How to Get Off the Beaten Path in Florence
Madigan Talmage-Bowers is a writer based in Denver, Colorado. She has also lived in Italy, San Francisco, and New York City, where she studied media theory at the New School. She loves introducing her kids to ancient history, local art, hiking trails, and new foods on adventures around the globe.
Madigan Talmage-Bowers is a writer based in Denver, Colorado. She has also lived in Italy, San Francisco, and New York City, where she studied media theory at the New School. She loves introducing her kids to ancient history, local art, hiking trails, and new foods on adventures around the globe.
Hi, I'm Madigan!Madigan Talmage-Bowers is a writer based in Denver, Colorado. She has also lived in Italy, San Francisco, and New York City, where she studied media theory at the New School. She loves introducing her kids to ancient history, local art, hiking trails, and new foods on adventures around the globe.
Hi, I'm Madigan!Madigan Talmage-Bowers is a writer based in Denver, Colorado. She has also lived in Italy, San Francisco, and New York City, where she studied media theory at the New School. She loves introducing her kids to ancient history, local art, hiking trails, and new foods on adventures around the globe.
While Florence’s medieval center offers a welcome break from the modern world, the city's museums and Renaissance palaces draw 21st-century crowds. Spend less time waiting in line at these under-the-radar attractions, and discover some unexpected surprises along the way.
Visit the Museo del Bargello
Have a culture day.
Instead of jockeying for prime viewing positions at the Accademia or Uffizi with everyone else, get your sculpture fix at this lesser-known Palazzo del Podesta, a treasure trove of Renaissance art. You won't feel rushed while browsing galleries that exhibit works by the likes of Michelangelo and Donatello.
Skip the line at the Palazzo Strozzi
Check out a grand stone palace.
See what's on at this reimagined Medici palace, which hosts exhibitions that range from classical music, live theater, Renaissance retrospectives, and contemporary art shows. The building itself is a work of art, and there’s rarely a line to get in.
Enjoy the view from Villa Bardini
Relax in a peaceful Florence garden.
The gardens of this medieval villa provide green space to relax in a mostly stone city. Views from here rival those of the popular Piazzale Michelangelo, but you're likely to share the space with only a few other visitors. Plus, the same admission ticket grants you access to the neighboring Boboli Gardens behind Palazzo Pitti.
Discover the secrets of Basilica di Santo Spirito
Head inside a stunning church.
Don't be fooled by the unassuming exterior of this church, which was built by Brunelleschi of Duomo fame. Basilica di Santo Spirito is adorned with priceless frescoes and altarpieces, including an early crucifix by Michelangelo. It's a short walk from the Ponte Vecchio but nestled in the quieter Oltrarno district, home to fewer crowds.
Learn the history of San Gimignano
Head through the Tuscan countryside to a beautiful medieval town.
Escape the city altogether on a day trip to the Tuscan countryside, which typically stop at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed hill town of San Gimignano. Get lost in a maze of medieval streets or climb more than 200 steps for view of Tuscany’s Elsa Valley.
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