A couple of people sitting at the foot of a stone wall on the Piazza Michelangelo, beside the shadow of David, the famous statue which was carved from a single piece of marble by Michaelangelo at the age of 29.

Piazzale Michelangelo

Boboli & San Miniato al Monte


Turn your back on the bevy of ticky-tacky souvenir stalls flogging David statues and boxer shorts and take in the spectacular city panorama from this vast square, pierced by one of Florence's two David copies. Sunset here is particularly dramatic. It's a 10-minute uphill walk along the serpentine road, paths and steps that scale the hillside from the Arno and Piazza Giuseppe Poggi; from Piazza San Niccolò walk uphill and bear left up the long flight of steps signposted Viale Michelangelo. Or take bus 13 from Stazione di Santa Maria Novella.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions