During the Renaissance, the map of Florence was divided into four districts: Santa Maria Novella, San Giovanni, Santa Croce, and Santo Spirito.
Although the city’s area has hardly changed since then, the number of districts has increased to six. Today, the map of Florence includes: the Historic Center, San Lorenzo, Santa Croce, Oltrarno, Coverciano, and Tornabuoni. The first two have the highest concentration of hotels — all of which are also marked on the map of Florence.
A unique feature of Florence's districts is that almost all of them, located in or near the center, are grouped around specific architectural landmarks after which they are named.
The Historic Center, where most architectural monuments are located: Cathedral Square, Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, the Baptistery of St. John, Palazzo Medici Riccardi, the Basilica of San Lorenzo, San Marco Museum, the Accademia Gallery, Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, the Uffizi Gallery, and the Bargello Museum.
San Lorenzo is a district of artists and merchants. It’s the perfect place to begin your shopping tour and explore traditional Tuscan cuisine. Between visits to souvenir shops, admire the architecture of San Lorenzo Church, Palazzo Vecchio, and San Marco Monastery.
Santa Croce - a quarter consisting mainly of palaces: Cocchi Serristori, Antella, Corsini Serristori, Spinelli, the house of Giorgio Vasari and the church of Santa Croce.
Oltrarno - occupies almost the entire left bank of the Arno River, starting from the Ponte Vecchio bridge. If the previous districts are famous for their basilicas and palaces, then this one is also famous for its park complexes, the main of which is the Boboli Gardens.
Coverciano (right bank of the Arno River). Sometimes the area is called a place of reunion of the past and the present: the old churches (St. Mary, St. Catherine of Siena, San Bartolomeo Gignoro) have for many years been adjacent to the office of the Italian Football Federation with the "Italian Football Hall of Fame" and the Center for Training and Licensing Football Coaches.
Tornabuoni is the smallest district in Florence in terms of area, but it doesn't stop it from being the most fashionable thanks to a string of elite boutiques and jewelry stores.
Located 8 km from Florence is the small town of Fiesole, one of the oldest in this region. Here you can find the famous San Romolo Cathedral in Piazza Mino da Fiesole, an ancient Roman theater dating back to the 1st century BC, the Medici Villa, and the Archaeological Museum featuring artworks by Italian painters from the 13th to 15th centuries.
Which district in Florence is the best to stay in?
The best hotels in Florence are located in the Santa Maria Novella district (near the train station): Hotel L'Orologio and Grand Hotel Baglioni. The main advantage of these hotels is their proximity to the main attractions and their historic interiors, as they are part of architectural complexes. However, their main downside is the high prices, and the crowds of tourists can be a bit bothersome.
Where is the best place to stay in Florence? In our opinion, it is more reasonable to settle in one of the hotels on Piazza Ognissanti or along the Arno River. The price levels here are similar to the city center, but the views are much more picturesque - with the river, parks, and historic buildings in all their glory, and the city center is within easy reach.
Dangerous areas in Florence
It is difficult to single out a specific district. The main danger that tourists may encounter is pickpockets. In Italy, they are true virtuosos. It is especially important to be vigilant in the historical center, as there are many tourists and limited space - which is exactly what pickpockets look for.
