Florence: Neighborhoods

The Duomo/Piazza della Signoria The historic area between Florence's religious and civic centers is made up of medieval alleyways and squares, with remnants of the original grid planned out by the Romans. Many of the city's major museums can be found here, and the surrounding narrow streets lead to great shopping finds.

San Lorenzo The Renaissance-style Basilica di San Lorenzo and the adjoining Medici chapels are situated in this bustling market district popular for the wide choice of leather goods and fashion accessories. Visit the massive indoor food market with fish, meat and vegetable stalls for some of the cheapest and freshest food shopping in town.

Santa Trinita High fashion plagues the gateway to budget-busting shops between Via Strozzi, Via Tornabuoni, Via della Vigna Nuova, and Lungarno Acciaiuoli. Gucci, Armani, and Versace – to name just a few – overtake the narrow streets of this medieval neighborhood.

Santa Maria Novella Last-minute budget hotspots surrounding the train station on the western outskirts of the city leave much to be desired, but the beautiful piazza before the Dominican basilica has been undergoing extensive regeneration and aims to become one of Florence's finest alfresco lounges.

San Marco/Santissima Annunziata The University, Michelangelo's David, and two of Florence’s best-loved churches are located along the quaint streets of the city's northern edge. If you want to take a break from the Renaissance, here is also one of Italy's best archaeological museums, with notable Etruscan and Roman finds as well as the second best collection of Egyptian artifacts in Italy (after Turin’s).

Santa Croce/Sant'Ambrogio This low-lying area along the Arno was the worst hit by the tragic flood on November 4, 1966. Besides the Franciscan basilica and the National Library, the neighborhood boasts some of Florence's best culinary treats, a popular flea market, and Sinagoga di Firenze.

The Oltrarno Spanning the length of the city center on the left bank of the river (literally, “Oltrarno” means “beyond the Arno”), this neighborhood is an eclectic mix of grand palaces, historic churches (notably Santo Spirito and Santa Maria del Carmine), trendy designer shops, and old-world artisan workshops. Here are also the best-preserved remnants of the 14th-century city walls.