The 18 Best Hidden Gems in Florence Even Locals Don’t Know About

Just 30 minutes from the historical city centre of Florence, Villa Demidoff is a must-see spot: an elegant villa with a beautiful garden, where a majestic 16th-century statue, the Colosso dell’Appennino realised by Giambologna, lies hidden. If you have extra time while you are in Florence, it is totally worth a visit.

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. Recommended by Olga Lenczewska.

If you’ve already visited Florence or know it well, avoid the famous and crowded museums, such as Uffizi Gallery and Accademia, and head to San Marco Museum. It is located inside a Dominican monastery and hosts beautiful pieces of art from the 16th-century, including works painted by the great Beato Angelico. A plus here is that you’ll not find lines or hordes of people!

This museum houses one of the most impressive, old-fashioned anthropological and ethnological collections in Europe. It is a part of the Natural Science Museum of the University of Florence and is located in a beautiful, 16th-century building designed by Bernardo Buontalenti. The 18 rooms of the museum display fascinating evidence of human diversity in terms of cultural and religious practices, tools, clothing, artwork, musical instruments, and language. Some of the rooms host artifacts from minorities and cultures which you have probably never even heard of. Moreover, a separate space on the ground-floor is dedicated to a large collection on the diverse cultures of India, amassed during the multiple travels of a former director of the museum, the anthropologist Angelo De Gubernatis. Recommended by Olga Lenczewska.

Just a few steps from the beautiful Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, Todo Modo is the coolest bookstore in Florence to find a great selection of English and Italian books. Todo Modo is not just an ordinary bookshop but also the perfect place for brunch or a quick lunch.

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. Recommended by Olga Lenczewska.

As late as during the 1960s and 1970s, the excavations conducted under the Florentine iconic Brunelleschi’s Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore revealed the ruins of an original ancient church Santa Reparata, dating back to the times when Florence was a Roman colony. This (very well hidden) site shows you Florence before its dominant Renaissance era. The church’s patron, a young martyr from the 3rd century A.D., remains one of Florence’s patron saints to this day. Recommended by Olga Lenczewska.

If you’ve had enough of tourists and selfie sticks, head to Oltrarno on the other side of the Arno River, the less-crowded and coolest neighbourhood of Florence. Here, on Borgo San Jacopo, a secret street near Ponte Vecchio, you can admire beautiful palaces including towers and take in spectacular views over the old bridge and river.

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. Recommended by Olga Lenczewska.

The pharmacy is another classic place to visit in the Santa Maria Novella neighborhood, as it is one of the oldest in the city. The interior is so luxurious and decadent that just setting foot inside is a unique experience. The pharmacy was founded in 1221 by the same friars who were in charge of the construction of the basilica. Tourists will never see a pharmacy like it: frescoes, statues, ancient books and stunning architecture make this establishment one of the top things to see in this part of Florence.

Near the majestic Piazza Pitti, with its stunning Pitti Palace, there is a narrow, hidden street with beautiful murals. The name is Via Toscanella, and, for street art enthusiasts, it is a must-see in Florence.

There is nothing better than going to the flea markets to live the authentic spirit of a town. The most famous flea market in Florence is the one located on Piazza dei Ciompi: here, you can buy good second-hand stuff or antiques to decorate your home.

On the façade of Palazzo Vecchio, the administrative city centre of Florence, you can spot a hidden face carved by Michelangelo. The artist used to spend most of his time in the square, and, by legend, he carved the face of a man who used to bore him with stories behind the man’s back while Michelangelo was pretending to listen.

When in Florence, pay attention to the traffic signs! Why? A local artist called Clet has been adding stickers to them since the summer of 2010. Now, they are part of the art scene of Florence, even if many people, including the administrators of the town, don’t really appreciate them.

One of the most beautiful places to visit in Florence is Loggia dei Lanzi, a coveted pavilion near Palazzo Vecchio with several statues made by Italian artists. One of the most famous is the Perseus with the Head of Medusa, sculpted by the great Benvenuto Cellini. The cool thing here is not only the spectacular front of the statue but also the back, where there is a face carved into the back of Perseus’s head. This is the self-portrait of Cellini himself.

Besides the famous Boboli and Bardini gardens, Florence is also home to a secret, private garden, the Torrigiani Garden. It is the largest private garden situated within city boundaries in Europe. Torrigiani Garden was transformed by the owner Marquis Pietro Torrigiani into a romantic park in an English style and now is a green oasis in the middle of the town.

Loggia del Bigallo stands just next to the cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore, and therefore many tourists pass by it every day – but not many stop to admire it or to wonder what it was used for. This Gothic building from the 14th century was the venue for the Compagnia della Misericordia and served as a shelter for abandoned children and people whose houses were destroyed by the plague. Nowadays, the loggia has quite a different purpose – it hosts a collection of frescos, such as ‘Madonna of the Misericordia’ by Bernardo Daddi. Recommended by Olga Lenczewska.

As evening falls, resist the temptation to dine at an early hour as is customary for tourists, and head to one of the many local bars for aperitivo. Starting at most places at 7pm, paying a slightly higher price for your spritz (aperol, white wine or prosecco, and soda) will get you a full spread of complimentary appetizers and other finger foods. On Via de’ Benci, Soul Kitchen offers different specialties depending on the night of the week (barbecue, vegetarian). At nearby Gallery Café Art Bar on Wednesdays and Fridays you can even catch some live music by local American musician Derek James and a rotating cast of friends. Recommended by Stephanie Carwin.

Florence is more than just the Ponte Vecchio and the Duomo! Discover the city’s hidden treasures with amazing tours that take you beyond the typical landmarks, such as hidden gardens or artisan workshops. There is the ideal experience waiting for you, regardless of your interests in history, art, or cuisine. For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, let knowledgeable experts reveal this Renaissance city’s best-kept secrets!

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