Piazzale Michelangelo

A free viewpoint on a hill on the south bank of the Arno, offering a panorama of Florence's dome, old palace tower and bridges. It is the city's most popular spot to watch the sunset.

Piazzale Michelangelo was built in 1869 as part of the urban redevelopment carried out while Florence served as Italy's temporary capital. It sits on a hill on the south bank of the Arno, and in the center of the square stand bronze replicas of Michelangelo's David and the four statues from the Medici Chapel. From the railing on the north side, the entire old city of Florence spreads out below: the red dome and Giotto's Bell Tower of the Duomo, the Arnolfo Tower of the Palazzo Vecchio, Santa Croce, the Ponte Vecchio and the Ponte Santa Trinita, with the hills of Fiesole in the distance. It is Florence's most iconic panoramic viewpoint and the most photographed scene on postcards and social media. In the hour before sunset, the steps of the square fill with tourists and street musicians. As the sun sinks, the city turns golden, and after the lights come on it takes on a different charm. At dawn it is almost empty, and the light is soft. Below the square, the Rose Garden (in bloom May to June, free to enter) and the Iris Garden (open only in May) offer quieter alternative viewpoints. Ten minutes' walk further uphill is the Basilica of San Miniato al Monte, an 11th-century Romanesque masterpiece. The terrace in front of the church offers an even higher and wider view, and in the evening Gregorian chant Mass is sung by monks. Getting there: walk from the Ponte Vecchio via Via di San Niccolò and the sloping steps, which takes about 20 to 25 minutes. Alternatively, take bus 12 or 13 to the Piazzale Michelangelo stop, or a taxi, which costs about 10 euros. Drinks sold by vendors around the parking area are expensive, so bring your own. The slope down at night has poor lighting, so it is safer to walk back in a group.

Piazzale Michelangelo

Opening hours

Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby