A nice experience is Palazzo Davanzati which, contrary to the other buildings described so far, houses a very original Museum dedicated to the old Florentine home. Palazzo Davanzati is located along Via Porta Rossa and is easy to find thanks to its loggia from the 16th century. The mansion is a noble and sober example of private architecture in Florence from the 14th century, the beginning of a more austere period which reflexes on the private noble houses during the following century. The Museum features a vast and complete view over he daily life in Florence during the 14th century, thanks to the collections of furniture, household goods, ceramics and even towels and bed linen. But the most important Florentine palace Palazzo Pitti, , easily reached by walking over Ponte Vechio to the other part of the river Arno. Imposing ashlar building, it was designed by Brunelleschi for a rich merchant and was successively enlarged by Ammannati when Eleonora di Toledo, wife of Cosimo I de' Medici, bought it. The Grand Dukes of Tuscany lived here, followed by the Lorena family and the Savoy royal family organised memorable theatrical performances and other events here worthy a regnant house. In the interior of the Palace you should visit the Museo degli Argenti (the Silver Museum) and the Galleria Palatina (Palatine Gallery), while the outside features the marvellous Giardino di Boboli (the Boboli Garden). A typical example of the Italian garden, Boboli offers green open areas designed with a theatrical and scenographic consciousness, adorned with statues, caves and marvellous panoramic locations over Florence. A walk in the Boboli garden will allow you to breath the fresh and relaxing air of a city which has was designed for the wealth of the inhabitants, but will never loose the chance to surprise you, as for example the cave by Buontalenti in the garden, embellished with statues and sculptured stables.
Piazzale Michelangelo is the panoramic terrace over the city of Florence and, even though it is almost always crowded with tourist buses that dump groups of tourists, it still offers a unique possibility to have a look over the centre of Florence. In the middle of the square you can see the Monument dedicated to Michelangelo, a reproduction of David and of the sculptures that are in the Medici Chapels. From Piazzale Michelangelo there is a flight of stairs leading to the Basilica di San Miniato al Monte, excellent example of the Florentine Romanesque architecture which repeats the geometrical patterns of the Baptistery, in white and green Prato marble. The Basilica di San Miniato was raised between the 1000 and 1200 and preserves intact its sober and moderate fascination of its origins.