{"id":2178,"date":"2012-05-21T13:03:57","date_gmt":"2012-05-21T11:03:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/walks.friday.ie\/?p=2178"},"modified":"2026-02-20T10:48:03","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T10:48:03","slug":"oltrarno-florence-italy-pitti-palace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/oltrarno-florence-italy-pitti-palace","title":{"rendered":"Oltrarno Florence: Why Visit the &#8220;Other Side&#8221; of the Arno"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Get off the beaten path in Florence&#8230; without even leaving the historic center! Just walking across the River Arno brings you to<strong> one of our favorite neighborhoods&#8230; the Oltrarno Florence<\/strong>.\u00a0The name itself actually means &#8220;beyond the Arno.&#8221;, and this is where we are going to take you for <strong>six sights you can&#8217;t miss in Florence, that all happen to be in the Oltrarno!<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_598\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-598\" class=\"wp-image-598\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/DSC_0536-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Head across the Arno for the best view of Firenze\" width=\"1200\" height=\"797\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/DSC_0536-scaled.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/DSC_0536-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/DSC_0536-1536x1020.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-598\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">For this view of Florence, you have to head across the Arno River.<\/p><\/div>\n<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\/oltrarno-florence-italy-pitti-palace\/#6_Must-see_sights_across_the_Arno_in_Oltrarno_Florence\" >6 Must-see sights across the Arno in Oltrarno Florence<\/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\/oltrarno-florence-italy-pitti-palace\/#The_Palazzo_Pitti\" >The Palazzo Pitti<\/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\/oltrarno-florence-italy-pitti-palace\/#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-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/oltrarno-florence-italy-pitti-palace\/#Florentine_Artisans\" >Florentine Artisans<\/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\/oltrarno-florence-italy-pitti-palace\/#Brancacci_Chapel\" >Brancacci Chapel<\/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\/oltrarno-florence-italy-pitti-palace\/#Basilica_of_S_Maria_del_Santo_Spirito\" >Basilica of S. Maria del Santo Spirito<\/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\/oltrarno-florence-italy-pitti-palace\/#Piazzale_Michelangelo_and_the_Church_of_San_Miniato_al_Monte\" >Piazzale Michelangelo and the Church of San Miniato al Monte<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/oltrarno-florence-italy-pitti-palace\/#FAQs_%E2%80%93_Visiting_the_Oltrarno_Florence\" >FAQs &#8211; Visiting the Oltrarno Florence<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/oltrarno-florence-italy-pitti-palace\/#Is_the_Oltrarno_a_good_place_to_stay_in_Florence\" >Is the Oltrarno a good place to stay in Florence?<\/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\/oltrarno-florence-italy-pitti-palace\/#Whats_the_best_time_of_day_to_explore_the_Oltrarno_Florence\" >What\u2019s the best time of day to explore the Oltrarno Florence ?<\/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\/oltrarno-florence-italy-pitti-palace\/#Do_I_need_tickets_to_visit_places_like_the_Pitti_Palace_or_Brancacci_Chapel\" >Do I need tickets to visit places like the Pitti Palace or Brancacci Chapel?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Must-see_sights_across_the_Arno_in_Oltrarno_Florence\"><\/span>6 Must-see sights across the Arno in Oltrarno Florence<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Palazzo_Pitti\"><\/span>The Palazzo Pitti<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Thought that the only two art museums you &#8220;had&#8221; to see were the Uffizi and Accademia? Think again! If you&#8217;re into art, then you can&#8217;t miss the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uffizi.it\/palazzo-pitti\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pitti Palace.<\/a> Located just over the Ponte Vecchio from the heart of Florence, the Renaissance-era palace belonged to Luca Pitti, a Florentine banker; the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/5-must-see-medici-attractions-in-florence\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Medici family<\/a> bought it in 1549, and it became the ruling family&#8217;s main residence.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_24442\" style=\"width: 510px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-24442\" class=\"wp-image-24442 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/500px-Pitti_boboli_utens.jpg\" alt=\"A lunette painted in 1599 by Giusto Utens, depicts the palazzo before its extensions, with the amphitheatre and the Boboli Gardens behind. \" width=\"500\" height=\"293\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-24442\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A lunette painted in 1599 by Giusto Utens, depicts the palazzo before its extensions, with the amphitheatre and the Boboli Gardens behind. Photo credit: Wikipedia<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The palace today is home to the Palatine Gallery, with more than 500 paintings, most from the Renaissance. Many might look familiar from a past art history course or a History Channel documentary on the Renaissance; the collection includes works by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/sacred-profane-love-titian-mysteries\">Titian<\/a>, Perugino, Raphael, Correggio, and Rubens.<\/p>\n<p>Some of the rooms were frescoed by the famous Baroque artist Pietro da Cortona. The Palazzo Pitti also has several lesser-known collections, including museums devoted to silver, porcelain, modern art, and fashion.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Boboli_Gardens\"><\/span>Boboli Gardens<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_20675\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20675\" class=\"wp-image-20675 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Boboli-Garden-in-Florence1200.jpg\" alt=\"A breathtaking garden with sculptured green bushes, several pink flowers, and a fountain in the middle.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Boboli-Garden-in-Florence1200.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Boboli-Garden-in-Florence1200-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-20675\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The breathtaking Boboli gardens with sculptured bushes, fountains and flowers!<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Looking for a bit of green during your Florence stay? At 11 acres, the <a href=\"https:\/\/devourtours.com\/blog\/parks-in-florence\/#Giardino_di_Boboli\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Boboli Gardens<\/a> make up one of the biggest public parks in central Florence. Laid out originally in the 16th century, the Boboli Gardens, which are attached to the Palazzo Pitti, are formal gardens, with a twist.<\/p>\n<p>They have outdoor sculptures including ancient Roman statues and, most famously, striking Mannerist works, including a grotto that was carved to look as if it was dripping with stalactites and houses copies of important Renaissance and Baroque works.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_621\" style=\"width: 1010px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/Florence-a-Detail-of-Buontalentis-Grotto-in-Boboli.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-621\" class=\"wp-image-621 size-full\" title=\"Grotto of Boboli gardens, Florence\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/Florence-a-Detail-of-Buontalentis-Grotto-in-Boboli.jpg\" alt=\"Detail of the grotto in Boboli park in the Oltrarno Florence \" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/Florence-a-Detail-of-Buontalentis-Grotto-in-Boboli.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/Florence-a-Detail-of-Buontalentis-Grotto-in-Boboli-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-621\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Melting statues in the Boboli gardens&#8217; grotto<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Florentine_Artisans\"><\/span>Florentine Artisans<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Okay, maybe it doesn&#8217;t count as a &#8220;sight,&#8221; but we think it&#8217;s worth seeing when you are in Altrarno Florence! Afterall, the city is known for its artisans, but, sadly, most in the center have been pushed out by souvenir shops and touristy trattorias. (Even those that &#8220;look&#8221; artisanal often have imported goods: if there isn&#8217;t a workbench in the back of the store, always be wary!).<\/p>\n<p>Head across the Arno, though, and go back to a time where chain stores weren&#8217;t the norm. The whole area around the Piazza di Santo Spirito still thrums with artisanal traditions. Some of our favorites: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.firenze-oltrarno.net\/omero\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">La Carta di Omero<\/a> (bookbinding and handmade marbled paper), Filippini e Paoletti (mosaics handcrafted from Murano glass), Mara Broccardi (handmade and bespoke ladies&#8217; shoes), and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.firenze-oltrarno.net\/ugobellini\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Ugo Bellini<\/a> (handmade jewellery). Peek in even if you&#8217;re not planning to buy\u2014there&#8217;s nothing like watching the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/oltrarno-shopping-in-florence-artisans\">Oltrarno artisans<\/a> at work.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2180\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2180\" class=\"wp-image-2180 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Florence-Oltrarno-Italy.jpg\" alt=\"A quiet city street in Oltrarno Florence, with traditional old building facades, cobbles and a moped!\" width=\"1200\" height=\"797\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Florence-Oltrarno-Italy.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Florence-Oltrarno-Italy-768x510.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-2180\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Get off the beaten path and into the quieter streets across the Arno!<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Brancacci_Chapel\"><\/span>Brancacci Chapel<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Located in Oltrarno Florence is the Church of Santa Maria del Carmine. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitflorence.com\/florence-churches\/cappella-brancacci.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Brancacci Chapel<\/a> provides a spectacular chance to actually chart the development of the Renaissance&#8230; with your own eyes. That&#8217;s because Masaccio, often called the father of the Renaissance, began frescoing the chapel in the 1420s at just 21 years of age. (He&#8217;d taken over from his master, Masolino, who left to paint for the king of Hungary). But Masaccio died at 27, and his frescoes were left unfinished&#8230; until the 1480s. Filippino Lippi completed the frescoes, 60 years after they&#8217;d begun.<\/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\" title=\"Brancacci Chapel in the Oltrarno\" 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\">Beautiful frescoes by Masaccio and Lippi in the Brancacci Chapel<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The result? The frescoes are a great way to see how Renaissance art developed from its earliest years to the midway point. That&#8217;s not to mention that the frescoes are simply stunning: Masaccio&#8217;s <em>Tribute Money<\/em> is one of the most famous pieces of the early Renaissance, and his frescoes were so important, Michelangelo trained by copying them.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Basilica_of_S_Maria_del_Santo_Spirito\"><\/span>Basilica of S. Maria del Santo Spirito<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>This church, often simply called <a href=\"http:\/\/www.basilicasantospirito.it\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">&#8220;Santo Spirito,&#8221;<\/a>\u00a0might be unassuming-looking from the outside. But it has a serious pedigree: It was designed by Brunelleschi. Yes, the guy behind the dome. Although his facade for the basilica never was completed, the interior, with its Latin cross and 40 side chapels, is fairly true to his original design.<\/p>\n<p>Don&#8217;t miss the frescoes by Filippino Lippi in the transept, especially now that you&#8217;ve already seen the master&#8217;s work at the Brancacci Chapel!<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Piazzale_Michelangelo_and_the_Church_of_San_Miniato_al_Monte\"><\/span>Piazzale Michelangelo and the Church of San Miniato al Monte<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Stretch your legs, or grab a bus, for the best view of Florence around. <em>This <\/em>is where postcard photographers get their shots. You can see it all: the Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio, the Uffizi, even the mountains in the distance.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_20674\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20674\" class=\"wp-image-20674 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Florence-panorama1200.jpg\" alt=\"The\u00a0view from Piazzale Michelangelo overlooking Florence with the river and the duomo in sight.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"796\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Florence-panorama1200.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Florence-panorama1200-768x509.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-20674\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The\u00a0view from Piazzale Michelangelo overlooking the Florence skyline.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>And, even if you don&#8217;t think you can take one more church, pay a visit to the Church of San Miniato al Monte. An absolute gem of a church, the basilica dates back to the 11th century and is one of the finest Romanesque churches in all of Italy. And Pinocchio&#8217;s creator is buried in the cemetery outside.<\/p>\n<p>Insider tip: If you don&#8217;t want to make the 20-minute walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo and San Minato al Monte, you can take buses 12 or 13 from Ponte alle Grazie to the piazza.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_22302\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22302\" class=\"wp-image-22302 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Walks_Florence_Tuscany-from-Florence_0013.jpg\" alt=\"Florence's cityscape with the Arno river running through it.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Walks_Florence_Tuscany-from-Florence_0013.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Walks_Florence_Tuscany-from-Florence_0013-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-22302\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Florence&#8217;s cityscape with the Arno river running through it, a city of 2 sides!<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQs_%E2%80%93_Visiting_the_Oltrarno_Florence\"><\/span>FAQs &#8211; Visiting the Oltrarno Florence<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_the_Oltrarno_a_good_place_to_stay_in_Florence\"><\/span>Is the Oltrarno a good place to stay in Florence?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes! The Oltrarno is one of Florence\u2019s most authentic, relaxed, and creative neighborhoods. It\u2019s quieter than the historic center yet still walkable to major sites like the Uffizi and the Duomo. Staying here gives you easy access to artisan workshops, local trattorias, riverside views, and a more \u201clived-in\u201d Florentine atmosphere.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Whats_the_best_time_of_day_to_explore_the_Oltrarno_Florence\"><\/span>What\u2019s the best time of day to explore the Oltrarno Florence ?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Early morning is peaceful and perfect for photos, while late afternoon into evening is ideal for caf\u00e9s, aperitivo bars, and people-watching around Piazza Santo Spirito. The neighborhood becomes especially lively at night, when locals head out for food and live music.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_I_need_tickets_to_visit_places_like_the_Pitti_Palace_or_Brancacci_Chapel\"><\/span>Do I need tickets to visit places like the Pitti Palace or Brancacci Chapel?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes, both require tickets. The Brancacci Chapel often books out days in advance and uses timed entry slots because of its fragile frescoes. It\u2019s best to reserve early. The Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens offer combined tickets if you want to visit both.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_23420\" style=\"width: 1930px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23420\" class=\"wp-image-23420 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Walks_Florence_Alone-in-Duomo_0066.jpg\" alt=\"A group of tourists enjoys the breathtaking view of Florence\u2019s terracotta rooftops and surrounding hills from the dome\u2019s summit.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Walks_Florence_Alone-in-Duomo_0066.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Walks_Florence_Alone-in-Duomo_0066-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Walks_Florence_Alone-in-Duomo_0066-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-23420\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The breathtaking view of Florence\u2019s terracotta rooftops and surrounding hills from the dome\u2019s summit.<\/p><\/div>\n<p data-start=\"101\" data-end=\"604\"><strong>Ready to experience Florence beyond the guidebook<\/strong>?<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"101\" data-end=\"604\">Whether you\u2019re passionate about Renaissance art, hidden Oltrarno gems, gourmet Tuscan cuisine, or breathtaking views, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/florence-tours\/\">Walks of Italy tours in Florence<\/a> are designed to help you see the city like a local<\/strong>,<strong> with expert guides who bring each piazza, palace, and fresco to life. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"101\" data-end=\"604\"><strong>From <em data-start=\"439\" data-end=\"475\">skip-the-line access to the Uffizi<\/em> to <em data-start=\"479\" data-end=\"503\">street food adventures<\/em> and <em data-start=\"508\" data-end=\"539\">exclusive evening experiences<\/em>, you\u2019ll discover more than just sights, you\u2019ll uncover stories. <\/strong>Your unforgettable Tuscan adventure starts with a step, take it with Walks of Italy!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Get off the beaten path in Florence&#8230; without even leaving the historic center! Just walking across the River Arno brings you to one of our favorite neighborhoods&#8230; the Oltrarno Florence.\u00a0The name itself actually means &#8220;beyond the Arno.&#8221;, and this is where we are going to take you for six sights you can&#8217;t miss in Florence, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":102,"featured_media":2180,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[80,64],"ppma_author":[296],"class_list":["post-2178","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-things-to-do","tag-churches","tag-florence"],"authors":[{"term_id":296,"user_id":102,"is_guest":0,"slug":"maikac","display_name":"Maika Cotton","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/maika.jpeg","url2x":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/maika.jpeg"},"user_url":"","last_name":"Cotton","first_name":"Maika","job_title":"","description":"Maika is a writer, traveler, and planner at heart, with a love for meaningful experiences and a good story. Whether she\u2019s discovering new places or reflecting on everyday moments, she brings a thoughtful, down-to-earth perspective to her writing. Originally from Guatemala and now often on the move, Maika shares insights shaped by cultural curiosity, lived adventures, and a genuine appreciation for people and places."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2178"}],"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\/102"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2178"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2178\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24954,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2178\/revisions\/24954"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2180"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2178"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2178"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2178"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=2178"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}