Obviously one of the main tourist sites in Florence, this imposing group of buildings deserve a whole day, if you have it. Do check the tourist information offices found on both sides of the Piazza to make sure the Basilica is open (they don’t allow tourists on Sundays) and if you plan to climb Bruneschelli’s dome or the campanile, you’ll need a timed ticket. The ceiling of the Baptistery is under construction in 2023/2024 but it’s still worth it to see the building and the amazing gold doors. Keep your eye open for scammers and pickpockets in this piazza but don’t miss it.
Duomo and Basilica of Santa Maria Novella
City: Florence
Region: Tuscany
About the Region:
Tuscany is one of those rare places that lives up to every dream you’ve ever had of Italy. Imagine soft, rolling hills blanketed with olive groves and vineyards, medieval hill towns perched like time capsules, and Renaissance cities brimming with art and culture. This region offers a magical balance between breathtaking natural landscapes and centuries of human history that feels alive at every turn.
Florence, the jewel of Tuscany, is a must for lovers of art, boasting masterpieces by Michelangelo, Botticelli, and da Vinci. But Tuscany is more than Florence — it’s Siena’s Gothic streets, Pisa’s famous leaning tower, and the walled town of Lucca where you can bike along ancient ramparts. Wander through tiny villages like Pienza or San Gimignano, where cobbled alleys open up to piazzas lined with trattorias serving hearty ribollita soup, pecorino cheese, and robust Chianti wine.
Wine is reason enough to visit: Tuscany’s vineyards produce some of the world’s most celebrated reds. Spend an afternoon touring a family-run winery in Chianti or Montepulciano, tasting wine under the Tuscan sun. For nature lovers, the Val d’Orcia’s golden fields and cypress-lined lanes feel like stepping into a Renaissance painting.
Above all, Tuscany invites you to slow down. Days here are best spent savoring long lunches, lingering over a glass of wine at sunset, and soaking in thermal baths surrounded by forested hills. Whether you’re an art lover, a foodie, or simply in need of beauty and tranquility, Tuscany will capture your heart forever.