Best Churches To Visit | Florence, Italy
After speaking with a few engaged couples and learning they will be spending their honeymoon in Italy we have decided to put together a list of our top see museums while visiting Florence. Here is a look at the best Museums to visit in Florence, whether if you are traveling for fun or celebrating your recent marriage, these cost efficient sites are must sees. Here are five to start with:
1. Santa Maria Novella- This church is absolutely stunning and fairly cheap to get into as well. The tour is self guided and will take you between 45 minutes to an hour and a half depending on how much you read and look at each painting. This is a must see if you are going to visit Florence. It is situated just across from the main railway station named after it. Chronologically, it is the first great basilica in Florence, and is the city's principal Dominican church.
2. San Miniato al Monte- This church lies just above the steps at Piazzale Michelangelo. This church is free to enter, and one of the most unique churches we explored in Florence. The architecture and ruins felt extremely different from the others that were filled with tourists, you are able to walk to the very back and almost feels like you shouldn’t be able to enter. It is very quiet and dark which gave a very eerie feeling. Something I would for sure see while visiting.
3. Cimitero Delle Porte Sante- Once you are out of the church, make sure to walk around the cemetery right outside. It is very humbling to see all of the graves that are buried outside of the church that overlook the entire city of Florence.
4. Palazzo Pitti - A Renaissance, palace in Florence, Italy. It is situated on the south side of the River Arno, a short distance from the Ponte Vecchio. The core of the present palazzo dates from 1458 and was originally the town residence of Luca Pitti, an ambitious Florentine banker.
5. Palazzo Vecchio is the town hall of Florence, Italy and overlooks the Piazza della Signoria with its copy of Michelangelo's David statue as well as the gallery of statues in the adjacent Loggia dei Lanzi. Originally called the Palazzo della Signoria, after the Signoria of Florence, the ruling body of the Republic of Florence, it was also given several other names: Palazzo del Popolo, Palazzo dei Priori, and Palazzo Ducale, in accordance with the varying use of the palace during its long history. The building acquired its current name when the Medici duke's residence was moved across the Arno to the Palazzo Pitti.
Five Free places to visit in Rome: Step by step
1. Colosseum: If you are pressed for time and looking to see Rome in a day or keep it cheap, no need to pay for an entrance fee to get inside the Colosseum. You are able to walk right up and see the Colosseum. The best time to see the Colosseum as well as any others on the list is at sunrise, before all the crowds start making their way to visit and tour guides start trying to lure you in.
2. Ancient Ruins: From the Collosum head North East to Altare della Patria which is amazing in itself. If you go behind Altare della Patria it will give you an entire view of the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill without having to purchase an entry pass
3. Pantheon: We passed by this spot multiple times of the day, The Pantheon is definitely one of the places you have to visit, especially since it is free and there are no guards or people to check you in. I woke up early to get here at sunrise and all I noticed was one other person who was also a photographer. Later in the day and sunset there are thousands of people and performers which is also very cool to watch
4. Trevi Fountain: This is extremely close to the Pantheon and is also free, it is extremyl cool to see the designed work by Italian architect Nicola Salvi which was completed by Giuseppe Pannini
5. Spanish steps: Climbing a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinità dei Monti, dominated by the Trinità dei Monti church at the top. A total of 135 steps which leads to great views and great place to bring lunch and hang out.
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