If you are taking a trip to Italy, you might regret it if you don’t pass by Florence. Florence is considered as a prime tourist spot not just in Italy but around the globe as well. A visit to this city will fill tourists with glee as the place will allow them to witness awe-inspiring sceneries – from sunflower fields to castles atop mountains. Florence is a place for the artist, the anthropologist, the traveler and for the plain wanderer.

Places of Worship and Awe

Florence is a popular place for worship, in the same way as Italy is. It has a splendid set of cathedrals and chapels that will prompt people to come and visit. Foremost of these is the Duomo. No one can miss the site of the Duomo. This gigantic dome is a site that will capture everybody’s attention as soon as they get a glimpse of the Florence skyline. Among the most notable features of the place are Uccello’s mural to a 14th-century Captain, Brunelleschi’s dome, and the remains of Santa Reparata.

Aside from the dome, another spot that tourists shouldn’t miss is the Capella Brancacci. The Brancacci chapels are comprised of many small chapel houses. Upon visiting the chapels at the Santa Maria del Carmine, Piazza del Carmine, you will see the main features of the place such as Masaccio’s Tribute Money, Filippino Lippi’s St. Paul visits St. Peter in Prison, Masaccio’s Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise, and St. Peter Heals the Sick.

Sights to See

Florence is a prime spot for traveling around as it offers its guest with many impressive spots to visit. The first of which is the Bobili Gardens or the so-called “Giardino di Boboli”. If you want to have a relaxing afternoon, better spend it at the gardens where you can just lie down and loosen up. Highlights of the place include the Bacchus Fountain, the Isolotto, the Limonaia and the La Grotta Grande which hosts a great collection of sculptures.

For those who want to get close to nature, a hike up the San Minato al Monte (St. Minias of the Mountain) would be perfect. The mountain is just a short walk away from Central Florence, near Viale Galileo Galilei. When you reach the top, you’ll get to see the Cardinal of Portugal Chapel and Cappella del Crocifisso.

Another must-visit spot in Florence is Ponte Vecchio or the “Old Bridge”. As the name implies, the bridge is not just old – it is the oldest among the six bridges in the city. Unlike other bridges, this one is much like a street as it hosts a stretch of interesting shops and stores. A visit to this place will not only provide you with panoramic views of the Arno River. Instead, you can also tour the various jewelry shops along the Bust of Celini and the Corridio Vasariano.

The Bell Tower or the “Campanile” also belongs to the city’s top tourist spots. With a towering height of 279 feet, you can get a view of almost the entire city once you get to the top. As you climb more than 400 steps on your way towards the top, you can get a view of the della Robbia and the Reliefs by Pisano.