Florence on High — Look from a different Angle and Change your View of the City

The city of Florence always has something up its sleeve for those who want to admire its beauty, letting you discover it in new and exciting ways. This is the experience you get when you scale its heights and admire it from an unconventional viewpoint.

The best time to do so is in summer, when the rooftop terraces of the city's hotels open their doors to guests and the public, usually starting in the evening with an aperitivo (pre-dinner drink and snack). Unforgettable views await: roofs bathed in the glow of romantic sunsets, and night skies where the city's illuminated monuments stand out like shining stars.

The city's towers are another option for those seeking a different perspective.

Torre di Arnolfo, the jewel in the crown of the Palazzo Vecchio, stretches toward the sky like a pointing finger. This monument is open all year round. As it towers above the building itself, the climb will quite literally take your breath away, but the unforgettable view of the city is worth it ten times over.

Alternatively, try the two former guard towers, San Niccolò and della Zecca. They now stand alone as the remains of the old city walls, which were demolished in the late nineteenth century, and allow you to enjoy unusual views of the city. They are open during summer for guided tours or accompanied visits.

Torre San Niccolò is the only one of the city's old gates whose height has never been reduced. Once you conquer its 160 steps, you can enjoy a 360-degree view of Florence from the left bank of the River Arno. The name of Torre della Zecca, on the right bank of the river, commemorates the tower's erstwhile function as the place where Florence's coins were minted using hammers powered by the water flowing past.

And of course, we can’t forget the truly stunning panoramas offered by Brunelleschi's Dome and the Cathedral's bell tower (or campanile).