Heading to the jewel of the Renaissance and looking for the top hidden gems in Florence? This guide covers some of the lesser-known and secret Florence attractions you don’t want to miss on your next visit.
Florence is abundant in beauty. You’ll find it in quiet monasteries, at unassuming street stops, and in grandiose museums and galleries. But it’s the hidden spots that’ll truly leave you surprised and make your vacation ultra-unique.
TIP: Check out our Florence travel guide while planning your itinerary.
Ready to explore Florence’s hidden gems? Let’s jump right in.
13 Unusual Things To Do in Florence, Italy
Below are some of the best places to visit in Florence for a unique and fantastical time in Firenze.
Unique Museums in Florence
Consider visiting some of these lesser-known but incredible museums in Florence.
Museum of San Marco Monastery
If you’re an art lover, you’ve probably got the Uffizi and Accademia Galleries at the top of your itinerary. But the San Marco Museum is a worthy detour or alternative with much fewer crowds.
This perfectly preserved 15th-century monastery is not only attractive for its collection of artworks but also for its refined, harmonious architecture and historical significance.
Cosimo de’ Medici commissioned architect Michelozzo to redesign the Dominican convent in 1437. This led to the building you’ll see today with its simple cloisters.
The most famous cloister was named after Sant’Antonino, who would become the Archbishop of Florence. This cloister features frescoes of San Marco’s life by artist Bernardino Poccetti.
There are also frescoes done by a resident monk and influential Renaissance painter, Fra Angelico. His works are found throughout the convent, including the monks’ sleeping cells. But one of his most notable works is the Crucifixion, located in the Chapter House.
- Address: Piazza San Marco, 1
- Tickets: Buy here
Opera del Duomo Museum
Sitting in the shadow of the grand dome of Brunelleschi, the Opera del Duomo museum is often overlooked. But this museum houses one of the world’s largest collections of Medieval and Renaissance sculptures, so it’s a must-see in Florence.
This building on the eastern side of Piazza del Duomo has quite a history behind it. It was first established in 1296 as a workshop for overseeing the construction of the cathedral and bell tower.
Once the cathedral and Brunelleschi’s dome were completed and consecrated, the workshop was slightly repurposed. It became a space where monuments from the cathedral – and the Baptistry of San Giovanni – would be conserved and maintained.
Later, in 1891, this museum of the Opera del Duomo was founded to house the many precious sculptures removed from the Duomo, baptistry, and surroundings. There is still an active restoration school and lab on-site.
The latest renovation in 2015 created an elevated “museum within a museum,” where sculptures are displayed with remade backdrops depicting where they once stood. The 7,176-square-yard museum houses over 750 works of art from various centuries and artists, including Donatello, Brunelleschi, Michelangelo, Ghiberti, and more.
- Address: Piazza del Duomo, 9
TIP: Consider taking a guided Duomo Complex tour for a more in-depth look at its history.
Michelangelo’s Laurentian Library
You may know Michelangelo for his iconic paintings in the Sistine Chapel or his sculptures. But he also happened to be a skilled architect. And the Laurentian Library near the beautiful Basilica di San Lorenzo was one of his most spectacular triumphs.
Situated on the third floor of the Brunelleschi cloister – to protect the library from flooding – the Laurentian Library took almost 50 years to complete. Pope Clement VII, a member of the Medici family, commissioned Michelangelo to create this library as a symbol of the Medici’s affluence and membership in the aristocracy.
One of the most talked-about elements of this library is the somewhat impractical staircase that leads to it from a separate room. It’s not only the staircase that’s mind-boggling but also the rest of the architecture surrounding it. Michelangelo took architectural liberties that went entirely against the classical Renaissance style.
In contrast, the reading room and library are perfectly proportioned, following more traditional architectural principles. It features walnut furniture with intricate carvings on the roof and booths and has multiple windows for ample natural light.
Today, the Laurentian Library is a heritage museum where you can have a look at the staircase, the library, and the vast collection of original texts.
- Note: The library closes at 13:30, so plan your visit for the late morning.
- Address: Piazza San Lorenzo, 9
Listen to “Fabulous Florence finds with Glam Italia's Corinna Cooke” on Spreaker.
Hospital of the Innocents
As you can tell by now, Florence was a city of many firsts; this includes being home to the first orphanage in Europe.
The influential and wealthy Silk Workers Guild established the Ospedale degli Innocenti in 1419, recruiting Filippo Brunelleschi as the architect. By the 5th of February 1445, 10 days after the hospital’s opening, the first baby was delivered to the orphanage’s turnstile-like rotating door.
The hospital would go on to take in and care for over 375,000 children in its roughly 500 years of operation. And it still provides care to orphaned children today. Children were taught skills according to their gender, as was the custom for the time. And the institution even offered dowries for the girls, who could choose to marry or become nuns.
Today, the orphanage also houses a small gallery where you’ll find various items donated to or commissioned by the institution. These include detached frescoes, antique furniture, and paintings – most notably, The Adoration of the Magi by Domenico Ghirlandaio.
- Address: Piazza della Santissima Annunziata, 12
Shopping off the Beaten Path in Florence
Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy
Thought to be the oldest apothecary shop in the world, the Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella had its humble beginnings in 1221. Dominican friars started experimenting with alchemy, using herbs and plants from their gardens to heal ailments and diseases within the monastery.
Their processes and recipes became so well-known that they even created a perfume for Queen Catherine de Medici in 1533. The scent was to remind her of Florence as she married the future French king, Henry II.
The “Acqua della Regina” made history as one of the first alcohol-based perfumes in the world and became a popular scent in the French courts. But the monks only opened their apothecary to the public by 1612.
By the 18th century, the apothecary received a spectacular renovation, complete with intricate wooden detailing, frescoed ceilings, and chandeliers. So while this spot may remind you of one of Rome’s hidden gems, the Antica Farmacia S. Maria della Scala, it’s much less gloomy looking.
Today, this spot continues to offer luxurious, handmade soaps, skincare products, potpourri, and perfumes made with traditional recipes. So you can take a bit of Florence home with you. Be sure to try the Acqua di Santa Maria Novella perfume – the renamed “Acqua della Regina.”
- Address: Via della Scala, 16
Scuola del Cuoio
Nestled in the Santa Croce Monastery, this spot is not exactly off the beaten track, but it’s definitely a hidden gem. This leather school is all about preserving the leather tradition in Florence and sits along the Arno River, which played a crucial role in Florence’s thriving leather industry.
The Arno River has been home to many leather workshops over the centuries, as an abundant amount of water is needed to process leather. However, this Scuola del Cuoio was only established after World War II, in 1950.
The Franciscan friars of the Santa Croce Monastery and the Gori and Cassini families worked together to establish an educational space. The goal was to create a school where the orphans of “La Città dei Ragazzi” could learn a valuable craft and enhance their work opportunities.
The school later garnered acclaim for its expertly handcrafted goods, attracting an international crowd. Today, this quiet school offers authentic, handmade leather goods like jackets, belts, and bags. The best part is that you can watch the artisans working at their craft while browsing for your next favorite purse or jacket.
- Address: Via S. Giuseppe, 5/R
TIP: Learn more about the artisans keeping tradition alive in the city on this Florence artisan tour. You can also get 5% discount if you add the code: UntoldItaly.
Street Art in Florence
Street Art in Via Toscanella and Beyond
Florence has attracted artists and art admirers for centuries, and it continues to intrigue with its striking art adorning the city’s streets. You’ll find many of these “modern frescoes” concentrated around the little via Toscanella, close to the Palazzo Pitti.
You’ll find red and white murals by Yuri Hopnn, among others. But the fun doesn’t end here. Explore beyond via Toscanella and head to Piazza della Passera. Here, you’ll come across street art surprises in the form of sculptures by Moradi II Sedicente.
More art awaits you along the Arno, in the city center, and lesser-k