Piazza del Duomo

Pros: Cathederal of Santa Maria de Fiore is breathtaking.
Cons: 492 steps to the top!

You can't miss it!  I mean this literally, the huge Cathederal in the center of Florence has a huge red dome that can be seen from several points in the city and dominates the Florence skyline.  I figured out my directions to most other must ...

Pros: Awesome views, European history
Cons: No parking, it's 100 F here during the summer

I lived in Florence for three months this summer studying Italian. The school I signed up with, Leonardo da Vinci, put me in an apartment less than 20 feet from Piazza del Duomo, on Via San Lorenzo. This is arguably the best location in the city, as ...

Pros: one of the most significant artistic and historical sites in the world
Cons: almost too overwhelming; mobs of tourists, especially in the summer

And so it was set, and the great competition has begun.

It was novel. It was intriguing. It was destined to become a great tradition. Artistic and architectural competitions all take their rise from this original, when the powerful Florentine...

Pros: Unforgettable views!
Cons: Tough climb up dark narrow stairs.

Make sure you set aside time to climb the Campanile next to the Duomo between Piazza San Giovanni and Piazza del Duomo. Not only is it a remarkable structure in its own right, but the view from atop the tower is truly heavenly. The tower was designed by...