Behind the Palazzo Pitti are its formal grounds, the Boboli Garden, among the most beautiful in Europe. The triumphant Medici had these gardens built after they bought the Pitti Palace from their one-time rivals in 1549. Extending to the Porta Romana, the formal gardens form a vast park in the urban center that contains a 16th-century version of a Roman amphitheater (some of the first opera performances were given here), grottoes, fountains, sculpture, as well as shaded walks that make the hottest afternoon cooler.

These two vista points are within minutes of each other on the south bank of the Arno, and make for a nice half-day stroll out of the center of Florence.

The Piazzale Michelangelo, a 19th-century lookout point on the opposite bank of the Arno, offers a fine panorama of the city. Its main square is adorned with a reproduction of the statue of David and other Michelangelo sculptures. Understandably a popular trysting point for locals, it's always crowded in the hot summer months, with hawkers and vendors vying for attention.

Just up the hill beyond the piazzale is the famous Tuscan Romanesque church San Miniato al Monte (begun 1090). Its steps not only afford a great view of Florence, but a close-up of the beautiful bicolored marble façade. The interior, both its architectural detailing and marble floor, is Romanesque, too, but Renaissance works can be found in the chapels off the nave. The atmosphere becomes purely medieval when Gregorian chants are sung here.