The Best-Kept Secrets of Florence

The Vasari Corridor, designed by Giorgio Vasari for the Medici family in the 16th century, runs along one side of Ponte Vecchio across the Arno River. Today few people know of its existence, even though its history is rather intricate. It was the Medici family that decided to build a covered corridor between the Uffizi gallery of art, where Cosimo de’ Medici worked, and Palazzo Pitti, where he lived. The corridor is 1.2-km long and extends to the public space of the city, which at the time of its use was controversial. Nowadays, it is home to an impressive collection of self-portraits by famous artists such as Rembrandt, Rubens, Velázquez, and many others. In order to reach it, you have to go through the Uffizi gallery.

Vasari Corridor, Piazza della Signoria, Florence, Italy, +39 055 238 8651

The French artist Clet Abraham decided to ‘enhance’ the traffic signs of Florence by modifying them in a beautiful and witty way. Clet Abraham moved to Italy over 20 years ago and did the same to the Florentine traffic signs as to the signs in various other European cities, such as Paris and Berlin. Even though some may perceive his pop art as vandalism, the material he uses is easily removable, so no real damage to the city’s transport or signposts has been done. You can also admire his art in his studio at Via Dell’Olmo 8r.

Clet Abraham Studio, 50125, Via dell’Olmo, 8, 50125 Firenze, Italy

Street art at historic center of Florence | © kozer/Shutterstock

Piazzale Michelangelo was not designed by Michelangelo himself, but by 19th century artist Giuseppe Poggi. It displays, however, a large number of copies of Michelangelo’s most acknowledged sculptures, such as David – hence the name of the place. In addition, there is a charming collection of love locks, probably inspired by the wonderful view of Florence and the Arno River that the piazzale offers.

If you need a quick change from culture to nature, pause during the walk to Piazzale Michelangelo and stop by the wonderful rose garden that offers an amazing view of the city. The garden was created by the same artist, Giuseppe Poggi, at the end of the 19th century. As a result of Florence’s twinning with Kyoto, the garden gained an additional part – a Japanese Shorai oasis. The garden is also decorated with 12 sculptures by contemporary Belgian artist Jean-Michel Folon.

Giardino delle rose, Viale Giuseppe Poggi 2, Florence, Italy

View from Giardino delle Rose to the city of Florence | © PeterVrabel/Shutterstock

For fans of Italian literature and especially the great Dante Alighieri, this church will be the most interesting site in the whole of Florence (alongside Dante’s house, of course). Tiny and hidden between huge buildings, the Church of Santa Margherita de’ Cerchi dates back to the 11th century. It is here that Dante met his true love Beatrice. Although Beatrice’s family and nanny are buried in the church, she was probably buried somewhere else with her husband’s relatives. The Santa Margherita de’ Cerchi church is where one of the greatest love stories described in literature began.

On the last weekend of each month, Piazza dei Ciompi, located in the Sant’ Ambrogio quarter of Florence, hosts a wonderful antiques market, full of vintage accessories, old-fashioned furniture and objects of every-day use, and second-hand clothing. On these weekends the market expands to over 100 stands, but a smaller version is open every day.