Florence’s top marquee museum is like an art history textbook come to life. Its hallowed halls contain Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, Caravaggio’s Medusa, Titian’s Venus of Urbino, plus paintings by Michelangelo, Raphael, Da Vinci, and many more. The building itself is an inspiring example of Renaissance architecture designed by Giorgio Vasari as the offices of Medici Grand Duke Cosimo I. Book the first or last timed entry slot of the day for fewer crowds.
Everyone goes to the Accademia to see Michelangelo’s larger-than-life statue of David—and it definitely leaves an outsized impression—but there’s lots more to see here. A rich collection of early Italian painting, religious art, sculptures, and even musical instruments that once belonged to the grand dukes of Tuscany are on display.
You could easily spend the better part of a day visiting Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens, which represent the ideal Italian Renaissance garden. Though the palace still bears the name of Luca Pitti, the Florentine banker who built it in the mid 15th century, it’s famous as the court of the Medici, who purchased it in 1550 and turned it into a symbol of their power and prestige. Inside it are five distinct museums. The ones to prioritize are the Palatine Gallery, which displays the Medici’s collection of paintings, the Royal Apartments, and the Museum of Costume and Fashion.
This museum inside a Renaissance palazzo in the heart of Florence has been putting on one blockbuster exhibition after another. After organizing a rare showcase of works by Renaissance master Beato Angelico, it mounted “Rothko in Florence,” which explored the evolution of 20th-century American artist Mark Rothko’s abstract paintings and how his travels in Italy influenced him. Check to see what’s on before you go.
Fans of footwear should make a beeline to the Ferragamo Museum on the lower level of the building that houses the brand’s flagship boutique. Inside, archival photographs, sketches, prototypes, and text tell the story of Neapolitan cobbler Salvatore Ferragamo’s rise to fame and fortune. You’ll come away with a newfound respect for the artistic genius of the man known as “the shoemaker to the stars.”
Tucked inside Palazzo Pucci, which is still inhabited by Laudomia Pucci, the Emilio Pucci Heritage Hub preserves drawings, patterns, clothes, and furniture by famed designer Emilio Pucci, who’s beloved for his modern silhouettes, vibrant colors, and abstract patterns. Though not normally open to the public, it’s possible to visit by appointment only for a cost of €250 per person (minimum spend €1,000) or organize private events, such as aperitivo or dinners.
Founded in 1950 to give WWII orphans a trade, the Leather School still trains leather artisans today. You can visit on a guided tour and buy the high-quality bags, belts, and other items made there or sign up for a workshop, which range from half-day courses to weeklong private experiences.
