Florence off the beaten path

I would like to know too. Florence is one of my favorite cities. I don't know how hidden it is, but the School of Leather in the monastery is a great find. I got a gorgeous leather coat there.

Tourists go absolutely everywhere and at every time, so best to follow your own interests whether others do it or not.
This publication is good for a different point of view and is oriented toward English speaking residents: https://www.theflorentine.net/
We were alone in the Pietra Dura museum, even though you see this stone art in virtually every large Italian church: http://www.museumsinflorence.com/musei/opificio_delle_pietre_dure.html

Our favorite day trip is to take the bus up to Fiesole. It's a pretty little place - it predates Florence by a few hundred years. There's an old Roman Amphitheater (still in use) and a belvedere walkway that features spectacular views of both Florence and the valley of the Arno below.
If you're ambitious you can continue along the walkway thru the forest out to a feature called Monte Cecere, where there's a small monument commemorating the world's first experimental test flight. According to local lore it's the spot where Leonardo da Vinci and his crew tested his glider design in around 1506 ... 400 years before Kitty Hawk. There's a picnic table there if you want to grab the fixings for lunch and just enjoy the ambiance and the view.

I was going to mention Fiesole - it's a gem outside the city and a lovely way to walk around and see some amazing views. I had lunch there one day at a place where you could sit outside and look down over Florence.

Another place I love to visit is San Miniato. You can take the bus up or walk up the hill. San Miniato is a beautiful 12th century church, hardly ever crowded, and the view of Florence from here is incredible. There is a cemetery in back, which is filled with graves and mausoleums that mimic palaces and cathedrals (including the grave of Carlo Lorenzini, author of Pinocchio). It looks like a miniature city. On the way back down, take a different route through the Via del Monte Alle Croci, which is a winding road that takes you past some beautiful private villas.

Bargello museum.

Cross the river and visit the Basilica di Santo Spirito.

Visit the Leather School.

Check out the Laurentian Library.

Enjoy the Fontana dell Oceano fountain area.

And don’t take offense but get lost. Meander. You’ll find a cafe, shop, church, plaza without tourists.

Enjoyed a meal at Osteria Cinghiale Bianco. Found the place when I got lost.

From my own visits (with the *) and from previous posts here:

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 *
Santa Maria Novella pharmacy
Laurentian library
take an art history class at the British Institute*

A few more (off my head):

Loggia del Bigallo.
Casa di Dante.
Sinagoga e Museo Ebraico.
Museo Horne.
Giardino dell'Orticoltura
Giardino del Bobolino
Ognissanti church
La Specola Museum of Zoology and Natural History (near Palazzo Pitti)
Villa Medici La Pietraia (at Castello district)

When you have visited all, have a drink at La Loggia Roof Bar, on Piazza Santo Spirito

I was just in Florence a couple weeks ago. I stayed in the Oltrarno which is still dominated by local Italians, even if tourists inevitably find their way there. That's also where you'll find many little studios of craftspeople and artists -- especially on the streets San Niccolo, San Frediano, and Santo Spirito. Wander and look.

Look on "The Florentine" website (for expats) for upcoming events. That's how I learned about the annual Taste food trade show. For 20 Euros, I spent hours tasting cheeses, olive oils, sweets, etc. and chatting with vendors. Alas, that's only once a year.

There was recently an article in The Guardian about the Sant'Ambrogio neighborhood. I missed the market, but wandered the neighborhood which felt very Italian. I also visited Le Murate, a former jail that has a cultural center with free events (of variable quality).

There are some lovely tiny free churches with amazing works of arts and few tourists. I particularly enjoyed the Cenacolo di Sant'Apollonia while listening to a podcast from "Rebuilding the Renaissance" dedicated to its Last Supper fresco.

Something newish (since 2019) is the Museo Villoresi perfume museum. I'd never heard of this perfumer, but he's legendary among people who know the Italian artisanal perfume scene. The guided, interactive visit was a nice change from the visual arts and food.

The Museo Ospedale degli Innocenti in Piazza SS Annunziata is amazing and very moving.
It chronicles the history of abandoned and orphaned babies through the ages.
And up on the top floor is a small cafe/bar with an amazing view.

The Ferragamo Shoe Museum is a favourite.
The history of the original shoemaker....and...it's very well air conditioned on a hot day!

The Cascine Market on a Tuesday...massive long outdoor market selling just about everything.
Watch your bags.
One of the tram lines goes there, or you can walk .

The Palazzo Davanzati Museo...a restored medieval house right in the centre of town.
It's absolutely beautiful.

The Bardini Gardens.
Walk up through them, great views from the top.
Go out the gate at the top, cross a tiny road , and enter the top of the Boboli Gardens on the same ticket.

The Ognissanti Church.
After 9 visits to Florence, I finally found it open last September.
Very lovely inside.

Buy bus tickets (they are good for 90 minutes each) and ride around the circular routes of the little C and D buses.
They go round and round the centre.
You can see some new neighbourhoods.
Good to rest your feet on a hot day, they have AC.

I'm sure there are more places...!