San Niccolò

At the foot of Piazzale Michelangelo

Florence

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The vibe

A small neighbourhood on the Arno, San Niccolò is the starting point for the climb to Piazzale Michelangelo and the abbey of San Miniato al Monte. Its quiet lanes, medieval gates and restaurants offer a peaceful counterpoint to the centre.

Good to know

Climb five more minutes to San Miniato: the view is just as good with fewer people, and the monks sing vespers there.

When to go

Late afternoon, to climb to the piazzale for sunset.

Getting there

On foot from the Ponte Vecchio along the Arno, or buses 12 and 13 up to the piazzale.

The story

How the neighbourhood came to be

Protected by the 14th-century walls, of which the San Niccolò gate survives, the area stayed apart from the changes in the centre. Piazzale Michelangelo, laid out in 1869 when Florence was Italy’s capital, offers the most famous view of the city.

Did you know?

1Piazzale Michelangelo has a bronze copy of the David.
2San Miniato al Monte is one of the finest Romanesque churches in Tuscany.

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