Abbazia di San Galgano

This masterpiece of Italian Gothic architecture is most famous for what it’s missing—a roof. The abbey was built in the late 1100s and has been a dramatic-looking ruin for centuries. It’s open to the sky now, but still feels grand in a stripped-back kind of way. Just up the hill, the Rotonda di Montesiepi is worth a quick stop too—inside you’ll find a sword embedded in stone, tied to the story of Saint Galgano.

• Web:

  www.fondazionesangalgano.it

• Address:

  Strada Comunale di San Galgano, Chiusdino

• Phone:

  +39 0577 049312

• Opening hours:

  Daily 9am–6:45pm

Basilica di San Miniato

If you’re up for a bit of a hike (or a bus ride), San Miniato sits above Piazzale Michelangelo and has some of the best views over Florence, without the crowds. The church itself is one of the oldest in the city, boasting a distinct Romanesque style and a peaceful, yet slightly eerie, crypt worth exploring. It’s also where Florence’s first martyr, Saint Minias, is said to be buried.

• Web:

  https://sanminiatoalmonte.it

• Address:

  Via Delle Porte Sante, 34, Florence

• Phone:

  +39 055 234 2731

• Opening hours:

  Daily 9:30am–1pm / 3pm–7pm

Boboli Gardens

If you want a break from the city’s streets, the Boboli Gardens offer plenty of green space along with a good dose of history. Spread out behind the Pitti Palace, the gardens are filled with sculptures from the 16th to 18th centuries—and a few pieces dating back to Roman times. While you’re there, don’t miss the Porta Romana nearby, an old city gate with its own story.

• Web:

  www.uffizi.it/en/boboli-garden

• Address:

  Piazza Pitti, 1, Florence

• Opening hours:

  Daily 8:15am–6:30pm

Cappelle Medicee

Behind the Basilica di San Lorenzo, the Medici Chapels are a major stop for anyone interested in Florence’s history. Built to honour the Medici family—patrons, rulers, and power players—the chapels hold some of the most impressive tombs in the city. The Sagrestia Nuova (New Sacristy), designed by Michelangelo in the 16th century, is the standout, mixing sculpture, architecture, and a fair bit of Medici pride.

• Web:

  https://bargellomusei.it/en/museum/cappelle-medicee

• Address:

  Piazza di Madonna degli Aldobrandini, 6, Florence

• Phone:

  +39 055 064 9430

• Opening hours:

  Wed–Mon 8:15am–6:10pm, Tue closed

Elba Island

The largest of the Tuscan islands, Elba is best known as the place Napoleon was exiled to in 1814—but its history goes much deeper, with Etruscan and Roman roots. These days, people come for the clear water, quiet coves, and easygoing beach towns. There’s good hiking inland, a few thermal baths, and some surprisingly interesting museums about Napoleon’s stay. Ferries run from Piombino, and once you’re there, a car makes it much easier to get around.

• Address:

  Tuscan Archipelago

Florence Cathedral

You can’t really miss it—Florence’s cathedral (Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore) dominates the skyline with that massive red-brick dome. Construction began in the 13th century and continued for nearly 150 years, which is evident in the diverse styles. The outside is covered in pink, green and white marble—oddly beautiful up close. Inside, check out Vasari’s Last Judgment fresco under the dome. If you’re up for the climb (and it is quite a climb), the view from the top is worth the leg burn.

• Web:

  https://duomo.firenze.it/it/scopri/cattedrale-di-santa-maria-del-fiore

• Address:

  Piazza del Duomo, Florence

• Phone:

  +39 055 230 2885

• Opening hours:

  Mon–Fri 10:15am–3:45pm, Sat & Sun closed