 (Signorelli’s paintings).
Map location here.
10. Boboli Gardens
The beautiful Boboli Gardens, the backyard of the Medici’s Palazzo Pitti, is a welcome respite from the tourist crowds of Florence. Sprawling over 11 acres, it features formal landscaped gardens, elegant sculptures and tinkling fountains.
It also gets my vote for providing stunning views of Florence and the rolling Tuscan countryside beyond.
If you have the energy, continue further uphill to Fort Belvedere, a fortress dating from the late 16th Century. It’s not as pretty as the Boboli Gardens, but you are at a higher vantage point.
Map location here.
11. Bardini Gardens
The lesser-known Bardini Gardens are included in your ticket for the Boboli Gardens.
From the gardens’ Belvedere Terrace, there is one of the best panoramic viewpoints in Florence. The Bardini Gardens are beloved by Instagrammers for their famous Wisteria Tunnel.
You have been warned.
Map location here.
12. San Niccolò Tower
This is a Florence viewpoint that I have yet to visit. But there is a very good reason for that.
San Niccolò Tower is only open from the end of June to the end of September, offering regular guided visits in English and Italian. Group size is limited to 15.
This early 14th-century defensive tower below Piazzale Michelangelo is the tallest of Florence’s remaining medieval city towers. By all accounts, the views of Florence from its terrace are lovely.
Map location here.
My Favourite Viewpoint in Florence: The Rose Garden
If you are allergic to crowds, Florence’s Rose Garden is the perfect antidote.
Sitting just below Piazzale Michelangelo, this small but perfectly formed garden has kept watch over Florence since 1865. As you might expect, there are fragrant rose bushes but there’s also a Japanese garden donated by Kyoto, Florence’s twin city.
There’s a cheap and friendly coffee bar with outside tables and, best of all, entry to the garden is free.
Oh. And the views of Florence are sensational too.
Map location here.
About Bridget
Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.
Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.
To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net or follow her on social media.