The Accademia di Belle Arti Firenze, located in Via Rasacoli, is an art gallery whose history dates back as far as 1563. Under the advice of Giorgio Vasari, an artist and writer, the first Grand Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo I de' Medici set up the Accademia e Compagnia delle Arti del Disegno (Arts of Drawing Academy and Company). The institution not only housed renowned artists of Cosimo’s court but also functioned as organisation for the artists of Tuscany. Accademia di Belle Arti (Academy of Fine Arts) was born as a result of a 1784 decree of the then Duke of Tuscany, Pietro Leopoldo, along with conservatory of music and a school for art restoration.

The Academy and its Gallery are home to some of Michelangelo’s work. A must see art gallery in Italy, Michelangelo’s David is on display here along with his unfinished Prisoners and statue of St. Matthew. The gallery also displays several paintings made by artists between the 13th and 16th centuries. These Renaissance era paintings are works of famous artists like Uccello, Ghirlandaio, Botticelli and others. A room is dedicated to a series of polyptychs which are marvellous. The Gallery also houses plaster sculptures by artists like Bartolini, Pampaloni and Giambologna, to name a few.

Recorded in history as the first academy for drawing in Europe, this Art Academy and Gallery is a must visit for every guest of Florence.

Amidst the hustle-bustle of the city market, stands arguably one of the oldest churches in the history of Florence. The Basilica di San Lorenzo is said to date back to the late Roman era. Along with being the oldest church, the Basilica is also the largest church in Florence.
The Basilica di San Lorenzo is also famous because it served as the parish church and burial ground to one of the most powerful families in late 14th century Florence - the Medici family. The Romanesque style of the previous structure was to be replaced by a more modern Renaissance style edifice. Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici commissioned Filippo Brunelleschi to redesign the church during the early 15th century with an elaborate façade to be designed by Michelangelo himself.
However, the untimely death of Brunelleschi and Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici led to the project being abandoned much to the humiliation of Michelangelo. As a result, the exterior was never completed. Till today the structure stands incomplete with the façade in plain brick.
However, the exteriors of the Basilica can be quite misleading for the interiors of the structure is quite remarkable. The interiors follow a Renaissance style with white and grey columns with beautiful decoration of marble in front of the altar that marks the grave of the first Medici ruler. The Basilica di San Lorenzo is still recognised as one of the best examples of the immergence of Renaissance style of architecture.

The Bargello, also known as the Bargello Palace or Palazzo del Popolo (Palace of the People) is a former barracks and prison, now an art museum, in Florence. The Bargello palace was built to house first the Capitano del Popolo and later, in 1261, the 'podestà', the highest magistrate of the Florence City Council. The original two-story structure was built alongside the Volognana Tower in 1256. The third story, which can be identified by the smaller blocks used to construct it, was added after the fire of 1323. The building is designed around an open courtyard with an external staircase leading to the second floor. The museum houses masterpieces by Michelangelo, such as his Bacchus, Pitti Tondo (or Madonna and Child), Brutus and David-Apollo.

The present day building of Casa Buonarroti was once the property of Michelangelo Buonarroti. The building was inherited by his nephew, Lionardo, after his death. However it was Michelangelo Buonarroti the Younger, the great nephew of the artist, who converted the house into a museum in honour of his grand uncle. Michelangelo the Younger was so devoted to his great uncle and his work that he hired artists to adorn the place with paintings and frescos. Today, not only is it a museum to display some of the finest works of art and craft, but it also stands as one of the finest buildings in Florence.
Casa Buonarroti is one of the best museums in Florence and houses some of the earliest works of Michelangelo. The Madonna della Scala (Madonna of the steps) carved before 1492 and Battle of Centuras, an incredible complex sculpture, are both a reflection of the extraordinary talent of the artist in the making. Among other artefacts that are also displayed at the museum is a collection of Michelangelo’s autograph drawings that consists of over 205 sketches. The museum also houses some rare art collections that include paintings, sculptures, majolica and other archaeological findings. The Casa Buonarroti is the proud displayer of the wooden model for the façade of San Lorenzo.

The Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross) is the principal Franciscan church in Florence, and a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church. It is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 metres south east of the Duomo. The site, when first chosen, was in marshland outside the city walls. It is the burial place of some of the most illustrious Italians, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Foscolo, Gentile, Rossini, and Marconi, thus it is known also as the Temple of the Italian Glories (Tempio dell'Itale Glorie). The Basilica is the largest Franciscan church in the world. Its most notable features are its sixteen chapels, many of them decorated with frescoes by Giotto and his pupils, and its tombs and cenotaphs. Legend says that Santa Croce was founded by St Francis himself.