Piazzale Michelangelo
The panoramic view of Florence from the Piazzale Michelangelo
Located on a bluff overlooking the Arno,
the Pizzale Michelangelo offers some of the best views of
Florence. The Piazzale itself consists of two levels. The photo
to the right shows the main plaza, a bustle of tour buses and souvenir
stands during the day. This picture, shot in the early morning, shows
the
Loggia or open air building to the left, which houses a restaurant
offering beautiful views of Florence. To the right in the picture is a
statute of Michelangelo's David. Just past David are a
set of stairs leading to a lower level, shown in the photo to the left.
Much quieter than the plaza
above, the observation area contains a small flower garden and an
observation area that offers an entire panorama
of Florence, stretching
from
San Miniato al Monte and
Forte di Belvedere to
Santa Croce and beyond to the
east. The
Piazzale Michelangelo can be accessed by two routes. The scenic
route is to exit from the city gate at the end of Via de Serragli
in Oltrarno, and follow the Viale Niccolo Machiavelli, which
essentially parallels the defensive walls of the city. This leads up a
fairly steep incline past the fashionable villas and guest houses
before passing San Miniato al Monte. There is a shorter route which
winds directly up from
Piazza Giuseppe Pogo, ascending directly from the southern
bank of the Arno.