This guide will reveal the best (not-so) hidden gems in Florence Italy, from centuries-old pharmacies to the famous wine windows, giving you access to the real heartbeat of this amazing city.
Whether you’re planning your first visit or returning for a deeper experience, these lesser-known attractions will help you escape the crowds while uncovering the real Florence.
It’s no secret that Florence is one of my favourite european cities and wandering the streets of this amazing and old city is something I will recommend ANYONE. So let’s get into it.
Florence Italy map
The most rewarding approach to discovering hidden gems in Florence Italy is to wander intentionally: choose a neighbourhood, leave your map at the hotel, and allow yourself to get pleasantly lost.
BUT it’s still nice to have an overview of where the most “famous” hidden gems are.
Who are the Medici?
The Medici family stands as one of the most influential dynasties in European history, and their fingerprints are everywhere in Florence – including many of the hidden gems in Florence Italy featured in this guide – which is why I think it’s important to give a little background information on this historic family before visiting Florence.
Originally a family of merchants and bankers, the Medici rose to prominence in Florence during the 14th century. Their wealth came primarily from banking; the Medici Bank became one of the most prosperous and respected financial institutions in Europe during the 15th century, with branches across major European cities. This financial power translated directly into political influence, and the family effectively ruled Florence – first informally as bankers and patrons, later formally as Dukes.
What distinguishes the Medici from other wealthy families of their era is their extraordinary patronage of the arts. The Medici also connected the family to European royal houses—Catherine de’ Medici and Marie de’ Medici both became Queens of France.
Much of what you’ll encounter exploring Florence’s hidden gems like the Medici Chapels, the Laurentian Library, and Palazzo Medici-Riccardi, exists because of this family’s deliberate use of art and architecture to display and consolidate power.
Duration 2 hours
Live tour guide
Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance
On the tour, you'll stop by
- Medici Chapel (visit inside)
- Palazzo Medici Riccardi
- Basilica of San Lorenzo
- Piazza del Duomo
- Piazza della Signoria
- Palazzo Vecchio
- Piazzale degli Uffizi
Hidden Gems in Florence Italy
1. Biblioteca Moreniana: : One of the Quietest Hidden Gems in Florence Italy
One of Florence’s most underrated cultural institutions, the Biblioteca Moreniana (Moreniana Library) sits quietly in the San Marco neighbourhood. It used to be virtually unknown, but social media has definitely changed that.
The library’s collection reflects centuries of Florentine intellectual life, with materials spanning literature, art history, and philosophy – a genuine window into how educated Florentines engage with their cultural heritage.
Practical tip: Visit in the morning when it’s quietest. The library has limited hours, so check ahead before visiting.
Entry: FREE
Opening hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8:15 am to 1:45 pm, and on Mondays and Thursdays from 8:15 am to 5:15 pm. It is closed on Saturdays.
2. Officina Profumo Santa Maria Novella: The Oldest of Hidden Gems in Florence Italy
Hidden within a 13th-century Dominican convent, the Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella is the world’s oldest pharmacy. What began in 1612 as a working monastery pharmacy has evolved into a flagship fragrance store that still honours centuries-old recipes and traditions. Even if you don’t purchase anything (which is totally fine), wandering through the rooms is a masterclass in how commerce and culture intertwine in Florence.
Pro tip: Arrive early to avoid crowds. The shop opens at 9.30am and is significantly quieter before 11am.
Entry: FREE
Open hours: daily 9.30am – 8pm
3. Medici Chapels
The Medici Chapels (Cappelle Medicee in Italian) represent the opulence and power of Renaissance Florence’s most influential family. Accessed separately from the main San Lorenzo Basilica, these burial chapels showcase works by Michelangelo and reveal how the Medici commissioned art to solidify their legacy. The Chapel of the Princes (Cappella dei Principi) overwhelms with its grandeur: inlaid semi-precious stones cover the walls in geometric patterns, creating a jewel-box effect that speaks to the Medici’s vast wealth.
Opening hours: 8.15am – 6.50pm. CLOSED on Mondays
Price: €11
Reduced-price ticket
For european union citizens (and schengen countries) between 18-25 years entry is €2 (you have to be able to show your passport or ID to verify).
4. Basilica di Santa Maria Novella
Just a short walk from Florence’s main train station, the Basilica di Santa Maria Novella is frequently overlooked despite being one of the city’s architectural and artistic treasures. What makes Santa Maria Novella a true hidden gem is its proximity to the train station: tourists rushing to the Duomo or Uffizi Gallery pass it by without a second glance. This means you’ll experience one of Florence’s most important churches, a place where Dante himself worshipped, in relative solitude.
Entry: €7.5
Open hours: daily 9am – 5.30pm. Fridays 11am-5pm and Sundays 1pm-5pm.
5. Orsanmichele
The Church and Museum of Orsanmichele has a peculiar history: it began as a grain market (orto = garden, san = saint), transformed into a church during the 14th century, and today functions as both. This dual identity makes it architecturally unique and culturally fascinating.
The ground floor remains open to the public for free; the upper floors (accessed via timed ticket) house a museum with sculptures by Donatello and Ghiberti, and offer views across the city toward the Duomo and Palazzo Vecchio. The tower access provides an intimate vantage point of Florence that avoids the queues at the Duomo or Campanile.
Opening hours: 8.15am – 6.50pm. CLOSED on Mondays
Price: €10
Reduced-price ticket
For european union citizens (and schengen countries) between 18-25 years entry is €2 (you have to be able to show your passport or ID to verify).
6. Basilica of Santa Croce: Beyond the Obvious Hidden Gems in Florence Italy
I bet you didn’t know Michelangelo’s tomb is in Florence – because I didn’t – and you can find it here, in Santa Croce. Beyond Michelangelo, Santa Croce houses the tombs of Galileo Galilei, Dante Alighieri (though his body remains in Ravenna), and Niccolò Machiavelli – an absolutely insane collection.
Opening hours: mon-sat 9.30am – 5.30pm. Sundays 2pm – 5.30pm.
Price: €10
Concessions: €6
Duration 1.5 hours
Live tour guide
Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance
During the visit, we will discover Giotto's extraordinary pictorial revolution, the Renaissance elegance of Brunelleschi's Pazzi Chapel, and the funerary monuments dedicated to some of the greatest figures in Italian history, from Michelangelo to Galileo, from Machiavelli to Rossini.
7. Wine Windows: The Tiniest Hidden Gems in Florence Italy
Scattered throughout Florence’s centro storico are wine windows (buchette del vino)—small, chest-height openings in medieval building facades. Dating to the 17th century, these contactless service points allowed wine merchants to sell directly to customers without opening the main door, maintaining both security and convenience.
Today, approximately 17 documented wine windows remain, and several operate as working wine bars where you can purchase a glass or bottle. They’ve resurfaced in contemporary tourism and Instagram culture, but the charm lies in their genuine historical function and the fun nature of discovering them while wandering. When you spot one, you’ve discovered an authentic piece of Renaissance-era commerce (pretty cool right). Today, approximately 17 documented wine windows remain.
8. Bargello Museum: Hidden Gems in Florence Italy in Plain Sight
While tourists flock to the Accademia and Uffizi, the Bargello Museum remains one of the most underrated things to do in Florence Italy. This fortress-palace houses the world’s most important Renaissance sculpture collection, rivaling even the Vatican museums.
The Bargello contains works by Donatello, Michelangelo, and Cellini, displayed in a more intimate setting than other major Florentine museums. The smaller crowds make this an ideal complement to your museum visits and a refuge from peak-season tourist chaos.
Opening hours: 8.15am – 6.50pm. CLOSED on mondays
Price: €12
Reduced-price ticket
For european union citizens (and schengen countries) between 18-25 years entry is €2 (you have to be able to show your passport or ID to verify).
9. Palazzo Medici Riccardi
This is the first Medici family residence and, by most architectural accounts, the building that set the template for Renaissance palace design in Florence. The palace was commissioned around 1444 and the undisputed highlight is the Chapel of the Magi (Cappella dei Magi), frescoed by Benozzo Gozzoli and featuring a procession that many art historians believe depicts recognisable Medici family members among its figures.
Opening hours: Daily 9am – 7pm.
Price: €16.5
Reduced Ticket: visitors aged 18-25; university students: €11.5
Planning Your Hidden Gems in Florence Italy Adventure
Timing matters: Visit in January or February for dramatically fewer crowds. April through October sees peak tourist season, though visiting mid-week (Tuesday–Thursday) helps significantly.
Neighbourhood strategy: Rather than trying to hit every gem in one visit, choose 2–3 neighbourhoods and explore them methodically. Oltrarno rewards slow wandering; the area around San Marco and San Lorenzo clusters attractions efficiently; Santa Croce offers markets, artisan workshops, and dining alongside cultural sites.
Reserve in advance: Timed-entry attractions (Brancacci Chapel, Orsanmichele museum, Laurentian Library) often reach capacity, especially April–October. Book online before arrival.
Embrace serendipity: The hidden gems in Florence Italy that matter most are often those you stumble upon—a frescoed church tucked into a quiet piazza, a wine window on a side street, a rooftop bar overlooking Santo Spirito. Leave time for unscheduled exploration.
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