Piazzale Michelangelo is located 104 meters above sea level. You can get there by car, by bus, or on foot by climbing the various stairways in the San Niccolò district, in Oltrarno.

The panorama embraces the heart of Florence, from Forte Belvedere to Santa Croce passing through the Arno river and the bridges of Florence in sequence, especially the Ponte Vecchio. The Duomo, the Palazzo Vecchio, the Bargello and the octagonal bell tower of the Badia Fiorentina stand out, without forgetting the opposite hills to the north of the city with Fiesole and Settignano in the center.

The history of the Piazzale Michelangelo

From 1865 to 1871 Florence was the capital of Italy and on this occasion the city underwent important redevelopment works: the so-called Risanamento, or the bourgeois rebirth of the city.

The prestigious task of studying the new urban layout of Florence was entrusted to Giuseppe Poggi who is considered the architect who has most influenced Florence today, since the times of Giorgio Vasari and Bernardo Buontalenti.

# The riversides (lungarni) were created; on the right bank of the Arno river, in place of the fourteenth-century walls.

# The ring road boulevards were opened, with some scenic squares such as Piazza Beccaria and Piazza della Libertà.

# On the left bank of the river, Viale dei Colli was built, an eight-kilometer long tree-lined panoramic street, at the top of which a privileged panoramic terrace overlooking the city was created: Piazzale Michelangelo.

On this panoramic terrace, dedicated to Michelangelo, there are copies of some of his famous works preserved in Florence: the four allegories of the Medici Chapels of San Lorenzo and above all the well-known David. These copies were made in bronze, (the originals are in white marble).

Poggi also designed the neoclassical loggia that dominates the entire terrace and which was supposed to house a museum of Michelangelo's works but this was never built. Inside the loggia there is an epigraph in large letters that recalls the architect Poggi, who literally says: "Turn around, here is his monument-1911".

Our Early Morning walking tour (7.30am)

If you are a dynamic person and are not afraid to get up early and climb a few stairs, we have the experience for you.

Our 7.30am tour (available only from May to September), starts from the historic center of Florence and across the southern hill reaches Piazzale Michelangelo.

The photos that you will take with the light and colors that only early morning can give you, will remain a unique testimony of your trip to Florence!