Oltrarno in detail

Planning Tips

Top Tips

Plan ahead: reserve visits by guided tour of Giardino Torrigiani and Cappella Brancacci well ahead of your arrival in Florence; consider booking a cooking class or behind-the-scenes shopping or arts and crafts tour to get the most out of this artisan-rich neighbourhood.

Local Experiences

  • Picnics No eating on the sun-drenched steps of Basilica di Santo Spirito please. Follow the in crowd to hipster garden-bistro-bar Santarosa Bistrot for picnic hampers in the park.
  • Cocktail culture Hobnob with fashionable Florentines over cocktails at Mad Soul & Spirits in trendy San Frediano, 'secret' speakeasy Rasputin and Balkan-influenced Gurdulù.
  • Piazza Santo Spirito Watch for summertime open-air concerts on this lovely square, and vibrant markets year-round (arts and crafts second Sunday of month, organic farmers market third Sunday).
  • Wine tasting Learn about Tuscan wine over dinner and tastings with the expert and incredibly entertaining sommeliers at Enoteca Pitti Gola e Cantina.
  • Arts & Crafts Learn a new skill with a local artist, be it the ancient art of paper-marbling at Giulio Giannini e Filgio, screen-printing at Ink-P or calligraphy with the talented Betti Soldi.