Florence Gems

https://www.solosophie.com/hidden-gems-secret-spots-in-florence/

https://lovefromtuscany.com/florence-hidden-gems/

https://devourtours.com/blog/florence-hidden-gems/?cnt=CA

Hospital of the Innocents. Be sure to budget some time for the rooftop cafe/bar as well. Great views of Brunelleschi's dome.

Bargello sculpture museum
Laurentian Library
Stibbert Museum….

And get lost….seriously, wander on foot ….discovered a deli where I enjoyed the best sandwich…no English was spoken…. Merely smiles and nods to the young man who made the filling and tasty sandwich.

EDIT: one of my most favorite travel photos taken …was in Florence. Was walking by a small church, doors were open…walked inside…was going to light a candle for my mother. Saw a priest in the confessional light up. He puffed away until a parishioner slid into the pew and drew the curtain.

Brancacci Chapel and Orsanmichele are my votes, easily overlooked.

It’s also weird to me, but I feel like Santa Maria Novella gets left off a lot of people’s itineraries when it is arguably the most beautiful, and contains its own share of important works.

S. Trinita, Carmine, SS. Annunziata churches are easily overlooked. The staircase at Biblioteca Laurenziana, designed by Michelangelo, is in a sort of baroque form but 70 years before the baroque era. But also the minor churches and not so minor like Ognissanti have something to consider, entering and looking it is never a mistake. My parish church, the tiny S. Lucia sul Prato (large enough for 100 persons) has a 13th century Annunciation and a 16th century Nativity, that in years I came to consider like pictures in my living room. The nearby baroque Vanchetoni oratory can't be seen but in very special occasions but is unbeliavable. But there are literally tenths of churches like S. Lucia.

And get lost….seriously, wander on foot ….

Best advice ever for Firenze! Kudos!

The Leather School is a wonderful visit that doesn't get enough run.

Santa Trinita, Sassetti Chapel (Ghirlandaio)*
Bardini museum and gardens*
Torre di San Niccolo
Flower market Thursday mornings Piazza della Repubblica*
Forte di Belvedere
Museo Archeologico *
Museo dell’Opera del Duomo *
Museo Horne
Museo Opificio delle Pietra Dure
Museo Stibbert and garden
Palazzo Medici-Riccardi (Gozzoli chapel)*
Parco della Cascine
San Lorenzo *
San Miniato al Monte and cemetery*
Santa Felícita (Pontormo)*
Ospedale degli Innocenti *
day trip to Pistoia * or Prato
Santa Maria Novella pharmacy
Laurentian library
take an art history class at the British Institute*

San Miniato al Monte

https://www.visitflorence.com/florence-churches/san-miniato.html

I didn't look at Periscope's links to see if this was listed but I'd love to see the "Secret Room" that might have Michelangelo drawings on the walls below the Medici Chapel.

https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2018/06/03/615181742/this-room-is-thought-to-have-been-michelangelos-secret-hideaway-and-drawing-boar

It took me 3 visits to finally have time to visit Santa Croce, the church where Michelangelo, Gallileo, Rossini are buried. It's well-known but not one of the first things people seem to visit.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Croce,_Florence

Great list from Nancy, and thumbs up for Santa Croce too! Awrzesinski, I'm puzzled as well why SM Novella is left off so many itineraries.

Worth mention, maybe, is that most of the churches, museums, gardens and other attractions which have been recommended are not 'hidden' at all; virtually all of them appear/have appeared on various tourism websites for Firenze and have their fans! They're just not as heavily visited as the Uffizi, Accademia, Ponte Vecchio, duomo and a few others...and that's a plus for anyone willing to give this fascinating city more time to get to know her. Maybe spend some time with the official website and see what else might appeal?

https://www.feelflorence.it/en/punti-di-interesse/133?field_macrocategoria_poi_target_id=133&keys=&field_categoria_sottocageria_poi_target_id_1=All&field_comune_target_id=All&field_quartiere_target_id=All&page=0

https://maps.app.goo.gl/tEzMRTSRhoY5Fnnr9?g_st=ic

This is a link to a Last Supper fresco that is not well known.
It’s lovely, and I also remember many old photos in there of years gone by.

And get lost….seriously, wander on foot …Seriously this is what I tell people all the time traveling to a city for the first time, especially Florence, Venice and Bologna.
I can’t believe more people don’t recommend Santa Maria Novella

i LOVE the "get lost" advice and will try it...

"The Museum of Precious Stones" was quite impressive when I visited...practically had it to myself. The artwork is all mosaic pieces. so intricate and beautiful! Definitely worth a look.