{"id":1425,"date":"2011-09-07T15:48:29","date_gmt":"2011-09-07T14:48:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/walks.friday.ie\/?p=1425"},"modified":"2026-02-23T10:27:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T10:27:12","slug":"what-to-do-in-florence-on-a-monday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/what-to-do-in-florence-on-a-monday","title":{"rendered":"What To Do in Florence On a Monday: 11 Great Ideas"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/what-to-do-in-florence-on-a-monday\/#Our_picks_for_what_to_do_in_Florence_on_a_Monday\">Our picks for what to do in Florence on a Monday<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/what-to-do-in-florence-on-a-monday\/#Incredible_Duomo_and_glorious_Baptistery\">Incredible Duomo and glorious Baptistery<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/what-to-do-in-florence-on-a-monday\/#Museo_dellOpera_del_Duomo_and_Michelangelos_other_Pieta\">Museo dell&#8217;Opera del Duomo and Michelangelo&#8217;s (other) Piet\u00e0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/what-to-do-in-florence-on-a-monday\/#The_Bargello_Florences_biggest_museum_%E2%80%93_and_home_to_the_%E2%80%9Cfirst%E2%80%9D_David\">The Bargello, Florence&#8217;s biggest museum \u2013 and home to the &#8220;first&#8221; David<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/what-to-do-in-florence-on-a-monday\/#The_Brancacci_Chapel_one_of_Florences_best_art_gems\">The Brancacci Chapel, one of Florence&#8217;s best art gems<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/what-to-do-in-florence-on-a-monday\/#The_Galileo_Museum_a_kid-friendly_peek_at_Renaissance_science\">The Galileo Museum, a kid-friendly peek at Renaissance science<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/what-to-do-in-florence-on-a-monday\/#National_Archaeological_Museum_of_Florence\">National Archaeological Museum of Florence<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/what-to-do-in-florence-on-a-monday\/#Palazzo_Vecchio_Fantastic_frescoes_and_Machiavellis_office\">Palazzo Vecchio: Fantastic frescoes and Machiavelli&#8217;s office<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/what-to-do-in-florence-on-a-monday\/#Orsanmichele_A_museum_thats_only_open_Mondays\">Orsanmichele: A museum that&#8217;s only open Mondays<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/what-to-do-in-florence-on-a-monday\/#Santa_Maria_Novellas_museum_and_church\">Santa Maria Novella&#8217;s museum and church<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/what-to-do-in-florence-on-a-monday\/#Boboli_Gardens\">Boboli Gardens<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/what-to-do-in-florence-on-a-monday\/#The_church_library_and_Medici_Chapels_of_San_Lorenzo\">The church, library, and Medici Chapels of San Lorenzo<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\nIf you&#8217;re planning to be in Florence on a Monday while you&#8217;re traveling in Italy, you&#8217;ll quickly notice that many of the city&#8217;s must-see sites are closed. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.galleriaaccademiafirenze.it\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Galleria dell\u2019Accademia<\/a>&nbsp;closes on Mondays, as does the Uffizi, and Palazzo Pitti.<\/p>\n<p>We run some <a href=\"https:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/florence-tours\">amazing tours in Florence<\/a>, but we also want to make sure you enjoy every second of your holiday, so here&#8217;s our guide to the best sites open on Mondays in Florence.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Our_picks_for_what_to_do_in_Florence_on_a_Monday\"><\/span>Our picks for what to do in Florence on a Monday<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Incredible_Duomo_and_glorious_Baptistery\"><\/span>Incredible Duomo and glorious Baptistery<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Perhaps Florence&#8217;s most famous church, the Duomo is also the city&#8217;s most popular stop. And if you&#8217;re here on a Monday, you&#8217;re still in luck\u2014the <\/span><a style=\"font-size: 16px;\" href=\"https:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/top-attractions\/florence-cathedral-museum\">Duomo<\/a><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> is open that day! Feel like a hike? You can climb the 463 steps of the dome, or the 14th-century belltower begun by Giotto, with 414 steps!<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong><em>See the Duomo like never before: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/florence-tours\/florence-cathedral-after-hours-tour\/\"><span class=\"s1\">Alone in the Duomo: VIP After-Hours Tour with Dome Climb &amp; Private Terrace Access<\/span><\/a>. Escape the crowds and discover Florence&#8217;s famous Duomo on an after-hours tour, climbing 463 steps to the dome top for magnificent views and close-up encounters with its artwork. Guided by an expert, delve into intriguing tales of Brunelleschi&#8217;s engineering and relish private terrace access.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>End with a special experience only few have: see the Key Master turn off the cathedral lights and take your group to lock up the church for the day. Join us for this VIP experience that will be a highlight of your trip to Florence.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"fasc-button fasc-size-medium fasc-type-flat fasc-rounded-medium\" style=\"background-color: #5e2014; color: #ffffff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/florence-tours\/florence-cathedral-after-hours-tour\/\">Join us \u2192 Alone in the Duomo: VIP After-Hours<\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_8866\" style=\"width: 1510px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8866\" class=\"wp-image-8866 size-full\" src=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/WofI_150505_XTRA076-copy.jpg\" alt=\"The Florence Duomo is one of the greatest works of architecture in the world.\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/WofI_150505_XTRA076-copy.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/WofI_150505_XTRA076-copy-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-8866\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">You can&#8217;t miss Florence&#8217;s Duomo, and don&#8217;t worry: it&#8217;s even open on Mondays!<\/p><\/div>\n<p>And don&#8217;t miss the <a href=\"https:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/top-attractions\/florence-cathedral-baptistery\"><strong>Baptistery<\/strong><\/a>. You can stop by any time, of course, to admire its exterior Gates of Paradise, an early 15th-century rendering of some of the Bible&#8217;s most dramatic scenes. But if you want to actually enter the Baptistery\u2014Florence&#8217;s oldest building, and resplendent with shimmering ceiling mosaics from the 13th century\u2014then you&#8217;re good to go on Mondays.<\/p>\n<p><em>For more information about the Duomo and Baptistery, click <a href=\"http:\/\/www.operaduomo.firenze.it\/opera\/orari.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">here<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1431\" style=\"width: 1010px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Gold-ceiling-of-the-Baptistry-of-the-Duomo-central-cathedral-of-Florence-Italy..jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1431\" class=\"wp-image-1431 size-full\" title=\"The ceiling of the Baptistery of Florence, open on Monday\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Gold-ceiling-of-the-Baptistry-of-the-Duomo-central-cathedral-of-Florence-Italy..jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"663\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Gold-ceiling-of-the-Baptistry-of-the-Duomo-central-cathedral-of-Florence-Italy..jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Gold-ceiling-of-the-Baptistry-of-the-Duomo-central-cathedral-of-Florence-Italy.-768x509.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1431\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The beautiful ceiling of the Baptistery<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Museo_dellOpera_del_Duomo_and_Michelangelos_other_Pieta\"><\/span>Museo dell&#8217;Opera del Duomo and Michelangelo&#8217;s (other) <em><em>Piet\u00e0<\/em><\/em><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Not <em>all <\/em>of Florence&#8217;s museums are closed on Mondays. One that remains open is the <a href=\"https:\/\/duomo.firenze.it\/it\/home\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Museo dell&#8217;Opera del Duomo<\/a>. It also happens to be Florence&#8217;s second-largest museum, a vast but navigable collection of Renaissance masterpieces. Among the best: Donatello&#8217;s statues for the Duomo&#8217;s <em>campanile<\/em>, the elaborate choir-lofts by Donatello and Luca della Robbia, Brunelleschi&#8217;s death mask, and Ghiberti&#8217;s original bronze panels for the Baptistery.<\/p>\n<p>There&#8217;s also Michelangelo&#8217;s <em>Piet\u00e0. <\/em>No, not <em>that <\/em><em>Piet\u00e0\u2014<\/em>instead, the one he was working on when he was almost 80 years old&#8230; and that he intended for his own tomb. It&#8217;ll send shivers up your spine.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_24933\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-24933\" class=\"wp-image-24933 size-full\" title=\"You can see Michelangelo's Pieta on a Monday\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Picture-066-new.jpg\" alt=\"The museum of the Duomo is open in Florence on Monday\" width=\"800\" height=\"1204\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Picture-066-new.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Picture-066-new-768x1156.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-24933\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Michelangelo&#8217;s (other) Pieta, which you can visit on a Monday!<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Bargello_Florences_biggest_museum_%E2%80%93_and_home_to_the_%E2%80%9Cfirst%E2%80%9D_David\"><\/span>The Bargello, Florence&#8217;s biggest museum \u2013 and home to the &#8220;first&#8221; <em>David<\/em><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Depending on <em>which <\/em>Monday you&#8217;re in town, the Bargello (<em>Via del Proconsolo 4)<\/em>, Florence&#8217;s largest museum, just might be open. That&#8217;s because it&#8217;s closed on the first, third, and fifth Mondays of the month and the second and fourth Sunday of every month.<\/p>\n<p>If you do happen to be there the other Mondays, you&#8217;ll find it much more tranquil than the packed <em>Accademia<\/em> and Uffizi. The 13th-century palazzo is full of gems. Don&#8217;t miss Michelangelo&#8217;s first big piece, the <em>Bacchus <\/em>that he carved at a tender 22 years old; Giambologna&#8217;s famous <em>Mercury; <\/em>or Donatello&#8217;s <em>David, <\/em><em>the<\/em> sculpture of David before Michelangelo got to his version.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Brancacci_Chapel_one_of_Florences_best_art_gems\"><\/span>The Brancacci Chapel, one of Florence&#8217;s best art gems<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Cappella Brancacci of the Church of Santa Maria del Carmine (<em>Piazza del Carmine, 14<\/em>) also happens to be a must-see. That&#8217;s because Masaccio, the &#8220;father&#8221; of the Renaissance, started frescoing it in 1424&#8230;only to die shortly after. Enter Filippino Lippi, who finished the work 66 years later. The frescoes are not only gorgeous, but show two different moments in Renaissance art.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_24953\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-24953\" class=\"wp-image-24953 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Picture-346-new.jpg\" alt=\"Masaccio frescoes in the Brancacci Chapel\" width=\"800\" height=\"531\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Picture-346-new.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Picture-346-new-768x510.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-24953\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Masaccio frescoes in the Brancacci Chapel<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Galileo_Museum_a_kid-friendly_peek_at_Renaissance_science\"><\/span>The Galileo Museum, a kid-friendly peek at Renaissance science<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Even in Florence, the Renaissance wasn&#8217;t all art and architecture. For a break from nudes and frescoes, get yourself to Florence&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.museogalileo.it\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Galileo Museum.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The museum, <a href=\"https:\/\/devourtours.com\/blog\/florence-with-kids\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a great option for kids<\/a>, offers a real glimpse into the leaps made in science in the Renaissance era. It&#8217;s got everything from Galileo&#8217;s original instruments (including the lens he used to find the four moons of Jupiter) to a mechanical calculator from 1664 and even, most disturbingly at all, the middle finger of Galileo&#8217;s right hand, taken while he was being reinterred in Santa Croce after the posthumous decision that, actually, his heliocentric view of the universe didn&#8217;t <em>really<\/em> merit his Inquisition indictment.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"National_Archaeological_Museum_of_Florence\"><\/span>National Archaeological Museum of Florence<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Want to take a break from the Renaissance? Then delve back even further into Italy&#8217;s past with the Museo Archeologico (<em>Piazza della SS. Annunziata, 9b)<\/em>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_24991\" style=\"width: 910px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-24991\" class=\"wp-image-24991 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/DSC_0482-new.jpg\" alt=\"An Etruscan sarcophagus from the 2nd century B.C., one of the many gems of the National Archaeological Museum\" width=\"900\" height=\"598\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/DSC_0482-new.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/DSC_0482-new-768x510.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-24991\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">An Etruscan sarcophagus from the 2nd century B.C., one of the many gems of the National Archaeological Museum<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The city&#8217;s archaeological museum, open on Mondays, is fantastic, with such masterpieces as this ancient Etruscan tomb (above), a sarcophagus from the 4th century B.C. that still has its painted scenes of battling Amazons, and the famous Chimera of Arezzo, a lifelike bronze lion from the 5th century B.C. If the upstairs section is closed, just ask for someone to open it.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Palazzo_Vecchio_Fantastic_frescoes_and_Machiavellis_office\"><\/span>Palazzo Vecchio: Fantastic frescoes and Machiavelli&#8217;s office<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>You&#8217;ll run across the<a href=\"https:\/\/cultura.comune.fi.it\/pagina\/musei-civici-fiorentini\/museo-di-palazzo-vecchio\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Palazzo Vecchio,<\/a> the imposing, medieval fortress that served as the seat of the Florentine Republic, often while in Florence. So why not check out what&#8217;s inside? Open from 9am-7pm on Mondays, the Palazzo Vecchio includes the sumptuously-decorated rooms of the Medici family; Machiavelli&#8217;s office; Donatello&#8217;s <em>Judith and Holofernes; <\/em>and the famed Salone dei Cinquecento, where Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo were meant to have a fresco face-off\u2014but where Vasari painted over their attempts. Debate still ranges as to whether the masters&#8217; original frescoes are hiding behind Vasari&#8217;s!<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"767\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-16040\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/florence-2790263_1920.jpg\" alt=\"\"><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Orsanmichele_A_museum_thats_only_open_Mondays\"><\/span>Orsanmichele: A museum that&#8217;s<em> only<\/em> open Mondays<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>For once, it&#8217;s actually <em>good <\/em>if you&#8217;re in Florence on a Monday\u2014that&#8217;s the only day the museum is open! The Church of Orsanmichele (<em>Via dell&#8217;Arte della Lana<\/em>) is famous for its facade, which is decorated with statues, done between 1340 and 1602, that were each done by a different Florentine guild. Artists involved were among the city&#8217;s best, including Ghiberti, Donatello, Pisano, and Giambologna. One by one, however, these statues are being restored and moved inside for their protection&#8230; into the museum. <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-16041\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/courtyard-517074_1920.jpg\" alt=\"orsanmichele florence\"><\/p>\n<p><em>The church and museum of Orsanmichele is located on Via Arte della Lana.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Santa_Maria_Novellas_museum_and_church\"><\/span>Santa Maria Novella&#8217;s museum and church<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>One of Florence&#8217;s most beautiful churches, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smn.it\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Santa Maria Novella<\/a> is a Gothic masterpiece\u2014and both it and its museum are open on Monday. Its real gems are all Renaissance, from a fresco by Masaccio to a crucifix by Giotto. Don&#8217;t miss the gorgeous frescoes by Filippino Lippi in the Strozzi chapel. When you&#8217;re done, wander into the Museo di Santa Maria Novella, open from 9am-5:30pm on Mondays. It&#8217;s a series of hidden, elaborately-frescoed cloisters, the Spanish Chapel with its 14th-century frescoes, and an exhibition of glittering vestments and liturgical treasures.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Boboli_Gardens\"><\/span>Boboli Gardens<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Need a break in the great outdoors? Then you&#8217;re in luck! The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uffizi.it\/en\/boboli-garden\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Boboli Gardens<\/a>, the formal, sprawling gardens of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uffizi.it\/en\/pitti-palace\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Palazzo Pitti<\/a>, are open every Monday except for the first and last Monday of the month. As well as filled with beautiful landscaping, the garden boasts the Grotta del Buontalenti, a bizarre Mannerist grotto, filled with sculptures.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Insider&#8217;s tip:<\/strong> Want to explore other outdoor spaces? Check out this guide to the <a href=\"https:\/\/devourtours.com\/blog\/parks-in-florence\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">top 10 parks in Florence<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_619\" style=\"width: 1010px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-619\" class=\"wp-image-619 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/The-pond-in-the-Boboli-gardens.jpg\" alt=\"Boboli Gardens in Florence\" width=\"1000\" height=\"707\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/The-pond-in-the-Boboli-gardens.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/The-pond-in-the-Boboli-gardens-768x543.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-619\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">If you&#8217;re wondering what to do in Florence on a Monday, checking out a garden is a sure bet!<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_church_library_and_Medici_Chapels_of_San_Lorenzo\"><\/span>The church, library, and Medici Chapels of San Lorenzo<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you&#8217;re a Michelangelo fan, you <em>must <\/em>make it to San Lorenzo. The church, supposed to be Michelangelo&#8217;s masterpiece, remained unfinished, giving the exterior rough and almost sad look. But head inside the church, open from 10am-5pm on Mondays, for a treat: bronze pulpits by Donatello, the last work by the artist who had such a huge influence on Michelangelo.<\/p>\n<p>One of San Lorenzo&#8217;s neatest offerings, though, is the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bmlonline.it\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Biblioteca Laurenziana<\/a>, or Laurentian Medici Library, which is open on Mondays. An architectural delight, this library was designed by Michelangelo for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/5-must-see-medici-attractions-in-florence\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Florence&#8217;s powerful Medici family in 1524<\/a>, and absolutely revolutionized architecture with its staircase that looks like it&#8217;s spilling and its columns that sink into walls.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, the Medici Chapels (Cappelle Medicee) are open on the second and fourth Monday of each month. They serve as the resting place for some of the Medici family&#8217;s most important members &#8211; and for some of Michelangelo&#8217;s most important sculptures, which he created as tombs for his influential patrons!<em>&nbsp;<\/em>The Medici Chapels are&nbsp;located at Piazza Madonna degli Aldobrandini.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1444\" style=\"width: 1010px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Medici-Chapels-in-the-San-Lorenzo-church-structure-in-Florence-Italty.-Seen-from-the-back-and-side..jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1444\" class=\"wp-image-1444 size-full\" title=\"The Church of San Lorenzo, open in Florence on a Monday\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Medici-Chapels-in-the-San-Lorenzo-church-structure-in-Florence-Italty.-Seen-from-the-back-and-side..jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Medici-Chapels-in-the-San-Lorenzo-church-structure-in-Florence-Italty.-Seen-from-the-back-and-side..jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Medici-Chapels-in-the-San-Lorenzo-church-structure-in-Florence-Italty.-Seen-from-the-back-and-side.-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1444\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Church of San Lorenzo boasts a number of gems inside&#8230;<\/p><\/div>\n<p><em>Update post: This Post was updated on March 11, 2023.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Another option for Florence on a Monday? Take a day trip to a nearby town! Why not join us for our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/florence-tours\/florence-food-tour\/\">Oltrarno at Sunset: Florence Food &amp; Wine Tour<\/a>? Not only does this tour run on Mondays, we&#8217;ll explore picturesque towns and stunning wineries on a perfectly planned half-day excursion to Chianti wine country from Florence!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you&#8217;re planning to be in Florence on a Monday while you&#8217;re traveling in Italy, you&#8217;ll quickly notice that many of the city&#8217;s must-see sites are closed. The Galleria dell\u2019Accademia&nbsp;closes on Mondays, as does the Uffizi, and Palazzo Pitti. We run some amazing tours in Florence, but we also want to make sure you enjoy [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":82,"featured_media":9005,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[64],"ppma_author":[189],"class_list":["post-1425","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-things-to-do","tag-florence"],"authors":[{"term_id":189,"user_id":82,"is_guest":0,"slug":"beatricem","display_name":"Beatrice M.","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Beatrice-Marino.png","url2x":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Beatrice-Marino.png"},"user_url":"","last_name":"M.","first_name":"Beatrice","job_title":"","description":"Beatrice, a native of Florence, is passionate about four things: travel, writing, cooking, and eating. As an avid traveler and travel writer, she has embarked on countless adventures throughout Italy and beyond, immersing herself in different cultures and documenting her experiences along the way. Beyond her love for writing, Beatrice loves cooking and baking, especially homemade pasta and cannoli."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1425"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/82"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1425"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1425\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24992,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1425\/revisions\/24992"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9005"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1425"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1425"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1425"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=1425"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}