Don't Miss These Top 8 Things to do in Piazzale Michelangelo

Florence, which is also called the "Cradle of Renaissance," was a part of the 19^th-century Risanamento urban renewal project and is full of the world’s most famous paintings and unequaled artistic heritage. During this project, Florence was modernized like never before affecting its boulevards, squares, public places, and art displays. The fore-most sons of Florence who contributed to the Risanamento movement, the renaissance developments and the artful golden period are Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Lorenzo Medici, Dante, Raphael, Galileo, and Donatello. That’s not all! Today, Florence and the Piazzale Michelangelo have a 13 million tourist fall, and industries like rubber, food, chemicals, furniture, etc. add to its leading tourist economy. The Prato-Pistoia industrial district is also home to the globally famous Vespa scooters.

One of the best ways to access the avenue of Viale Michelangelo is to walk up the Poggi Ramp or Stairs on San Niccolò’s Piazza Giuseppe Poggi. To travel by car from the center of Florence to the Piazzale Michelangelo, you will need to cross over the Arno Ponte Vecchio and turn onto Via de' Bardi towards your left. The steep road leads you to Via di San Niccolò. At the Via di San Miniato, you need to turn right once more towards the Garden of Roses and the stairs of the Scalinata del Monte alle Croci. Right at the top of the stairs is the beautiful Piazzale Michelangelo.

You can travel by taxi, rental bicycles or by bus to the Poggi Ramps and then explore on your own. If you ride the bus, get into ATAF city buses #12, #13 from the Centro, or the Santa Maria Novella train station to the Piazzale Michelangelo. The taxies are more expensive and could cost you 10 Euros from the Centro. From the Centro, you also get the red trams, metro trains, and airport shuttles. The central Santa Maria Novella train station and airport are well connected with half-hourly shuttle buses from morning 6 am to 11:30 pm. A single way ticket would cost 6 Euros and a return ticket of 10 Euros. Bus tickets on the ATAFs 355 buses and airport shuttles are contactless and accept coins, 1,5,10 or 20 USD bills, credit cards, etc. at the ticket kiosks. Taxis in Florence from city-center to the airport or vice versa charge a fixed rate of 20 Euros one-way with a 1 Euro/baggage piece up to 5 Euros.

The Risanamento project is famous because of its outcome and notable the Piazzale Michelangelo. The Oltarno left-bank of the River Arno, its riverside walkways, and paths aka Lungarni in Italian were recreated to include the Piazzale Michelangelo on the Viale dei Colli. This is the 8 km stretch from the left Arno bank stretching upwards on the San Miniato hill as a wide tree-lined avenue and leading up to the Piazzale or terrace. The right banks of the river were developed into the Viali di Circonvallazione or a 6-lane French-styled boulevard with tree-lined avenues after taking down the medieval but in ruins 14th-century fortress and its walls.

The Tuscany architect Giuseppe Poggi in 1869 conceived and created the terrace in neoclassical style. Initially, he wanted to build a Michelangelo museum at the location. When his plans could not be put into action, he converted the vantage point into the Piazzale Michelangelo terrace from where you can see all of Florence’s beauty laid out below and makes an excellent photo spot. That’s how the walk-able stairs leading to the terrace got the name of Poggi Ramps or Poggi Stairs. From up above on the terrace, one can see the Florentine landmarks like The Duomo, Santa Croce, Fort Belvedere, right across the Arno to Palazzo Vecchio, the Bargello and Uffizi museums and more. Since the terrace was always a dedication to Michelangelo, his famed art pieces were copied in bronze and transported up the hill in the year 1873, using a total of 18 oxen! That’s how you see the King David Sculpture, the San Lorenzo Medici Chapel’s marble statues, and other bronze replicas of Michelangelo’s works to date on the Piazzale Michelangelo. Poggi finally in 1911 dedicated this terrace, including the complex’s restaurant to Michelangelo.

Now let us move on to the spots on every tourist’s wish-list, venue secrets, transportation, dining, and accommodation options, and a few free tourist tips. There are very many sights to see in Florence and the Piazzale itself. Let’s start!

Take in the Florence and its day or night views from the Piazzale Michelangelo. This huge terrace is from where the best vantage points for photo-shoots exist. Watch out for the jostling crowds at sunrise and sunset times. The place is also frequented by smooth-talking vendors selling branded fakes of designer shoes, handbags, souvenirs and more at jaw-dropping prices. The least you can do is stay out of their way or practice your bargaining skills, starting from half-the-price marks. The restaurant atop is called the La Loggia, and dining here can be quite expensive. Probably, this is due to the fantastic night-time views of the Florentine skyline and the fact that they’ve been around for long.

The address is Piazzale Michelangelo, Firenze-50125.

The front façade of green and white marble of the San Miniato Abbey is restful and can be seen on the hilltop just above the Piazzale Michelangelo, even from the Centro of Florence. Climbing up from the Piazzale Michelangelo, you will find this 11th-century abbey and quaint church just 10 minutes away. The Gregorian priests who run the church produce keepsakes and souvenirs to take back with you. You can choose wisely to purchase herbal products, sweets, candles, and such. Right outside, the Abbey is well-tended grounds and the cemetery with many elegant tombs just beyond. The daily mass here is celebrated at 5.30 pm.

The address is #34, Via delle Porte Sante, Firenze-50125.

These two free-to-view public gardens have irises and roses and are near the Piazzale Michelangelo. The Italians call them the Giardino dell' Iris and Giardino Delle Rose. Since irises bloom once a year, the garden is open only between April and May when the blooming starts. The roses, on the other hand, bloom through the year, and the Rose Garden is open to visitors from sunrise to sunset.

The address of the location is #2, Viale Giuseppe Poggi, Firenze-50125.

From atop the Piazzale Michelangelo, you need to walk downwards for half-an-hour to reach the 15^th- century Boboli Garden and it's Pitti Palace which is adjacent and form a part of the Uffizi Gallery grounds. The Pitti Palace was once used by the Medici and Haupsburg families and contains many reminders of their lifestyle in the form of household items, renaissance period paintings, costumes, and attire of the period all exhibited in museum-style along with the numerous galleries and well-preserved private apartments. The garden itself has been well-tended to and conserved to contain the best of the floral botanical specimens of Florence and Italy.

The address is #1, Piazza de' Pitti, Firenze-50125.

If you are accommodated in the Oltarno district at the Piazza Santo Spirito, or near the Piazzale Michelangelo, use the daytime to visit the Basilica di Santo Spirito which is in Baroque style and has Brunelleschi’s stamp on it. The religious artifacts and medieval architecture are stupendous! It has modest exteriors, a small cloister at the entrance, and charming interiors. The wooden cross and religious artifacts carved by the famous son of Florence Michelangelo himself! In the evening, visit the Oltrarno district’s many restaurants and bars to enjoy the nightlife, crowds, people-watching, dancing, and music for free!

The address is #30, Piazza Santo Spirito, Firenze-50125.

The Florence Cathedral, aka the Duomo in Italian, is what defines Florence as an elaborate jewel. The façade is made of white marble exteriors offset with polychrome green, red, and pink floral designs. The clock-faces on it and the intricate interior frescoes of the Judgement Day are invaluable experiences to see and wonder about.

The Accademia Gallery at Piazza della Signoria is just across the Duomo Square. A bronze copy of the world-famous naked David sculpture by Michelangelo defines the square and is a famous well-visited landmark by itself. The Fountain of Neptune and its Piazza della Signoria near the Piazza del Duomo Square also has the statues of Hercules, the fountain of Neptune, and the statue of Cosimo Medici along with many high-end outlets lining it.

The Old Palace or the Palazzo Vecchio is the present Town Hall and also called the Palace of the Signoria of the Republic of Florence. The structure is a castle-like square building with an impressive bell tower and the coat-of-arms at its gate. It has well-preserved and elegantly decorated rooms like the Hercules Room and the Room of Cybele in it, which makes it worth your while to explore.

The Baptistery of St. John is the third of the religious structures trio of buildings. The building has the prized Judgement Day frescoes covering the inside of the walls, ceilings, and panels. It is located just outside the Duomo.

This River Arno’s old bridge dates back to 996. The quaint looking plethora of shops built into it seems to be a part of the bridge itself. You can find the traders here selling artworks, souvenirs, and jewelry. The Vasari Corridor is world-famous and unique to Florence. The Corridor Vasariano at the other end of the bridge was once a busy path leading to the family quarters of the Medici, Vasari, and other elite families who lived across the bridge and were not expected to mingle with the common folks. The entire corridor is filled with the paintings and panels of the era. It is presently under renovation.

Most of Florence city’s landmarks and best sights like the Piazzale Michelangelo are entirely free to see and admire. Some like the Uffizi museum’s galleries and other important cultural buildings do charge for entrance. However, skip-the-line tickets can be bought online to get priority entry and ample time to soak in the art, culture, and rich heritage of Florence. The Uffizi Gallery is the world’s largest and most well-known museum on the Piazza della Signoria and nearby to the Duomo Square. The structure is that of a very large transformed palace and its huge grounds where the Uffizi Gallery displays the originals and best of the surviving masterpieces of Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Monet, Botticelli, Raphael, and many others from the renaissance period. Heard of the famous Mona Lisa? Go see it then!

Florence and Piazzale Michelangelo offer more places of interest that can hardly be covered in a quickie trip. However, let’s note them down for you just in case you get the chance to explore more. Climb up the 414 steps of Giotto’s Campanileto get an aerial view and different Florentine perspective and check out its 5 levels of renaissance art, frescos, decorated panels, and sculptures. The Medici Chapels or mausoleums are beautiful, peaceful meditation chapels. Discover the Donatello, Luca della Robbia, Michelangelo sculptures at the Bargello Museum. Among the churches, a lot like the Dumo are the Basilicas of Santa Croce and San Lorenzo. The Church of Santa Maria Novella, just opposite the central railway station, has the same façade as the Duomo while being part of the Medici family chapels containing Botticelli’s and Ghiberti’s artworks. The Belvedere Fort is lesser-known and close to the Uffizi Gallery and standing on the Boboli Garden grounds. It is famed for its architecture and design dating back to the 1500s and the renaissance period.

From the Piazzale Michelangelo, some good hotels like Hotel David, #1, Viale Michelangiolo; the Fornace Suite #3, Via della Fornace and the Hotel Villa Betania at #23, Viale del Poggio Imperiale lie within 1-2 km range. The popular tourist season in Florence and Italy is usually during the pleasant weather months. Hotel prices do rise at this time, and you should book in advance online. All sorts of accommodations ranging across budgets and traveler choices are available.

Since you will be ravenous after walking up and down the Piazzale Michelangelo you will need food and restaurants like the Flower, Caffe and Ristorante La Loggia, La Bottega del Buon Caffe, Chalet il Boschetto,Hostaria del Bricco, Flo Lounge Bar, Vip's Bar, l’Pizzaccherie, Il Bastioni Di San Niccolo, Come Dio Comanda, Calistro, and Il Gelato di Filo are just right. They have a variety of Italian cuisine foods like the Margherita of Naples, Florentina steaks, lasagna or pasta, Bottarga smoked eggs, ragu and béchamel sauces, Risotto, Polenta, Ossobuco and Ribolittas that are what an empty stomach appreciates.

Your shopping experiences close to the Piazzale Michelangelo should include the well-stocked malls and shopping centers like Unicoop Firenze S.C.R.L., the large local market, Gruppo Coin, Il Centro, and SUN DAY at the Centro. Via Gioberti has answers to all your needs from cafes, chain-stores, restaurants, boutiques, shops selling meats, local cheese, etc. You can also try the La Rinascente and Sottopassaggio Stazione Santa Maria Novella if you need more options near the Piazzale Michelangelo.

In parting, the Piazzale Michelangelo views from its terrace are truly spectacular! The article has taken a lengthy tour of words to ensure you get an idea of what to expect at the Piazzale Michelangelo. The area around the Piazzale Michelangelo is full of accommodation, from luxury to budgeted options and hostels. Plenty of restaurants and cafes provide excellent dining options. And as in all places around the world tourist spots are great places for shopping too! All you need to do is plan in advance, book your flights, hotels, day tour bookings, etc. in one neat package and set out to Florence to enjoy your next vacation. We hope to see you at the Piazzale Michelangelo soon!