Before my first trip to Florence, I had already spent several months living in Italy and had visited the country a handful of other times. Admittedly, I avoided Florence because I had heard it was too “touristy”. I figured, why visit the fake Italian city, when I can visit more authentic places?
I still think there’s some merit to this thinking. Italy is loaded with stunning places to visit that aren’t nearly as popular with tourists. But it is impossible to pass on the sheer beauty in Florence. There’s a reason that the city is so popular with tourists!
I have seen my fair share of stunning churches, ranging from a behind-the-scenes tour of St. Peter’s Basilica to the gorgeous monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai. But there are few cities with as many stunning churches as Florence. This post will outline the best churches to visit in Florence, Italy.
Why Are There So Many Stunning Churches in Florence?
Italy has been the center of the Christian world for the majority of time since Jesus walked the Earth. Jesus himself lived amid the height of the Roman Empire! While Christians were persecuted by the Romans for hundreds of years, the empire eventually became a driving force of Christianity.
Italy has been the center of the Christian world for the majority of time since Jesus walked the Earth.
Italy is the de facto home of the Vatican City, which is the seat of the Catholic Church. Over the past couple of thousand years, Italy has been an intensely Catholic country, which is evidenced by its endless supply of stunning churches. Florence is one of Italy’s most important and richest cities, and its population has sponsored the construction of many jaw-dropping churches.
Many of Italy’s heroes are buried in and around churches in Florence, echoing the importance of the Church in Italian history. To this day, there are few churches as striking as those built in Europe hundreds of years ago. As the cradle of the Renaissance in the 15th century, Florence’s prowess is still on full display hundreds of years later.
Many of Italy’s heroes are buried in and around churches in Florence, echoing the importance of the Church in Italian history.
The following churches come in many shapes and sizes, each having an original design blending different architectural styles. Many of these churches took over one hundred years to build, meaning that different styles came in and out of fashion during construction. Many of the greatest artists of the Italian Renaissance worked on these churches, which is one key reason why the churches are an unmissable piece of Florence’s rich history.
The Best Churches to Visit in Florence, Italy
1. The Florence Duomo
The Florence Cathedral is the centerpiece of the city. Officially named the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, this is one of the most striking churches in the world and is the most famous church in Tuscany. There is a reason that the Piazza del Duomo has become the focal point of Florence.
You simply can’t visit Florence and pass on visiting the Duomo. This church took 142 years to build and was completed in the mid-14th century. The over one hundred years of handiwork are evident as you admire the awe-inspiring paintings and carvings inside. The chief builder, Arnolfo di Cambio, clearly knew what he was doing.
There are few better things to do in Florence than attend a Catholic Mass in this masterpiece of a building. Beyond the sanctuary, which is filled with works of art from Italy’s most famed Renaissance artists, visitors can’t pass up on a visit to the bell tower (Giotto’s Campanile) and a trek up its dome.
The cathedral of Florence’s dome offers some of the best views of the city, which is clear by the hundreds of tourists who wait in line to climb it at any given hour during the summer.
The famous duomo, designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, is one of the most iconic structures in all of Europe. From the viewing deck at the top of the dome, tourists can admire the iconic terracotta roofs that coat the Florentine skyline.
2. The Church of San Miniato al Monte
San Miniato al Monte is one of the oldest Churches in Northern Italy. This epic church is located in a monastery complex at one of the highest points in Florence. The church was built in the 11th Century, and it is considered one of the best examples of Romanesque architecture in all of Tuscany.
We attended Mass here, which was nothing short of breathtaking. There is something indescribable about sitting in a little chair in such a massive, old church partaking in the same mass that has been said here for over 1,000 years.
We spent the time to walk around the church and admire the sun shining through its massive windows. Outside of the church, we could imagine what it was like centuries ago as the monastery complex bustled with monks and townspeople. There is still a store here, which has been used by monks to sell teas, liquors, and artworks for centuries.
Directly outside of the doors of San Miniato al Monte is one of the best views you can possibly find of Florence. Since the church is located on a hill perched high above the city, this is the best place to get stunning sunset pictures with the city’s iconic backdrop behind you.
3. Basilica of Santa Croce
The Basilica of Santa Croce, or Holy Cross, isn’t best known for its artwork, even though the remaining pieces are great. After all, it survived a period where all paintings were ordered to be painted over in white! This unbelievable tragedy only affected certain parts of the church and left many great works intact.
Santa Croce is absolutely massive. So big, in fact, that it is the largest Franciscan church in the world, and there is a major public square (Piazza Santa Croce) directly in front of the church.
One of the world’s best examples of Renaissance architecture is the Pazzi Chapel, which can be found off to the side of the sanctuary.
This church is best known for all of the Italian icons that are buried on its grounds. Among others, this church is the burial place of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Leon Battista Alberti. The church is also home to a habit that was worn by St. Francis of Assisi, who founded the Franciscan Order that the church belongs to!
4. Basilica of San Lorenzo
The Basilica di San Lorenzo is one of the oldest and biggest churches in Florence, although its status as the oldest church is disputed since it was located outside of the original city walls. While many of Florence’s churches are old and large, each of them has a quality that makes it unique from the others. In the case of the Basilica of San Lorenzo, it is the clientele that the church used to serve.
The Basilica di San Lorenzo was the parish church of the entire Medici family. The Medici family was once one of the most powerful families in all of Europe, having churned out several popes, nobles, and rulers of Florence over its several-hundred-year-long dynasty. This church also houses the Medici chapels, which are additions to the sanctuary that are incredibly ornate.
Within the church’s grounds you can find sculptures by Donatello, architectural work by Brunelleschi, and more sculptural work by Michelangelo. There are also a library, a cloister, a stunning sanctuary, and the glorious Medici chapels inside.
5. Basilica of Santa Maria Novella
Santa Maria Novella is the biggest Dominican Catholic church in Florence. Started in the 13th century, it is now located right across from Florence’s main train station. This is why the station is named Santa Maria Novella, and the large buzzing area between the church and the station is named Piazza Santa Maria Novella!
For those who are confused, there are several “orders” of priests and nuns in the Catholic church, in addition to traditional diocesan priests, deacons, and nuns. When a man or woman decides to enter the consecrated life, they can either enter through their diocese (which is the majority of priests) or they can enter through a particular order. When we talk about Franciscan and Dominican churches, they are churches run by priests who belong to those respective orders!
The Basilica of Santa Maria Novella is stunning on the inside and out, and it is also one of the most important Gothic churches in Florence. It is packed full of frescoes done by some of Italy’s most famous artists, most of which were commissioned by Florence’s richest families.
6. The Church of Santa Maria del Carmine
The church of Santa Maria del Carmine often gets passed over by tourists, but we found it to be stunning. Construction started on this church in 1268 with the goal of using it as a Carmelite convent. Over the centuries it switched hands and played lots of different roles.
The Corsini Chapel is located here, which is probably the biggest source of fame for the church. The Corsini family was one of the richest in Florence, and this chapel was commissioned to house the remains of one of its members, who was a Carmelite priest, eventually a bishop, and then later was canonized as a saint. It was very common for wealthy families to build family chapels in their favorite church at this time.
We also have a personal connection to this church. Our visit to Florence was part of our oldest son’s first international trip, and he is named after Saint Nicholas of Tolentine, a 13th-century Italian saint. We spent the whole trip looking for a painting or statue of him in all of the churches that we visited, but we had no luck.
Until we showed up to Santa Maria del Carmine, that is! Admittedly, San Nicola di Tolentino is not a very well-known saint, so it makes sense that he was hard to find. But this church finally made our dream come true!
7. Basilica of Santissima Annunziata
The Basilica of Santissima Annunziata is an iconic Florentine church built during the Renaissance. It isn’t the biggest, prettiest, or most ornate church in Florence, but it is a great example of Renaissance architecture, much like the church of Santo Spirito which didn’t make this list. It gets its name from the painting of the Annunciation, which legend says was completed by angels.
This church was redecorated a few hundred years ago in the Baroque style, which is very ornate. You will see lots of gold, detail, and human elements in the art inside.
At the end of the day, Florence is teeming with stunning churches. This list only contains the most famous, “can’t miss” kind of churches in Florence. If you get the opportunity to visit, I encourage you to visit these seven churches as well as any others you walk by.
Florence is one of the best cities to visit in Italy, and I would also argue it has the best selection of beautiful churches to visit outside of Rome. If there’s a church you think belongs on this list that isn’t here, drop a comment below and tell me about it!
