Oltrarno

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Essential: Nights at the Piazza Santo Spirito
Famous for: the views of Florence from the Piazzale Michelangelo
In three words: authentic, inspiring, captivating

We agree that beauty is subjective, but sometimes there is objective beauty. Oltrarno is objectively beautiful and magical, an area in Florence you won’t get bored with, which mixes art with incredible landscaping and impressive views. Some of its plazas, Santo Spirito for instance, keeps an atmosphere of suspended-in-time, far from the touristic noise of the historic city centre. The same thing happens with bars and restaurants, special, welcoming, whether they’re trendy or not. No doubt locals prefer this area to go out at night. And even more when looking for accommodation, Oltrarno is an ideal district for apartments in Florence.

HISTORY: When Florence was founded in the 1st century B.C. its centre was actually the Piazza della Repubblica. After about 400 years, the first settlements began on the other side of the Arno river, literally “Oltre Arno”. Throughout the centuries, different districts were born and it was in the 16th century that the Medici family moved to Palazzo Pitti, an area that gained respect and became later on the centre of artistic crafts. Even today, shops that have disappeared in the past in other areas of the city can be found by walking on the streets of Oltrarno. The three neighborhoods that are part of Oltrarno – San Niccolò, San Frediano and Santo Spirito, are the most traditional ones in Florence. Among piazzas, churches and works of art, from here you can get to Piazzale Michelangelo and Forte di Belvedere, through the San Giorgio Coast, or the stair of the Torre San Niccolò: you take the risk of being breathless, but not for the effort!

AMBIENCE: When a boundary is breached, the whole landscape changes. Maybe that border, in our case, is the Arno river itself. Diladdarno, as it’s said in Florence, the ambience is really different: authentic, because you can forget about the unstoppable crowd of tourists in the city centre; intimate, because the plazas are still meeting points; family-friendly, because you can stop in shops and bars for a small chat. From I Lungarni to San Niccolò, through the Giardino di Boboli, the panorama of the Forte di Belvedere and Piazzale Michelangelo offer you an ample perspective of Florence that you will never forget.

PLACES: In San Frediano do not miss the Capella Brancacci inside the Chiesa di Santa Maria del Carmine with Masaccio’s frescoes, and the Chiesa di San Frediano in Castello.
Our advice is to visit Santo Spirito’s Church and go out at night in one of the many bars and restaurants that surround the beautiful square. Especially in summertime it’s a territory always fun and full of life. In the weekends there are also markets and fairs.
The Palazzo Pitti, with features the most beautiful sightseeing of Florence, relies upon an immense artistic patrimony: The Galleria Palatina, the Suit Gallery, the Modern Art Gallery and the Silver Museum (Museo degli Argenti). It’s also an access point to the Boboli gardens, the historical park of the city, one of the most important Italian gardens in the world and a true open-air museum. The Forte di Belvedere is located on the highest point of the Boboli hill, with wonderful landscaping; you can get there by taking the Costa San Giorgio, even though the mayor’s office decided to keep it closed for safety reasons.
Furthermore, unforgettable views are waiting for you in the Villa Bardini garden, in the Giardino delle Rose, or go up the terrace of the famous Piazzale Michelangelo: Florence opens up its charm and it even looks like you can actually touch the Ponte Vecchio, the Cathedral’s Dome and the hills in front. Once in the upper part, do not miss the Basilica di San Miniato al Monte, one of the best examples of Romanic architecture in the Toscan area, which dominates the city.

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Oltrarno