Welcome

Fiesole is located on a hill about 7 km from the historic center of Florence.

The city has very ancient origins dating back to the Etruscan era, it was a flourishing Roman colony and it is from this settlement that the city of Florentia seems to have originated: for this reason Fiesole is considered the "mother" of the city of Florence.

The great attraction of the Fiesole area derives partly from the charm of the itineraries through woods and hills, and partly from the density of monuments and vestiges of its ancient past.

What to see in Fiesole

The city is built around Piazza Mino da Fiesole, the focal point of the municipality: from Piazza Mino it extends over a vast territory made up of monuments, historic villas, nature trails and historic villages such as Maiano and Vincigliata.

💫The archaeological area of Fiesole

It is a precious jewel of the city and one of the most important in Tuscany. It includes a Roman theater, an Etruscan-Roman temple and an archaeological museum. It will allow you to discover the beauty and culture of the Etruscan, Roman and Lombard peoples through the traces they left there. The first documented archaeological discoveries in the area date back to the end of the eighteenth century, but it was not until 1877 that systematic excavations were carried out to bring to light and simultaneously restore the Roman theater first, the Roman baths then and, finally, the Etruscan-Roman temple. The temple, located on the west side of the area and probably dedicated to the goddess Minerva, is the oldest building. It had several phases of life, the first of which dates back to the Etruscan era and was still being excavated in the 1960s. The area occupied by the temple was then the most extensively used in the Lombard era as a necropolis, with the construction of numerous tombs, arranged according to a precise orientation.

Opening days and times to the public, always updated, on: www.museidifiesole.it

The Roman Theatre

The Roman theater of Fiesole was built in the 1st century BC for theatrical performances, with a capacity of 3,000 spectators. The arena is surrounded by semicircular steps and a stage that overlooks the surrounding valley, offering a splendid panoramic view. Today the Roman theater of Fiesole, in addition to being an important tourist attraction, is still used for cultural events and theatrical performances that are scheduled during the summer, including the "Estate Fiesolana" festival.

Portigiani Street 1
Visits: April-September, 10am-7pm; March and October, 10am-6pm; November-February, Wednesday-Monday, 10am-2pm.

The Civic Archaeological Museum

The Museum preserves archaeological finds, testifying to human settlements since the Bronze Age. The museum houses a rich collection of findings that cover the entire Etruscan period and the long Roman domination. Among the exhibits there are statues, vases, coins, jewels and finds of various kinds that allow us to better understand the history of ancient Tuscany.

Portigiani Street 1
Visits: April-September, 10-19; March and October 10-18; November-December, Tuesday-Sunday 10-14; January-February Monday, Wednesday-Sunday 10-14.

Etruscan walls

The walk along the route of the Etruscan walls is an experience not to be missed. You will have the opportunity, given the exceptional nature of their high position, to have a view of the entire city of Fiesole and a 360° view of the Arno plain to the south and the Mugnone valley to the north, extending the view to the Apennine passes. The construction of the walls, evidence of the Etruscan past of this territory, is probably associated with the 4th century BC, also by virtue of the expansion that involved Fiesole and the centers of Etruria in this period. Defined as 'cyclopean', the walls were built with large square blocks of pietra serena, laid dry and with the pseudoisodomic technique. Little is known about the gates that opened in the walls. Today, walking along the route, remains of wall fragments are visible on the north side in via delle Mura etrusche and on the east side in via Mari.

Portigiani Street 1
Visits: April-September, 10am-7pm; March and October, 10am-6pm; November-February, Wednesday-Monday, 10am-2pm.

💫The Cathedral of Fiesole

The Duomo of Fiesole, or Cathedral of San Romolo, is the main Catholic place of worship in Fiesole, the episcopal seat of the diocese of the same name. Dating back to 1028 , the cathedral has a Romanesque style with a bell tower crowned by Guelph battlements.

The facade of the Cathedral is decorated with a Gothic rose window and various bas-reliefs, while the interior is made up of a central nave and two side naves.

Inside the church there are paintings, frescoes and sculptures by great artists such as Mino da Fiesole, Andrea della Robbia and Cosimo Rosselli.

Transformations and embellishments took place over the centuries, until at the end of the 19th century, with state funding, a radical restoration was carried out, which involved the complete reconstruction of the façade. The bell tower dates back to 1213, but was rebuilt in the 18th century and equipped with a crown with protruding battlements.

The Cathedral of Fiesole is an important place of worship that attracts many visitors every year for its beauty and historical and artistic importance.

Cathedral Square 1
Visits: summer, 8-12 and 14.30-18, Sundays and holidays 7.30-12 and 15-18; winter, 8-12 and 14.30-17, Sundays and holidays 8-12 and 15-17.

💫 Bandini Museum

The Museum houses a collection of works of art collected by the Bandini family over the centuries.

The collection includes paintings, sculptures, furniture and art objects from the Middle Ages to the 19th century, with works by artists such as Filippo Lippi, Giovanni Bellini, Bartolomeo Vivarini and others.

Via G. Duprè 1
Visits: April, Friday-Sunday 10am-7pm; March, Friday-Sunday 10am-6pm; January-February 10am-5pm.

💫Church and Convent of San Francesco

Nestled on the Fiesole hill from where you can enjoy a breathtaking view of Florence.

On this hill stood, in Etruscan times, the acropolis of an ancient city. A Florentine benefactor built a chapel and a small house for a community of Benedictine nuns, who then abandoned it because of the war.

In 1399 the Friars Minor arrived and began to build the small convent next to the church. The lovely cloister looked after and guarded by the friars is one of the memories of that first period of the Friars Minor's stay in Fiesole. Over the years the convent expanded and the friars built another cloister and the large refectory. In 1418 San Bernardino da Siena was the guardian of the convent of Fiesole.

The Convent is an ancient religious complex located on the hill of Fiesole. Founded in the 13th century , the convent has been an important center of Franciscan spirituality and theological studies over the centuries. The main building of the convent is the church of San Francesco , with its Romanesque-Gothic façade and Renaissance frescoes inside. The cloister of the convent is another important architectural element, with its double-arched porticoes and the remains of ancient frescoes. Today the convent of San Francesco is run by Franciscan friars and hosts a religious community, as well as being a place of spirituality open to visitors. The complex is also home to art exhibitions and cultural events. In the oldest part of the convent, the small cell of the saint is still preserved and can be visited.

Via San Francesco 13 Visits: summer, Monday-Saturday 7.30-12 and 15-19, Sunday and holidays 7.30-11 and 15-19; winter, Monday-Saturday 7.30-12 and 15-17; Sunday and holidays 7.30-11 and 16-17.

💫 The Medici Villa - The Palace of Fiesole

It is one of the historic residences of the Medici , one of the most powerful and influential families in Italian history. Situated on the hills, the villa offers a panoramic view of Florence and the surrounding hills.

The villa was built in the 15th century and was used as a summer residence by the Medici until the 16th century. During this period, the villa was decorated with works of art and luxurious furnishings, making it one of the most sumptuous residences of the time.

Today the Villa Medicea in Fiesole is open to the public as a museum and place of historical interest.

Visitors can explore the beautiful Italian gardens , decorated rooms and admire the works of art that once adorned the villa.

Via Beato Angelico 2
Visits: garden: Monday-Friday 9am-1pm, on request.