Piazzale Michelangelo, Panoramic square in Oltrarno district, Florence, Italy.
Piazzale Michelangelo is a terraced square on a hill south of the Arno River in Florence, Italy, offering an open view across the entire city. The space spreads across several levels with a central staircase and balustrades that frame views of the cathedral, Palazzo Vecchio, and the bridges over the river.
Giuseppe Poggi designed this square in 1869 as part of a large-scale urban redesign when Florence briefly served as Italy's capital. The site was created on a previously wooded hillside that Poggi opened up with a new ring road and public viewpoints.
The bronze casts displayed here show works Michelangelo created for different patrons across Florence, forming an open-air museum on the hillside. Visitors often gather at sunset when the warm light bathes the rooftops and towers of the old town in a soft orange glow.
The square is reachable by bus lines from the center, and visitors can also walk up via various staircases and paths from the old town. The best time to visit is early morning or late afternoon when fewer tour groups are on site.
A neoclassical loggia at the edge of the terrace was originally planned as a museum for Michelangelo's works but now houses a restaurant. The steps in front of the loggia often serve as makeshift seating for visitors who enjoy the view and sketch or photograph the city.
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