Rick Steves Says This Stunning Italian City Has The Best Renaissance Art In Europe

When you think of Italy, Rome may be the first city that comes to mind, but the breathtaking art of Florence is likely right behind it. This city is home to some of the greatest paintings and sculpture in history, as well as the phenomenal dome created by Filippo Brunelleschi, the first dome built in modern times. According to travel pro Rick Steves, Florence — or Firenze, to give it the proper Italian name — has the best Renaissance art in Europe. After all, the movement started in this city. On his website he writes, "In a single day, you can look Michelangelo's David in the eyes, fall under the seductive sway of Botticelli's Birth of Venus, and climb the modern world's first dome, which still dominates the skyline." During the Renaissance era in Italy, from around 1400 to roughly 1600, luminaries like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael (yes, where the Ninja Turtle got its name) were creating masterpieces, many of which are on display in this incredible city. There are a mind-blowing 72 museums in Florence, and that doesn't even take into account the architecture, the culture, and the feel of this place.

To get there on your Italian vacation, you can fly into the Florence Airport and take the airport shuttle bus (VolainBus) to the city center, or the T2 tram route. Alternatively, it's around 180 miles away if you're driving from Rome and roughly 55 miles from Pisa. There are also, of course, trains and taxis to take as well. Once you're there, however, Florence is the world's most walkable city, so make sure you pack your comfiest shoes. Hey, you can work off all the gelato that you're absolutely going to try.

You cannot visit Florence without marveling at the statue of David at La Galleria Dell'Accademia di Firenze. Inside, you'll find the largest collection of Michelangelo's sculptures in the world. Rick Steves mentions in a video that Michelangelo's prowess in terms of the physical form came partly from the dissection of cadavers so he could learn the ins and outs of how the body works. You can also see his unfinished "Prisoners" sculptures in Florence. Steves explains that "Michelangelo believed these figures were divinely created within the rock. He was simply chiseling away the excess." It's not just sculpture, though. You can see Botticelli's "Virgin and Child with the Young St. John the Baptist and Two Angels," the dreamy "Annunciation" from Alessandro Allori, and many more. Admission is under $20 (as of this writing), and it's worth every penny. Make sure to book a timed reservation, and do it early. 

Another place that is not to be missed, even if you only have a few hours in Florence, is the Uffizi Galleries. In a beautiful building from between 1560 and 1580 that Steves says was once the offices, or uffizi, of the famous Medici family, is some of the most amazing art you'll ever see and experience. This is where you'll find "Birth of Venus," Leonardo da Vinci's "Annunciation," and the unsettling and fascinating "Madonna with the Long Neck" by Parmigianino. Additionally, make sure you don't miss the violent and haunting "Judith Slaying Holofernes" by famous female painter Artemisia Gentileschi. The building itself is part of the experience, so take some time to walk the galleries and take it all in. Tickets are around $34, as of this writing, if you purchase them beforehand.

As you do your planning, take a bit of advice from Rick Steves, who says on his website that Sundays and Mondays aren't the best time to visit Florence, as many places are closed. In addition, the first Sunday of every month is free at state museums (this also includes places in Rome like the iconic Colosseum), but you may want to avoid going on this day if you don't want to deal with lines.

Even if you just see it from the outside, Steves says you have to visit the Duomo by Brunelleschi. This glorious top to the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore will stun you into silence, and there is sculpture there as well from Donatello. Steves says, "An eccentric, innovative, workaholic master, Donatello lit up his statues with an inner soul." The cathedral is free, though you can't visit on Sundays during services. The rest of the structure requires a timed ticket that is around $35 for adults at the time of this writing. You'll get to see the dome, the bell tower, the baptistery, the museum, and Santa Reparata. If you plan to climb the Duomo, keep in mind that is has 463 steps (and a great view). One caveat to note while visiting churches in Florence, and indeed, all of Italy, is that you'll have to cover your shoulders and bare legs. It's worth bringing a scarf with you. 

A bit older than some of the art you'll see is the Ponte Vecchio, which means "old bridge." This pedestrian thoroughfare, built in its current form in 1345, is lined with jewelry shops, with openings that give you a view to remember. You'll also see love locks hung along the bridge and boats drifting lazily along the Arno River underneath it. 

Italy is Rick Steves' favorite country in Europe, and he has some fantastic, free audio tours available here, including several for Florence. Try his Renaissance Walk audio tour which includes a map, taking you past the cathedral with the duomo, bell tower, baptistery, and bronze doors, and hitting other points of interest like the Ponte Vecchio along the Arno River and Donatello's statue of St. Mark at the Orsanmichele church and museum, completed in 1404. This gorgeous Gothic church is so richly decorated inside that you'll wish you could lie on the floor and stare at it for hours. You'll see Bernardo Daddi's "Madonna and Child" inside, as well as Renaissance sculptures by Lorenzo Ghiberti, Giambologna, Donatello, and more.

If you get to Florence early enough, there is parking with a view of the city that is pretty spectacular at the Piazzale Michelangelo above the city. However, this lot gets packed quickly, and it's overrun with souvenir vendors. A better bet for an overall view of Florence is slightly above that area at San Miniato al Monte, with defensive walls built by Michelangelo. This church, almost a millennia old, is a short walk up the hill from the Piazzale Michelangelo.

Finally, while you're in Florence, there is a fabulous and unique place to visit that is absolutely a hidden gem: the world's oldest pharmacy, the Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella. This place has eight centuries of history, and you can take some of it home, including a fragrance that was created for Catherine de' Medici in 1533. It's not a painting or a sculpture, but the creation of fragrance is simply another form of art.