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Florence in Photos: The City Through My Lens

6 hours ago
3 min read

These are my own photographs of Florence, taken over years of walking the same streets at every hour and in every season. Each one links to the guide behind it, so if a view stops you, you can go and find it yourself.

The gallery is organized by part of the city: the Duomo and centro, the Oltrarno, the Arno and its bridges, food and wine, and the hills with the big views. If you are still choosing a base, my luxury guide to where to stay in Florence by neighborhood pairs each area with the hotels I would book.


Duomo and centro

The historic center is where most first visits begin, and it rewards an early start. These are the cathedral, the Baptistery, Giotto's tower and Piazza della Signoria the way I like to see them, either looking straight up or after the day crowds have gone.

The marble facade of Santa Maria del Fiore rising above Piazza del Duomo in Florence
Santa Maria del Fiore, looking straight up the marble.

Brunelleschi's dome and the carved apse of Florence Cathedral against a blue sky in Florence
Brunelleschi's dome from the apse side.

The octagonal Baptistery of San Giovanni and Giotto's bell tower on Piazza del Duomo in Florence
The Baptistery and Giotto's tower, side by side.

Giotto's Campanile in white, green and pink marble against a deep blue sky in Florence
Giotto's Campanile, 414 steps to the top.

The Baptistery and Florence Cathedral lit up at night on an empty Piazza del Duomo in Florence
Piazza del Duomo after the crowds go home.

The Fountain of Neptune in front of Palazzo Vecchio on Piazza della Signoria in Florence
Neptune keeps watch over Piazza della Signoria.


Oltrarno

Across the river, the Oltrarno is quieter and more lived in. It is where I go for the Pitti Palace, garden terraces, artisan streets and the walk up toward the viewpoints.

The rusticated stone facade of Palazzo Pitti and its sloping piazza in Florence
Palazzo Pitti, the Medici palace across the river.

A green garden terrace with hedges and Tuscan hills beyond, in the Oltrarno gardens of Florence
Garden terraces above the Oltrarno.

Pastel Oltrarno houses stacked along the south bank of the Arno in Florence
The Oltrarno, right on the water.

The medieval Torre San Niccolo standing alone above the Oltrarno rooftops in Florence
Torre San Niccolo, at the foot of the climb to the views.


The Arno and bridges

The Arno changes color through the day, and the hour before and after sunset is my favorite time to walk it. Ponte Vecchio gets the attention, but every bridge has its own view.

Ponte Vecchio and the Arno river glowing at golden hour in Florence
Ponte Vecchio in the last of the light.

Ponte Vecchio reflected in the still Arno river at blue hour in Florence
Blue hour on the Arno.

Boats on the Arno river under a wide summer sky in Florence
A slow summer evening on the river.

A rowing boat gliding along the Arno past the riverside palazzi of Florence
Rowers on the Arno, a Florentine tradition.

Ponte alle Grazie crossing the Arno with the skyline of Florence behind it
Ponte alle Grazie and the skyline beyond.


Food and wine

Florence is a city of long lunches, morning markets and early evening aperitivo. A few of the places and moments that make a day here feel Florentine.

An orange spritz on a wooden cafe table on a sunny street in Florence
Aperitivo hour starts early here.

White market tents setting up on Piazza Santa Maria Novella, with the basilica facade behind, in Florence
Morning market under Santa Maria Novella.

The red Ristorante Buca Mario sign above a flower-framed cellar doorway in Florence
Buca Mario, a cellar trattoria since 1886.

Outdoor cafe tables in front of pastel buildings on Piazza Santo Spirito in Florence
Aperitivo tables on Piazza Santo Spirito.


Hills and views

Climb a little south of the river and the whole city opens up: the dome, the towers and a sea of terracotta roofs. These are the views that stay with me long after a trip.

A panorama of Florence rooftops, the Duomo and Palazzo Vecchio from Piazzale Michelangelo
The whole city from Piazzale Michelangelo.

Brunelleschi's dome framed by tall cypress trees on the hill below San Miniato in Florence
The dome framed by cypresses on the San Miniato hill.

Cypress trees framing the tower of Palazzo Vecchio from the hillside above Florence
Palazzo Vecchio's tower through the cypresses.

A quiet walled lane climbing toward San Miniato al Monte in the hills of Florence
The walled lane up to San Miniato al Monte.


Plan your own Florence

If these photos have you planning a trip, start with my Florence hotels guide, then build your days with things to do in Florence and where to eat and drink. I add new photos to this gallery as I take them.

About the author

I'm Jason GaNung, and I write every guide on Florence Life. I have spent extensive time in Florence over many trips, and I have stayed in many of the hotels and villas I cover, so my picks come from my own stays, not press releases. More about me.

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