OUR SURROUNDINGS
San Niccolò: the secret heart of Florence
Serristori Palace welcomes you to Oltrarno. This is the most authentic part of the city.
In the San Niccolò district, Florence reveals its everyday elegance and slow pace. It is a place where Florentines greet each other in the street, where the air is filled with the scent of freshly worked wood, and where art workshops preserve ancient techniques passed down through the generations.
As you stroll through the cobbled alleys, you may find yourself chatting to the baker who makes the bread every morning, admiring a craftsman gilding a frame, or getting lost among the subtle signs of trattorias that evoke a sense of home with their red wine and generations-old recipes. Every corner is an invitation to slow down, observe and experience the city's charm.
Yet just a few steps away, you can reach the Ponte Vecchio, stand in awe of the Duomo's majesty, step inside the Uffizi Gallery , and experience the eternal beauty of the Renaissance for yourself. The city unfolds around you like a tapestry: There is Piazzale Michelangelo which offers unforgettable sunsets; the Abbey of San Miniato , which preserves millennial silences; and the Rose Gardens, which smell of poetry.
From the windows of the Serristori Palace, you can take in the whole of Florence, with its red roofs and glittering domes. Even before stepping outside, you will feel part of something bigger than just passing tourists: you will feel like a privileged guest in a city that welcomes and recognises you.
San Niccolò is a vibrant neighbourhood full of encounters, scents and details that encapsulate the essence of the city. It's a corner of Florence that remains intimate and authentic, yet just a few steps away from its most famous attractions.
The Walk to the Centre
The city is within walking distance from Serristori Palace. This first walk is a ritual, a gentle introduction to beauty. Start from the Lungarno and cross the Ponte Vecchio, a treasure trove of goldsmiths and artisans. Then, let the streets steeped in history lead you to the heart of the city.
There, you will find the majestic Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, alongside the Baptistery and Giotto's Bell Tower. Continue on to Piazza della Signoria, home to palaces and sculptures that have shaped the destiny of Western art. Further on, Santa Croce tells the stories of Dante, Michelangelo and Galileo through its stones, offering unforgettable experiences.
Every walk is a tapestry of wonders, a continuous discovery and an invitation to experience Florence with both your eyes and your heart.
The Authentic Oltrarno
Those who choose Oltrarno choose to experience the city's other soul: that of artisan workshops, small squares frequented by locals, and creativity pulsating through alleys and courtyards.
This can be seen in Via Santo Spirito, with its frame shops and antique bookshops; Via Maggio, where antique dealers and merchants recount tales from centuries gone by; and the Basilica of Santo Spirito, home to Michelangelo's Christ. Then there is the majestic Boboli and Bardini Gardens, where nature and art intertwine in a timeless dance, and the museums of Palazzo Pitti.
Here, Florence, a city that has stood the test of time, reveals its elegant, intimate and authentic side.
The Great Museums
Serristori Palace is just a few steps away from some of the world's most famous art collections.
The Uffizi Gallery is home to Botticelli's Primavera and The Birth of Venus, which shine alongside masterpieces by Leonardo, Michelangelo and Caravaggio. Michelangelo's David leaves visitors breathless at the Accademia Gallery, flanked by his unfinished Prigioni (Prisoners).
Nearby, the Opificio delle Pietre Dure showcases Florentine expertise in restoration, while the San Lorenzo district is home to the Medici Chapels and the Central Market, which is filled with Italian flavours and specialities. Each museum, palace and square tells a story that belongs to all of humanity.
After days filled with wonder, returning to the Serristori Palace Residence feels like coming home to a secret refuge that welcomes and envelops you.
From the palace's windows, Florence reveals itself in all its splendour: rooftops coloured by the sunset, Brunelleschi's dome silhouetted against the sky and the Arno River reflecting light in a slow, silent rhythm.
Here, you no longer feel like a mere visitor, but a part of the city itself.
Every breath is steeped in history, every silence speaks of centuries and every detail becomes a memory.
Serristori Palace is not just somewhere to stay; it's an invitation to experience Florence as its inhabitants do: with elegance, intimacy and wonder.
