Piazzale Michelangelo (Michelangelo Square) is a square with a panoramic view of Florence, Italy, located in the Oltrarno district of the city.
This Florentine piazza was designed by architect Giuseppe Poggi and built in 1869 on a hill just south of the historic center, during the redevelopment of Oltrarno, the left (South) bank of the Arno river. In 1869, Florence was the capital of Italy and the whole city was involved in an urban renewal, the so-called "Risanamento" or the "Renovation" of the city's neighborhoods. Lungarni (riverside walkways; "lungarno", singular) were built on the riversides. On the right bank, the fourteenth-century city walls were removed and turned into the Viali di Circonvallazione, mimicking the French "boulevard" design, six lanes wide and lined with trees. On the left bank winding up the hill of San Miniato the Viale dei Colli was built, a tree-lined street over 8 kilometers long ending at the Piazzale Michelangelo which was built as a terrace with a panoramic view of the city.
Jff Thchr | Feb 27, 2018
Stunning views of all of Florence, this is a must to visit while you're staying here. Though if you're visiting during the colder months I recommend a bundling up since it can get pretty windy. When you're done taking in the views, I highly recommend grabbing a bite to eat at La Loggia. You can carry on with the beautiful view while enjoy a delicious meal.
JoAnna Almasude | Mar 1, 2018
I can see that this place would be even more excellent in nice weather. I visited when is was freezing/rain in early February. Went to a restaurant to have a beer and warm up, an amazing experience! Highly recommended!
Юлія Лещук | Jan 23, 2018
It's my Paradise! Awesome place with the best view on Florence! I spent there half a day listening one cool musician and catching rays of the sun! Don't miss the opportunity to go there during your stay in Florence!
Jason Bryant | Feb 16, 2018
Amazing view of Firenze and beautiful park surrounding the area. We walked across the bridge to kill time, but found the whole area a delight! Walk instead of drive/bus if you can, and enjoy the views at the top!
Abraham Urizar | Dec 5, 2017
This place is definitely worth the hike! Be advised that there are an enormous amount of steps but it is acceptable for the view it offers. Of course you could take a taxi but why would you when you would miss walking through the neighborhoods and seeing life on the other side if the bridge where there are a lot of places that make things by hand! Great place for sunset
Bernard Tee | Apr 4, 2018
Best part of our Florence trip. Nice views overlooking the city to see identifiable landmarks like the Basilica and bridges. And also a green nude statue if you're into those. You will need to hop on a public bus to go up at €1.50. Tickets can only be bought at ticket agencies and not on the bus. The trip goes up some hills and the buses are usually packed with tourists and locals. We recommend walking down the hilll as it's an easy stroll down the hill back to the river. Good views along the way.
Christopher Crary | Mar 20, 2018
My wife and I made the hike up there about an hour or so before sunset with a couple small bottles of wine, took some photos and then sat on the steps looking out over the city and listening to a local musician playing near by. It was one of our favorite nights in Florence and an absolute MUST DO while here! Bring some food, wine or beer and relax with the large group of others that will show up. Make some new friends or just enjoy the social atmosphere while relaxing.
Jason Timms | Mar 30, 2018
Absolutely breathtaking view over the whole of Florence. There's plenty of ways to make your way up here and it really is worth the effort. There's also a bar/cafe here where you can enjoy a nice relaxing drink. There's also a church or monastery near to here where I believe the resident monks chant publicly at around 4pm every day but you'd have to double check this.
Hannah Erin | Mar 30, 2018
We went to watch the sunset with a hoard of other people. Seemed like the "thing" to do. Hike up the hill (expect your heart to be pounding if you're not the fittest of people) then sit down with a drink and watch the sun disappear. Well worth every second of work for the spectacular view!
Anton van Gilst | Apr 18, 2018
Tremendous view of Florence! This place is wonderful compared to the view from the cathedral. From here, you overlook the whole of this awesome metropolis. An amazing place for sunbathing, relaxing on the stairs, and shopping for some souvenirs. The vendors charge insane prices, so if you have time, go to them and enjoy the bargaining.
Simon Lee | Apr 4, 2018
Must see if you're in Florence. Went during the day and the night and each time was a different but very enjoyable. Great to see Florence in it's entirety after spending so long walking through it. We could pinpoint all locations we had visited from the view. There were vendors that sold water and t-shirts. Restaurants as well. Parking was good too. Usually a 10 minute quick trip, a breathtaking experience. Recommend for all.
Rich Warych | May 2, 2018
The views from this square overlooking Florence are amazing. It is a very popular place for tourists so expect to find large crowds of people and space for unobstructed photos to be difficult to find. The statue of David on the square is also a nice copy so it's definitely worth putting the effort in to visit this viewpoint.
Marko Tanaskovic | May 8, 2018
Beautiful Vista overlooking the entire city. Make sure you arrive on time before the sunset. The change of colors is simply incredible. You view the entire city center from above, see the golden color or changes on the river as the sun sets down and notice the subtle color variances of the Tuscan hills in the distance.
Gary Griffith | Jun 9, 2018
A singularly beautiful spot to see Florence from above. We've enjoyed spending time here for both sunrise and sunset. It's a bit of a hike to get there but well worth it. If you have a car this part of Florence is a bit less hectic when driving. There are trinket vendors, food vendors, a cafe, and a restaurant. Mornings are far less crowded than afternoons.
Angelina Laudato | Jun 12, 2018
Amazing views at any time of the day. At night, the atmosphere is calm, and it's the perfect place to go to get away from the busy city center. If I still lived there, I would take the short walk up there every night of the summer. The only downside that I can think of is that it is not easily accessible for wheelchairs or elderly people.
Philip Ng | May 20, 2018
Awesome panoramic views of Florence from up on a hill overlooking the river. Nice big piazza with a bronze replica of Michelangelo's David and numerous stalls selling turn usual tourist souvenirs. It's a favourite tourist stop with tour buses coming in regularly and many others coming up on foot. There is a small eatery at the side for a reasonable quick snack and an up class fine dining restaurant across the street further up the hill. This place is a must for the truly stunning views of the iconic Duomo and all of Florence city.
Rhys C | May 23, 2018
Amazing views of Florence from this view point. Best to get here early if possible to beat the crowds and the heat. Also, if you can manage to get here by sunrise you will be treated to some amazing photo opportunities and glorious colours as the warm morning tones complement the natural reds and yellows of Florence. Definitely a must visit while in Florence
Kiel Boatman | Jun 10, 2018
A beautiful view of a beautiful place. It was a long steep climb, up hills/steps - but certainly worth it Took in the amazing view and savoured the moment. There was a nice looking cafe up there, but didn’t stop as had to get a move on to other places before heading home.
Raquel García | Jul 11, 2018
For me, this is a must in this city. While is true that most of the people that arrive to the piazza are in couples or little groups, I would recommend it to anyone, even if you just go by yourself. The sunset slowly landing on the city of Firenze creates a very serene and romantic atmosphere. Just make sure to arrive on time if you want a place to sit on the stairs to calmly watch the sunset with a snack. In my opinion though, this is not the best place to bring kids as they might get easily desperate. Otherwise, the landscape and the ambience in this place is almost magical.
Zubin Shah | Jul 2, 2018
Highly recommended!! Quite a steep walk up the hill, but totally worth it if you are here to watch the sunset. We went there with a small picnic and sat on the stairs for two hours. The view includes many major landmarks and gives a good feeling about Florence generally :) Beware that there are only a few snack / food options, so come well prepared if you will be here for long. There is also an adjoining Rose garden which you can enjoy (free entrance).
Dimitrios Settos | Jul 7, 2018
Great place to check out the sunset in Florence. Beautiful view over the whole city. You will find many people relaxing and drinking some wine on the steps. Street musicians playing music, a really nice flair! Definitely worth climbing up all those steps
Brennan Wadsworth | Jun 24, 2018
The walk to get here was nice, although a bus is another option (which also brings you through a nice-to-look-at part of town). The view from the top was fantastic, especially if you have explored the city beforehand and can point out where you have been. It is pretty much completely unshaded so be prepared if it is a hot day and you want to stand at the edge for the view for an extended period of time, although there are places to buy a refreshment.
Scott Griffith | Jul 9, 2018
Fantastic overlook of Firenze. Visited in July, it is a very popular place so expect high traffic at all times. Sunsets are most popular. If you are a photographer that would like to be in the front, get there early, otherwise everyone is 3 it 4 deep all along the wall. Michelangelo road that takes you up often gets congested. There is a switchback road that sits below the lookout that you may want to consider that comes out barely should the lookout. Must see spot of Firenze
Kozo 0908 | Aug 9, 2018
Beautiful place for those who like to take a walk uphill. The view above the city is great. Walking up those stairs definitely worth it. You can see the dome, the old bridge. Basically the entire city. There are also some stone benches on which you can rest and feel the wind blowing. There is also a bar or two and a public toilet. It is not very crowded so I was glad to take a break from the city crowds.
Dennis F | Jul 27, 2018
Obviously this is a must visit place in Florence. The best views of the city can be found here, and best of all at sunset. I went here for sunset one day and there are a few things to note: 1) If you are driving here, parking is absolutely crazy. I got pretty lucky and good a good spot relatively quickly, but there are cars parked all over the place and cars circling looking for spots. 2) The piazza also gets very crowded at sunset with people lined all the way around the edge and people sitting at all of stairways to the point of nearly blocking passage. Overall still definitely worth it (check out the pictures I got!), just be ready for crowds.
Alex Sim | Jul 28, 2018
We visited in October 2017. Incredible view across town, especially during the lightning storm we observed. This is a very romantic spot with only a few trinket places so not spoiling the atmosphere. Quite a walk to get up there but worth it. A must see in Florence. Great for taking picturesque photos.
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