Florence has so many amazing sites that are breathtaking and gorgeous that it’s almost hard to figure out where to start – especially if your time here is limited, as you plan to explore the other vast offerings of Tuscany.

One of the popular churches to see is the Basilica di San Lorenzo, at piazza di San Lorenzo, Florence, 50123; phone 39 055 21 6634. This is one of Florence’s largest churches and sits in the middle of the city’s primary market district. This church, and a few others, claim to be the oldest in Florence. It’s consecration dates back to 393. It served as the parish church for the Medici family, who are noted as the grandfathers of the Renaissance.

Another must-see in Florence is the David, by Michelangelo. This amazing white marble statue is housed at The Accademia, also known as Gallerie dell'Accademia, located at Via Ricasoli 58 – 60, 50122 Florence, Italy; phone 055 2388612. This art museum is, of course, noted for the David. It also has several other sculptures by Michelangelo along with a vast collection of paintings dating to the 15th and 16th centuries. One inside tip is to book tickets ahead, so you don’t get caught in massive lines.

The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, or The Duomo as most normally refer to it, is another stop well worth the time. One great thing to do is to climb to the top of the Duomo, because the view is utterly amazing. The work on this Gothic masterpiece began in 1296 was finalized in 1436 with a engineered dome. It is truly a work of art itself. It is one of the largest churches in Italy. In more modern times new materials have been developed that have changed the way domes are built. Yet, the Duomo remains the largest dome ever built from bricks.

The Piazza della Repubblica is another noteworthy stop of things to do in Florence. This is a city square and is the location of Florence’s first forum. It then became the first old ghetto of the city. There are many cafes in the area – making it a nice spot for a bite to eat on a day-long tour of Florence.

Another spot everybody loves in Florence is the Plazzo Vecchio, which essentially is the town hall of the city. It’s simply massive, and probably one of the most impressive in Tuscany. It overlooks the Piazza della Signoria and is near the Loggia dei Lanzi. It is noted as one of the most significant public places in the nation. There are many wonderful things to see and explore here, including a copy of the David statue and the courtyard.

You cannot visit Florence and miss the Uffizi Gallery, at Piazzale degli Uffizi 6, 50122, Florence, Italy; phone 055 238 8651.

It is one of the most famous art museums in the entire Western world and also one of the oldest. It houses works from Michelangelo and Leonardo di Vinci among others. You must reserve tickets in advance or you will face long lines. It is one of the most popular tourists spots in all of Florence.

Another hot spot is the Ponte Vecchino over the Arno River. It remains one of the most famous bridges in the world. It dates back to 1345 and took the place of a wooden bridge. It was spared – narrowly – from being destroyed in 1945 by the Nazis. In fact, it was the only bridge in the city to be spared that fate at the hands of the Nazis. A gallery on the top part of the bridge connects the Uffizi and Plazzo Vecchio on one side of the Arno River to the Palazzo Pitti on the opposite side. There also are shops – many offering jewelry here.

Another popular one of the things to do in Florence is the Boboli Garden, which is essentially a park that is also home to some amazing sculptures that date back to the 16th Century up to the 18th Century. There also are some Roman antiquities sprinkled in. The Boboli Gardens are behind the Pitti Palace. They are famed as some of the first formal Italian gardens of the 16th Century. The gardens include both public and semi-private spaces. It’s quite open and has a beautiful view of the city.