WHERE TO STAY IN FLORENCE, ITALY

If you are interested in where to stay in Florence, you may also be interested in where to stay in Tuscany, where to stay in Rome and where to stay in Milan.

The Historic Centre, the best area to stay in Florence

Florence’s Historic Centre is where you’ll find the city’s world-famous attractions and artistic masterpieces. The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (il Duomo) and its unmistakable Brunelleschi’s Dome define the skyline of Florence’s Historic Centre, and attract tourists from all corners of the Earth. The inside of the Cathedral is even more impressive, with Vasari’s Last Judgement painting covering the Dome’s ceiling.

And if you take on the 463 steps to the top of Cathedral, you can enjoy views over the rooftops of Florence. Wherever you stay in the Historic Centre, you’ll be only a few minutes’ walk from this incredible attraction.

If you’re interested in seeing more of Florence’s infamous artistic masterpieces, the Uffizi Gallery is a must-see attraction, and it’s only a short way from the Cathedral. It’s one of the most important and impressive art galleries in the world, housing works by Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian, and Botticelli.

Even the building itself is a work of art, originally constructed by Giorgio Vasari. If you want to visit the Uffizi Gallery though, you can expect long queues, even if you’ve booked in advance, so staying locally in the Historic Centre is a good idea if you want to arrive early and skip the bulk of the queues. Another of the city’s famous art galleries, the Academia Gallery, can also be found in the Historic Centre, and is home to Michelangelo’s ‘David’ sculpture as well as sculptures and paintings by other famous artists.

So if you’re an art lover, there’s no doubt that the Historic Centre is the best place to stay. You’ll get to walk the same streets as your favorite artists, and see in person some of their best works.

Nearby, there’s also the Palazzo Vecchio, a medieval fortress where you can explore the Renaissance chambers, architecture, and paintings. The Ponte Vecchio can also be found here, connecting the Palazzo Vecchio and the Pallazo Pitti. The bridge is a beautiful sight, and now has interesting jewelry and gift shops dotted along its walkway.

At one end of the bridge, is the Piazza della Signoria. This is the main square in Florence, with museums, shops and street vendors all around. There are also several statues in the square that are worth seeing.

Other areas to stay in Florence 

San Lorenzo

San Lorenzo is a lively neighborhood just outside of Florence’s Centre. It’s a popular shopping destination, with vibrant market stalls and interesting shops lining the streets. There are also plenty of restaurants and bars in the area, so whilst it may not be as central as the Historic Centre, there’s still more than enough to keep you entertained.

The area also has some interesting attractions of its own, for example, the Basilica de San Lorenzo is one of Florence’s largest churches and is an impressive sight to see. The Palazzo Medici Riccardi is also nearby, and has a truly stunning interior decorated with incredible Renaissance paintings.

So this is a good area to stay in if you still want to admire the artistic masterpieces in Florence, but for a more affordable price.

Santa Spirito

Santa Spirito is the center of the Artisan Quarter of Florence. It’s a particularly scenic area, with Brunelleschi’s last masterpiece, the Basilica of Santa Spirito at the heart of the neighborhood.

It’s a popular area for dining out in, and many staying in the Historic Centre take a trip to this area for a more tranquil dining experience. So staying locally could make for the perfect evening. There are some top restaurants serving delicious Italian food, but because the area isn’t quite so tourist-orientated you can enjoy a quality meal for a reasonable price.

Santa Spirito is a good place to stay if you’re hoping to visit the Basilica of Santa Spirito, or the Palazzo Pitti. It’s also good for those wanting to be on the quieter side of the city, away from the rush and crowds of the more touristy areas.

Fortalezza da Basso

Fortalezza da Basso is the area surrounding the large Fortress of Saint John the Baptist. The fortress itself is an impressive attraction, and is still used for political events and meetings today. So if you’re interested in exploring an attraction that still has an active political function as well as an interesting history, Fortalezza da Basso could be a good place to stay.

The main appeal of this area as somewhere to stay in Florence is its affordability. You can still enjoy the benefits of a relatively central location, with good transport links nearby and the opportunity to make day trips into the Historic Centre, but without paying the inflated rates that you find in the more central areas.