This itinerary will take us to discover some of the lesser-known places in the center of Florence, along an unprecedented route outside the circuits of mass tourism.
Starting right from Santa Maria Novella Station, itself an architectural masterpiece of the 20th century, we cross the square in the direction of the Santa Maria Novella Infopoint (housed in an old room of the Dominican complex). "Turning the corner," passing by Via degli Avelli, we arrive in Piazza Santa Maria Novella, where the splendid Basilica opens up, whose facade was finished by L.B. Alberti on a commission from the Rucellai family - with a slight digression on Via della Scala we reach the Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella - ; on the left side of the Basillica facade is one of the many Florentine hotels with terraces, from the top of which we can admire a truly unique panorama of the city and its surroundings. Don't miss a visit to the Museo Novecento (a journey back through the Italian art of the last century), under the Loggia at the end of the square. Turning the corner toward Via dé Fossi, we encounter a new reality, the HZero Museum, dedicated to the world of miniature trains. Another important museum of modern art is the nearby Museo Marino Marini (among the greatest Italian sculptors of the 20th century) housed in the ancient complex of San Pancrazio: here the Rucellai family had their chapel, where Alberti's Tempietto del Santo Sepolcro can still be admired. The great architect is also credited with the design for the splendid, nearby Palazzo Rucellai, a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture, on the elegant Via della Vigna Nuova reached from Via Palchetti (where we come across one of Florence's many "little wine windows").
We continue on Via Tornabuoni, the city's most glamorous street, skirting the famous Palazzo Strozzi - don't miss a stop at the new naearby "Giunti Odeon" - heading towards Palazzo Davanzati (the Museum of the Ancient Florentine House); just a stone's throw away is Piazza Santa Trinita with three authentic "gems": the Church of Santa Trinita (with the splendid Sassetti Chapel by Ghirlandaio), the Ferragamo Museum and the Roberto Casamonti modern art collection. At No. 1 of Via Tornabuoni is one of the many "Dante's plaques" that dot the center.
We cross Ponte Santa Trinita, one of the most beautiful Florentine bridges (splendid view of Ponte Vecchio), reaching the Oltrarno, a district that has been able to preserve its identity more than others, the cradle of local craftsmanship; we take Borgo San Jacopo (at the corner with Via dello Sprone, one of the most typical fountains in Florence) characterized by some medieval tower-houses and, passing through the picturesque Piazza della Passera, we reach Via Maggio, the street of antiquarians par excellence. From here it is a moment to reach the lively Piazza Santo Spirito, to which the mixtilinear facade of the Basilica (the interior is Brunelleschi's last masterpiece.
piazza della Stazione Firenze
piazza Stazione 5
Piazza di Santa Maria Novella, 18, 50123 Firenze FI, Italia
Via della Scala, 16, 50123 Firenze FI, Italia
Piazza di Santa Maria Novella, 10, 50123 Firenze FI, Italia
Piazza degli Ottaviani 2, Firenze
Piazza di S. Pancrazio, 50123 Firenze FI, Italia
via della Vigna Nuova 18
Piazza degli Strozzi, 50123 Firenze FI, Italia
Piazza degli Strozzi, 2, 50123 Firenze FI, Italia
Via Porta Rossa, 13, 50123 Firenze FI, Italia
Piazza di Santa Trinita, 50123 Firenze FI, Italia
Piazza di Santa Trinita, 5R, 50123 Firenze FI, Italia
Piazza di Santa Trinita, 1, 50123 Firenze FI, Italia
Ponte Santa Trinita, 50100 Firenze FI, Italia
via dello Sprone angolo borgo san Jacopo
Piazza della Passera
Piazza Santo Spirito, 30, 50125 Firenze FI, Italia
Piazza Santo Spirito, 29, 50125 Firenze FI, Italia
