Florence's Oltrarno: A Self-Guided Walking Tour

Highlights

• Self-guided audio tour
• Complete flexibility

What's included

Itinerary

1. 1

   Ponte Vecchio

   Pass by

   Begin your tour at the foot of Ponte Vecchio, enjoying breathtaking views of Florence's most famous bridge. Discover the authentic Oltrarno district that unfolds just across the river, where Florentines still live amid history, bars, and cafés.

2. 2

   Stop 2

   Pass by

   Pause in this small square next to Ponte Vecchio, where you'll see the corridor overlooking the Chiesa di Santa Felicita. Learn how this passage allowed the Medici family to attend mass away from the crowds below.

3. 3

   Stop 3

   Pass by

   Look up to spot the elevated corridor connecting this church to the Medici's private route through the city. Discover how this small but significant church played a quiet role in the family's daily life.

4. 4

   Piazza De' Pitti

   Pass by

   Meet the story of a member of the Second World War Resistance, who used her flat on Piazza Pitti to protect Jews. Reflect on this quiet act of courage as you stand in the square where it took place.

5. 5

   Stop 5

   Pass by

   Discover the history of Palazzo Pitti, the palace's deep connection to the Medici family, and its secret engraved in rock. Uncover a detail hidden in plain sight on one of Florence's grandest palace facades.

6. 6

   Basilica di Santo Spirito

   Pass by

   Relax in a green cloister and seek out a little-known work by Michelangelo inside this basilica. Discover its place as one of the first religious centres in the Oltrarno district.

7. 7

   Piazza Santo Spirito

   Pass by

   Identify the plaque marking Santo Spirito with its whip insignia, one of two symbols demarcating Florence's historic four districts. Enjoy this beautiful square as you continue your walk through the neighbourhood.

8. 8

   Ponte alla Carraia

   Pass by

   Cross toward Ponte alla Carraia, originally built in wood in 1218 as the second bridge over the Arno after Ponte Vecchio. Learn how it earned its name "bridge of the carts" from the wool traffic that once rumbled across it between Florence's dye works and cloth workers.

Before you go

Location