Florence Without Barriers: Enjoying between art and accessibility.

🎨 Florence Without Barriers

In this article, I’ll guide you through the most accessible (and most beautiful) streets that connect the city’s main attractions.

Because yes, Renaissance art here is a must: every street feels like an open-air museum but sometimes, the charm of cobblestones and historical streets can be a little tricky for those exploring the city on wheels: sudden steps, narrowing sidewalks, unexpected slopes.

Luckily, there are alternative (easier, yet still beautiful) routes that let you enjoy the city without worries. Moving around, pausing in front of a church, stopping for a coffee… all with greater peace of mind. #artforeveryone

I’ve included a screenshot of the alternative guide (based on local tourist sources), highlighting in green and yellow the most accessible routes.

And if you’d like to explore on your own, below you’ll also find the link to FeelFlorence’s illustrated map: you can zoom in on your favorite spots and easily choose the best ways to reach them.

https://www.feelflorence.it/sites/default/files/2025-07/Mappa%20Firenze%20Accessible.pdf

… and a link with easier alternative roads to reach the attractions

Classical route
(For accessible bathrooms, you can find them at the entrance of the city center in Piazza Santa Maria Novella or at the InfoPoint in front of the station; in the center, in Piazza San Giovanni near the Duomo; and towards the other end of the center at the Palazzo Vecchio Museum, the Uffizi Gallery, and Palazzo Pitti, as well as in the San Lorenzo area (Via della Stufa)

🛤 Route 1 – From Piazza Unità d’Italia to Ponte Vecchio
Starting point: Santa Maria Novella Station.

With the platforms behind you, turn left towards Piazza della Stazione: this way you avoid crossing busy streets and can reach Piazza Unità d’Italia.

And from here… your adventure begins.

Continue straight along ‘Via de’ Panzani’ and then ‘Via de’ Cerretani’: this is the easiest way to reach the Duomo, simply following the flow of tourists. The pavement is quite flat (for Florentine standards), and there are no uphill sections. The only real obstacle? The groups stopping for photos right in the middle of the way.

Itinerary:  Piazza Unità d’Italia → Via de’ Panzani → Via de’ Cerretani→Duomo

Stop 1 – Duomo → Piazza della Repubblica
After being stunned by the Duomo, head back towards the Baptistery and take ‘Via Roma’. This quieter street leads you straight to Piazza della Repubblica, the more modern and “chic” side of Florence.

Here, the contrast with the Renaissance is evident: elegant historic cafés, international boutiques, and side streets filled with refined shops.

Itinerary: Duomo → Via Roma → Piazza della Repubblica

Stop 2 – Piazza della Repubblica → Ponte Vecchio
With the Duomo behind you, walk perpendicularly across the square—either through ‘Via Orsanmichele’ or ‘Via degli Speziali’—and you’ll find yourself in ‘Via de’ Calzaiuoli’, one of Florence’s most famous pedestrian streets. It takes you straight to Piazza della Signoria, a true open-air museum with statues, the replica of Michelangelo’s David, the Loggia dei Lanzi, Palazzo Vecchio, and the entrance to the Uffizi Gallery.
From here, follow ‘Via Vacchereccia’ and ‘Via Por Santa Maria’ until you reach the legendary Ponte Vecchio .
Tip: The Ponte Vecchio is even more magical when admired from the nearby Ponte Santa Trinita. The street connecting the two bridges, ‘Lungarno degli Acciaiuoli’, is lined with cafés with outdoor seating—perfect for a relaxing break with a view of the Ponte Vecchio.
Itinerary: Piazza della Repubblica → Via de’ Calzaiuoli → Piazza della Signoria → Via Vacchereccia → Via Por Santa Maria → Ponte Vecchio

Stop 3 – Ponte Vecchio → Boboli Gardens
After crossing the Ponte Vecchio, continue along ‘Via Guicciardini’ until you reach Piazza Pitti, square of the grand Palazzo Pitti, today a hub for exhibitions and a symbol of Italian fashion but not to forget the ancient residence of the medici family.
Beyond the square, head towards Piazza San Felice and take ‘Via Romana’. Halfway along, you’ll find the entrance to the vast Boboli Gardens—a green paradise that seems to go on forever.
Itinerary: Ponte Vecchio → Via Guicciardini → Piazza Pitti → Piazza San Felice → Via Romana → Boboli Gardens

🏛 Route 2 – Medici Chapels and San Lorenzo
Itinerary: Starting again from Piazza Unità d’Italia  this time cross the square and take ‘Via Melarancio’ → Piazza Madonna Aldobrandini (Medici Chapels) → Piazza San Lorenzo (Basilica of San Lorenzo).

🖼 Route 3 – Palazzo Medici & Accademia Gallery → Piazza Santissima Annunziata
From Piazza San Lorenzo, take ‘Via Cavour’ to reach Palazzo Medici Riccardi (my favourite museum)and Piazza San Marco.
From here:

• Via Ricasoli → Accademia Gallery (home to Michelangelo’s original David)
• Via Battisti → Piazza Santissima Annunziata (with the Basilica, Archaeological Museum, and the historic Spedale degli Innocenti)

Accademia to Santissima Annunziata

And I’ll leave you with some other useful links where you can explore the various attractions I had inspiration from .

• Beyond the river arno “oltrarno”  From Santa croce to Bargello
•  FeelFlorence

Joy