Florence on foot: 3 itineraries to explore the city

Florence contains numerous corners of beauty, paths and trails that surround the city 1 like a treasure map. Let’s discover the unmissable ones together! HISTORIC CENTRE Let’s start with a classic itinerary. Our route starts from Piazza del Duomo and continues towards Gio o’s Bell Tower where, on the north-east side of the square, we find the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, guardian of many artefacts and works of great artistic value, such as the original gold doors of the Baptistery. Once in front of the museum, we turn right into Via del Proconsolo and take the second right into via del Corso. We then continue along Via del Presto di San Martino and come to the Dante House Museum, where

LET’S DISCOVER THE CITY’S UNMISSABLE ITINERARIES

the famous poet lived centuries ago. On the corner with Via Ghibellina we find the famous Bargello Museum. Continuing on for a couple of blocks, we turn right into via dei Gondi, and come to Piazza Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio and the Uffizi, to be admired in all their splendour. Finally, a stop on the Ponte Vecchio is a must, perhaps at sunset, to admire the city in all its loveliest nuances.

PIAZZALE 2

MICHELANGELO AND SAN MINIATO

One of the most appealing itineraries is the one that leads to San Miniato. Let’s start from the San Niccolò Gate and begin our ascent. We cross the lovely Rose Garden as we climb up to Piazzale Michelangelo, where we can catch our breath as we look out over the semi-circular balustrade to admire the amazing view. From here, another ten minutes of steep ascent and a flight of steps lead us to an incredible two-tone marble facade. We are in a fantastic place, the Basilica of

San Miniato.

LET’S START WITH A CLASSIC ITINERARY OUR ROUTE STARTS FROM PIAZZA DEL DUOMO

A masterpiece of marble inlaid in dense black and white pa ern depicting signs of the zodiac, griffins and animals. Surrounded by beauty and silence, among olive trees and cypresses, we have

Piazza Santo Spirito in Oltrarno district (ph Dario Garofalo)

Florence at our feet. A precious gi . On our right we find the

Cemetery of the Holy

Doors with the funerary monuments of great Florentine families in a mixture of eras, styles, materials and shapes. Walking along the central path, at the end, you come across a statue in white marble that depicts two young people dancing, perhaps newlyweds. The girl’s dress seems to flu er in an eternal movement of youthful happiness. They weren’t even 25 when they died a year apart, which makes it a truly touching monument, beautiful and sad

at the same time. From here, we return to the historic center this time going down to the le of San Miniato, along the picturesque Via San Leonardo a er having walked a few hundred meters along Viale Galilei. We skirt Forte Belvedere until a short way on the right we come to the entrance to the Bardini Garden one of the city’s most beautiful monumental gardens, full of intimate, private corners. Let’s go inside, let’s enjoy the peace and relaxation of this last stage of our second itinerary before heading back down to the center.

WE CROSS THE LOVELY ROSE GARDEN AS WE CLIMB UP TO PIAZZALE MICHALENGELO

1. Ponte Vecchio (ph. Ottavia Poli) 2. Cemetry of the Holy Doors (ph. Ottavia Poli) 3. 5. Vasari Corridor (ph. Pasquale Paradiso) 4. Piazza della Signoria (ph. Pasquale Paradiso) 3 2

4 5

Palazzo Bianca Cappello (ph Pierpaolo Pagano)

OLTRARNO 3see. In Piazza Pi i we can This walk takes us to enjoy a few moments rest the other side of the before heading to Piazza Arno River to discover di San Felice, where there the Florence of artisans’ is a small column. workshops, traditional tra orias and the more authentic streets. We start from Ponte Vecchio and go straight ahead towards Via dei Guicciardini as far as Palazzo Pi i. On our le we find the Church of San Felicita - a Gothic church with the Vasari Corridor running across its facade - which houses a crucifix a ributed to Gio o, frescoes by Pontormo and other We go round it and take works worth stopping to Via Mazze a, which leads

THIS WALK IN OLTRARNO TAKES US TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ARNO RIVER

to Santo Spirito, a splendid green square much loved by the young. In the morning you could wander round the market or visit the Renaissance Church of Santa Maria di Santo Spirito, famous above all for its frescoes by Bo icelli and Filippino Lippi. Don’t forget to stop at some of Florence’s most characteristic shops. We end our itinerary going along Via di Maggio to Santa Trinita Bridge. Along the way, we keep an eye out on the le to admire the Palazzo di Bianca Cappello, a splendid 16th century building.

Three generations passionate about amazing antiques I’m Chiara Esposito, the owner of “The Galleria Esposito Antiquario”, a three-generations family business which specialises in 17th, 18th and 19th-century Italian and European antique furniture and fine art. I run the gallery in the same place my father opened his business in Florence in 1990. The building housing the shop on Via Maggio 82r - the street dedicated to the antiques trade since ancient times - dates back to the 14th century. Its wonderful arched ceilings and charming original architectural details provide the perfect setting to display the magnificent pieces within. I offer a pleasantly unique, easy and tailor made shopping experience My customers are greeted with a smile and a glass of chilled prosecco! I accompany you with the utmost professionalism, sharing my passion and taste for the exceptional which are the hallmarks of my company. I’m here to facilitate your entire purchasing process, providing flat rate packaging and competitive worldwide shipping quotes and taking care of fine art exportation paperwork. An evocative and elegant environment to find antique furniture, fine artworks, Art Deco, Mid-Century and even Contemporary art objects and Textiles Our historic gallery located in the heart of Florence’s antiques district in the vibrant Oltrarno neighborhood, just a stone’s throw away from the Pitti Palace hosts a spectacular array of antique furniture, paintings, sculptures, lighting and collectibles that are mainly sourced in Italian private homes. Eclecticism and international taste distinguish our collection. The Esposito Antique Gallery has an international, loyal following of private collectors and trade customers served with care and dedication with a professional and responsive approach, but always very relaxed and friendly. Thanks to the presence on the antique market for three generations, my company is able to satisfy any kind of needs or request in the field of furnishing, home decor and interior design. Whether you are a collector or a dealer, the Esposito Antique Gallery is a must for antique lovers everywhere. I look forward to welcoming you! Chiara Esposito