Religious Sites in Florence

Religious Sites in Florence, Italy

Religious Sites in Florence

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68 places sorted by traveller favourites
  • Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.
Showing results 1-30 of 68

What travellers are saying

  • FashionSpeedTravel
    San Francisco, CA195 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The outside of the church on the piazza is so pleasant and beautiful, even in the rain. The respite inside, with the glorious altar and warm candle glow, is comforting. Spent less than an hour inside but if you’re a church buff (or Catholic), it’s worth taking in a service.
    Written 6 March 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • CPaM68
    Texas663 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    The Bell Tower, which is visible from nearly every vantage point in the city, is one of the most iconic landmarks of Florence. The free-standing tower, 280 feet tall, is considered the best example of 14th-century Gothic architecture in the city.  Views from the top are said to be breathtaking, but at 414 steps, I didn’t make the trip, since I didn’t know how they would get me down after my heart attack. (PaM)
    Written 18 February 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • mashie44
    Belgium154 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The widely-published info on hours of monks charting is incorrect. They chant at 6.30 each day. We arrived at 4.30 (as all online guides we found said this was the time for chanting in winter). At 4.45 asked the man at the door who said it is always 6.30. So we came back a couple of days later and did enjoy it. The church is cold if you sit for long. The floor is lovely (zodiac mosaic). Interesting restoration work currently going on. Well worth the short walk up from Piazzale Michelangelo, and has even better views of the city
    Written 22 February 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Herbert C
    891 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Completed in the 12th century, the Florence Baptistery is believed to be the oldest building in Florence. Centrally located in Piazza del Duomo across from the Florence Cathedral and Giotto's Campanile, you will not miss this imposing octagonal building built in Florentine Romanesque style and coated majestically in green and white marble. It forms part of the monumental complex of Santa Maria del Fiore, and purchase of any of the monument passes will allow access to the baptistery. Be sure to watch out for the following renowned features of the baptistery:
    (i) its 3 sets of bronze doors, the most important being the replica of the Gates of Paradise, which features 10 bas-relief panels depicting several Old Testament scenes;
    (ii) the dome's incredibly complex Byzantine mosaic dating back to the 13th century; and
    (iii) monumental tomb of Antipope John XXIII.
    Written 22 February 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Tommo
    Melbourne, Australia50,434 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    We visitedthe Orsanmichele Church during our walking tour of Florence.

    It was an oratory dedicated to St. Michael. with a vegetable garden surrounding.

    It was built as a market in 1336 and converted to a church in 1380.

    The facade had lovely decorations of statues of their patron saints. which are now preserved in the Museum of Orsanmichele.

    The interior of the church has remained original since it was constructed in the Gothic style.
    Written 23 February 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • 898frank
    Virginia354 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    This is probably the most beautiful church in Florence with great fresco artwork from Botticelli and Ghirlandaio. The ceiling is breathtaking with the fantastic perspective creating an unprecedented 3D effect. Stand in the middle of the church to experience it.
    Situated outside the most touristic area and quiet. Access is also free.
    Written 10 March 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Akshaya S
    Noida, India432 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The church is a lesser know or visited place as we did not find too many people there during out visit. But it is a marvelous renaissance style basilica from inside. Beautiful work done on the dome.
    Written 15 July 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • brat0029
    North Mankato, MN172 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sadly, horrible things happened to the Jewish population in Florence during WWII and the museum does a very good job of telling the story. It's sad but worth visiting.
    Written 24 February 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Geminican
    San Jose, CA2,119 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    In Italy, there are countless precious artworks in all forms. They can be fragile or vulnerable to human breathe. The Last Supper by Da Vinci is an example. The fact that the Italians choose to share and open for visitation so that visitors like you and I should not be taken for granted. A lot of them may be undergoing renovation and restoration so they may be closed. They may also occasionally open new things to public that may surprise you in different ways. For this reason, personally I treat encounters with these objects or artworks as once in a lifetime opportunity. They are precious, but you don't know if you will be able to see them again and again due to various reasons.

    When you have an opportunity to see precious artwork like this, sometimes requires more work, but it's worth it.
    More work means either making reservations in advance or long wait time or fees or physical energy.
    Because Italy has so many attractions that fall into "popular" category, planning ahead definitely helps, but also be aware of additional effort required to.

    This one falls into this description.

    More work in this case: Making advance reservations isn't easy for visitors less than 10 people, literally impossible. They also are not responsive to email inquiries. Their online reservation system is difficult. The online information can be confusing too. I made so many inquires including filling out its webform and still got me nowhere. That's the very reason I am giving it a 4 instead of a 5 out of 5.

    Thankfully, there is a workaround. You must go there in person, ask them at the ticket counter. They will share with you their upcoming guided tour in Italian and English for the day. If they have space available, you can make reservations and obtain tickets on spot. More administrative work. If they don't have availability, they may be able to help you find tickets for future dates. Please work with the ticket office staff to sort it out. The entire team there are nice and helpful. Most speak good English.

    To see this place, you must join a guided tour offered by them. There is no other ways to do it. The maximum group size is capped at 10-15 or so.
    They do charge a fee.

    Once you have gotten your ticket, then it's a smooth sailing towards the end.

    They would give you an overview in a presentation room.
    The frescos are in two levels. They thoughtfully built a scaffold so you could see these artworks at eye level, up close. The actual artwork is located on the 2nd and 3rd level. They give you 15 minutes on each level. Once 15 minutes is up, please respect their instruction and leave the current level to the other one. Once you are done seeing both levels, you are directed back to the ticket office area. That's the end of the tour.

    There is no elevator, you must be able to climb stairs from the ground level up to three story high, if you can't, please do not sign up.

    I personally suggest and recommend that you wear a mask to reduce human breath damaging artwork. But this is not mandatory when I was there.

    This place is worth visiting. Highly recommend.

    Good luck with making advanced reservations and getting tickets.
    Written 18 November 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • GAR
    243 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    I think this church is worth a visit especially for those interested in history, but it is less grand than most of Florence’s most famous buildings
    Written 21 August 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • LostInTime
    Pittsburgh, PA11,753 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    This is a very nice old church. There is a crypt ad well. The church has amazing artwork. I’m unsure of it’s age but I’d guess that it’s over 500 years old. It was quite interesting to see.
    Written 25 February 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Brun066
    Florence, Italy12,580 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    I will only talk here about the sublime "Last Supper" by Andrea del Castagno (1447), which I was able to enjoy through an in-depth guided tour.
    The iconographic theme of the Last Supper is far from new in Florence, but here it shows great originality. The dinner takes place in a quadrangular room, which the spectator can see because one of the four walls has been eliminated. The room is designed according to rigorous perspective criteria, the strength of which is accentuated by the four large marble quadrangles of the back wall. The fact that you can see the roof of the room (which according to the criteria of perspective should be out of sight) is an understandable license that the artist has taken.
    The visual rendering of the white cloth spread on the table is astonishing: the cloth seems to be made of a stucco bas-relief rather than a painted one.
    The human figures are defined with clear outlines, almost sculpted, and their faces are rendered through a characterization of their respective physiognomies, very different from each other, and which aim to make the characters of each one shine through their faces:: observe for example the faces of the apostles Thomas and Matthew, then of Judas, the only one sitting on this side of the table for those watching.
    In my opinion, it's an absolute masterpiece, among the greatest of the Renaissance, albeit by a painter defined (unjustly?) as minor.
    Written 14 January 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • lucy L
    Colchester, UK178 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Our guide recommended this church to us as an alternative to the Duomo, which she told us is quite plain inside. So we thought we would pay it a visit, I'm glad we did.
    It is full of beautiful pieces of art and sculptures and the most amazingly decorated crypts I have ever seen.
    Many famous people are resting here.
    It is very tranquil and not full of crowds that you would expect to see in other churches e.g. the Duomo.
    There are some pieces by Michelangelo there but, unfortunately, they had been removed for an exhibition when we visited.
    There is a small cloistered garden to sit in and enjoy the peace and tranquillity.
    Well worth a visit.
    Written 12 July 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • JohnRegoPark
    Rego Park, NY1,134 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The Brancacci Chapel is the reason most people come to the church, and it must be accessed from a door to the right of the facade. The church itself is not without interest. The baroque illusionistic ceiling is a wonder as are the wonderful side chapels. You can peek into the Brancacci from the church itself, but you really cannot see the frescoes well unless you book a ticket at the ticket booth for a separate entrance into the chapel. If you are going to the chapel itself, you would do well to catch the rest of the church.
    Written 22 March 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • RonL40
    Utica, NY3,565 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Walking in the Borgo Santi Apostoli is a beautiful experience ... parallel to the Arno, walking between the Ponte Vecchio and Ponte Santa Trinita ... it's a neighborhood of narrow cobblestone streets, arches, brilliant shadows, and little shops that seem to serve the locals, not tourists. Before you get all the way to the fashionista shops on Via della Tournabuoni, you'll find the beautifully tiny Piazza del Limbo from a different time. And there in that small place is one of the oldest buildings in Florence -- this Romanesque church is quite compact and equally serene. A wonderful place to visit an ancient sacred place. We build memories of the church every time we are in Florence
    Written 12 December 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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