The towers, gates, and fortresses of Florence hold countless stories to tell: stories of war and peace, of hardship and dreams, of courage and fear. For hundreds of years, they have protected Florence— a World Heritage Site—safeguarding its wonders. With the arrival of the summer season, the City of Florence and the MUS.E Foundation offer a rich programme of visits to the city’s most important architectural landmarks, giving the public the chance to enjoy new perspectives on the city and to delve deeper into the history of Florence and its urban development.

It all begins on June 24 with Forte Belvedere (open daily from 10 am to 8 pm, with guided tours on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 5 pm and 6:30 pm), built at the end of the 16th century as a fortified citadel designed to reinforce the defense line south of the Arno. Today, it opens with a renewed interpretation of the city’s history and identity thanks to the Firenze Forma Continua project. The fortress was conceived to complete the major modernization of the city’s defense system: alongside the medieval walls—dotted with high towers—bastions and fortifications were added to withstand the new threats of firearms.

This is why, in addition to the guided tours at Forte Belvedere (from June 24 to October 15, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 5 pm and 6:30 pm), the Florentine Civic Museums and the MUS.E Foundation have developed a summer calendar of visits to other key architectural sites. The programme continues with Porta San Frediano, open to the public until July 31 from 5 pm to 8 pm (tours every 30 minutes). From August 1 to 31, visitors can explore Torre San Niccolò, the queen of Florence’s towers, fully restored in 2024 (open 5 pm to 8 pm, tours every 45 minutes). Finally, from September 1 to 30, Porta Romana will be accessible (4 pm to 7 pm, tours every 30 minutes).

The calendar also includes visits to the Baluardo di San Giorgio (on July 11 and August 8 from 5 pm to 8 pm, and on September 12 from 4 pm to 7 pm) and the Fortezza of San Giovanni, better known as Fortezza da Basso, in collaboration with Firenze Fiera (on July 25, August 29, and September 26 from 4 pm to 7 pm).

Between the late 13th century and the early decades of the 14th century, during a period of rapid growth, the city of Florence built an imposing city wall to protect and defend its expanding urban fabric. The perimeter extended over 8 kilometers and was punctuated by gates, towers, and posterns. In the modern era, this system was renewed—evident in the construction of Forte Belvedere and Fortezza da Basso—but most of the medieval wall was demolished during the 1860s urban renewal. However, a significant stretch of wall in the Oltrarno, along with several gates and towers, was preserved and is now the focus of a gradual enhancement plan by the city administration.

This heritage represents a vital chapter in the city’s history. It is no coincidence that the original Arnolfo wall outline still ideally defines the boundaries of Florence’s historic center as a World Heritage Site, recently expanded toward San Miniato. All these initiatives are developed in alignment with UNESCO principles and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, aiming to encourage increasingly meaningful access to Florence’s cultural and landscape heritage—for both occasional visitors and the local community.

In case of rain, visits are suspended.

For info and bookings: info@musefirenze.it / +39 055‑0541450