Viewpoint in Florence
Piazzale Michelangelo is the hilltop terrace south of the Arno with the postcard panorama of Florence: the Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, Ponte Vecchio, and the Tuscan hills beyond. Free. The walk up from the river takes about 20 minutes through the Rose Garden (also free). Budget travelers come at sunset, sit on the steps beneath the bronze copy of Michelangelo’s David, and watch the city turn golden. The best free view in Tuscany.
Practical
On foot
Free and low-cost routes that stop at Piazzale Michelangelo.
The Florence Arno Evening Walk follows the south bank of the Arno from Ponte Vecchio upstream through the Oltrarno neighborhood to the Rose Garden and Piazzale Michelangelo. Free. The defining sunset panorama of Florence is the payoff.
Nearby
Other places worth the walk, and what each one costs.
The Boboli Gardens behind the Pitti Palace are one of the earliest formal Italian gardens, covering a hillside with grottoes, fountains, and cypress-lined paths. Entry is paid at a modest price.
The Baptistery of San Giovanni is an octagonal Romanesque building directly facing the Duomo, famous for Ghiberti's gilded bronze "Gates of Paradise" doors. Entry requires a ticket (included in the Duomo complex pass).
The Florence Cathedral (Santa Maria del Fiore) is the heart of the city, topped by Brunelleschi's dome. Entry to the cathedral itself is free.
The Galleria dell'Accademia houses Michelangelo's David, one of the most famous sculptures in the world. Entry is paid.
The Medici Chapels (Cappelle Medicee) are the funeral chapels of the Medici dynasty behind the Basilica di San Lorenzo. Entry is paid.
Palazzo Medici Riccardi was the first Medici family residence and the prototype for Florentine Renaissance palace architecture. The courtyard is free to enter.
Working out what Florence costs?
The whole of Florence