Via de’ Tornabuoni is the elegant spine of Florence’s luxury shopping district, running from Piazza Santa Trinita toward Piazza Antinori in the historic centre. Renaissance palazzi stand alongside jewellers and fashion boutiques, including Ferragamo and Gucci. Even if you have no intention of shopping, it is a rewarding street to walk slowly, with as much to see above the windows as inside them.
Named for the powerful Tornabuoni family, the street reflects the wealth and ambition of Florence’s merchant and banking dynasties. Palazzo Strozzi, just off the street, hosts major art exhibitions, while Palazzo Spini Feroni is home to the Ferragamo Museum. At the southern end, the church of Santa Trinita offers a different kind of spectacle: Ghirlandaio’s frescoes in the Sassetti Chapel.
Visit on a weekday morning for a quieter stroll, or come in the early evening when the stone façades take on a warmer light. The area is best explored on foot and is about ten minutes from Santa Maria Novella station; it also makes a useful link between the Arno and the city centre. Check individual opening hours if you have a particular shop or museum in mind, and watch for the occasional taxi or delivery vehicle despite the restricted-traffic zone.