Piazzale Michelangelo

Piazzale Michelangelo provides THE VIEW for tourists coming to Florence. It has it all, the Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio and the hills of Fiesole as a backdrop. For visitors from London, it's the equivalent of Primrose Hill as it offers an unmatched panorama over the entire city.

The main piazza is approximately 100 metres square, with the main portion allocated for cars and coaches that park up allowing tourists to take in this marvelous view. In the summer months the Piazza has a peppering of market stalls and traders that sell an assortment of bags and souvenirs.

If it's a clear day in Florence you simply must go to Piazzale Michelangelo because there is nothing quite like it, and it will leave a lasting impression. There's also a cafe in the Piazza from which you can take in the view while enjoying a Cappuccino or cocktail.

It goes without saying that like wherever tourism is popular during the evening you need to be especially vigilant against pickpockets. You'll also find more market stalls springing up as well as local artists selling their works. The evening view is one for romantics, sitting out on the steps looking down over the town, but it's really on a clear sunny day or towards the hours of sunset that the Piazza shines.

Getting there

Local buses go up to the Piazza from the main train station (Santa Maria Novella) but for the return journey,a walk down the hill (on Viale Giuseppe Poggi, follow through to Via dei Bastioni) is highly recommended. It will take about 15 minutes and you will arrive in the area of San Niccolò, where you can visit the Church of San Niccolò as well as stop for a pause in the cafe's bar and shops that are found in this part of the city.