Where to watch the sunset in Florence

Famous as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Florence is a kind of open-air museum where every corner offers a small emotion. But if there is one thing that really leaves you speechless, it is the sunsets that the city in the lily of the valley offers every day. Here is a selection of unmissable places from which to watch the fascinating ritual of the sun slowly setting, creating an extraordinary spectacle of colour and light.

Piazzale Michelangelo

Piazzale Michelangelo is the city’s most famous vantage point. Because, as Pieraccioni sang: ‘Florence is tiny… and seen from the Piazzale, she looks like a little girl, dressed for carnival’. Named after one of the greatest artists in the history of art, the square was designed by the Florentine architect Giuseppe Poggi in 1869, when the Tuscan capital was the capital of Italy. The view sweeps from Forte Belvedere to Santa Croce, passing by the lungarni and the bridges of Florence. Winning a front-row seat to admire the sunset will not be easy, but if you move early enough, the wide staircase to the left of the imposing copy of David will offer you a particularly impressive vantage point.

Abbey of San Miniato al Monte

Remaining in the area, but going higher than the square, you will find the Abbey of San Miniato al Monte, a masterpiece of Florentine Romanesque architecture that will leave you breathless, and not only for the steep staircase you will have to climb to reach it. Dedicated to the first Florentine martyr, it was built between the 11th and 13th centuries. In addition to the splendid façade covered in white and green marble, it houses valuable works of art, including Spinello Aretino’s frescoes in the sacristy and Paolo Uccello’s precious cycle of frescoes adorning the upper cloister. An enchanting panorama can be enjoyed from the abbey square, especially at sunset.

Forte Belvedere

Another fantastic place from which to watch the sunset is the Fortezza di Santa Maria in San Giorgio del Belvedere, better known to everyone as Forte Belvedere. In addition to being a fantastic vantage point, it is a fine piece of architecture. The fort, located on top of the Boboli hill, was built at the end of the 16th century to a design by Bernardo Buontalenti, one of the most emblematic artists of Mannerist art. The structure represents the last stage of the Vasari Corridor and is dominated by the Palazzina di Belvedere. It currently hosts major exhibitions and cultural events. N.B. It is closed in winter.

Oblate Library

Located a few steps from the Duomo, the Oblate Library is a public reading library housed in the marvellous 14th-century former Oblate convent (from which it takes its name). Although calling it a library is definitely reductive, because although it houses a collection of about 100,000 volumes (of which 40,000 are open-shelf), it is basically a meeting place where events and initiatives for all ages continuously take place. At the top of the elegant kiosk is a panoramic terrace with a cafeteria, from which one can admire a wonderful view of Brunelleschi’s dome, which turns golden at sunset.

Garden of Parnassus

For those looking for something a little more intimate, a lesser known but equally impressive place from which to watch the sunset is the highest part of the Horticulture Garden. We are talking about the Garden of Parnassus (with access from Via Trento). The name is reminiscent of Mount Parnassus, revered as the home of the Muses, and it is a small green area with a magnificent panoramic terrace also known as the Garden of the Dragon because of a curious statue-fountain in the shape of a snake or dragon that resembles those of Antoni Gaudí at the Parc Güell in Barcelona. On the rooftop terrace there are several benches from which to enjoy the sunset in total relaxation.

Bridges over the Arno

Finally, among the places to admire the sunset in Florence, we could not fail to mention the bridges over the Arno. And on the choice of which bridge is the best to enjoy the spectacle of the sunset, you are spoilt for choice. We recommend Ponte Santa Trinita. Few other places can offer such a thrilling experience. The bridge, considered one of the most beautiful in all of Italy and among the most elegant in Europe, joins the piazza of the same name with Piazza de’ Frescobaldi. The elegance of its arches has also inspired films.