The Florence Duomo seen from the Torre di Arnolfo
The Duomo and Giotto’s Bell Tower seen from the Torre di Arnolfo of Palazzo Vecchio. Photo: Arch. Alessandro Alberghina

📍 Distance from Cà del Bocca: about 105 km, 1 hour 35 minutes by car (or by train from Arezzo)

⏱️ Time for the visit: a full day, two is better

🗺️ Where: Tuscany, the regional capital; the historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Florence is the city of the Renaissance: in just a few square kilometres you find Brunelleschi’s Dome, the Uffizi, Michelangelo’s David, Ponte Vecchio and palaces, churches and workshops telling centuries of art and history. From Cà del Bocca it is an easy day trip by car or by train from Arezzo, and in the evening you are back in the quiet of the Tuscan countryside.

What to see

  • The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and Brunelleschi’s Dome: you can climb to the top on foot (463 steps), passing close to the Last Judgement frescoes by Vasari and Zuccari.
  • Giotto’s Bell Tower (414 steps), with the best view of the Dome, and the Baptistery of San Giovanni.
  • Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio, with the Torre di Arnolfo.
  • The Uffizi Gallery, one of the most important museums in the world (Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Caravaggio).
  • Ponte Vecchio, with its goldsmiths’ shops hanging over the Arno.
  • The Galleria dell’Accademia, home of Michelangelo’s David.
  • The Oltrarno: Palazzo Pitti, the Boboli Gardens and the artisans’ workshops.
  • Piazzale Michelangelo at sunset, for the view over the whole city.
  • The Basilica of Santa Croce, with the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli.
Vasari’s Last Judgement inside the Dome
The Last Judgement by Vasari and Zuccari inside Brunelleschi’s Dome. Photo: Arch. Alessandro Alberghina

Photos of Florence

La Cupola del Brunelleschi vista dal Campanile di Giotto
Brunelleschi’s Dome seen from above, with the hills around Florence.
Il Campanile di Giotto visto dalla Cupola del Brunelleschi
Giotto’s Bell Tower and the rooftops of Florence from the top of the Dome.
Panorama di Firenze dalla Cupola del Brunelleschi
The centre of Florence and the hills seen from the Dome.
Ponte Vecchio illuminato per il Firenze Light Festival
Ponte Vecchio lit up during the Florence Light Festival.

How to get there from Cà del Bocca

By car: about 1 hour 35 minutes via Arezzo and the A1 motorway. The centre of Florence is a ZTL (limited traffic zone): do not drive in, fines can arrive months later. The easiest option is the Villa Costanza park-and-ride, right on the A1, where the T1 tram takes you to the centre in about 20–25 minutes.

By train: from Arezzo station (about 30 minutes from Cà del Bocca) frequent regional trains run to Firenze Santa Maria Novella in about an hour, a short walk from the Duomo. Below is the driving route.

Tips for your visit

  • Book online the Dome climb (mandatory), the Uffizi and the Accademia, especially from spring to autumn.
  • The Uffizi and the Accademia are closed on Mondays: always check opening hours and closing days on the official websites before you go.
  • Start early: in the morning queues are shorter and the squares quieter.
  • Comfortable shoes: the centre is best explored on foot and the climbs to the Dome and Bell Tower are demanding.

Official websites: Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo, Dome, Bell Tower) · Uffizi Galleries · Galleria dell’Accademia · Feel Florence (official tourism)