Florence Piazzale Michelangelo Self-Guided Audio Walk: Rose Garden, San Miniato and the City View

What to bring

• Booking number: Enter your booking number on the Roamer link in your confirmation before you set off, while you have signal.
• Phone and earphones: Bring a fully charged smartphone and earphones, as the tour plays in your phone browser.
• Data or Wi-Fi: Use mobile data on the walk, or open the tour on Wi-Fi before starting if you do not have data.
• Footwear: Wear sturdy walking shoes, as the route includes ramps, cobbles, and many steps.

Accessibility

• Steep route: The walk climbs about 90 meters with more than 150 mapped steps and extra flights on stone and cobbled paths.
• Handrails: Note that the first two Rampe flights have no handrail and can be challenging for some visitors.
• Step-free option: For fewer stairs, ride buses 12 or 13 up to Piazzale and begin at stop 7 of the tour.
• Remaining steps: Even with the bus, you still need to climb steps to reach stops 8 and 9.
• Road crossings: You cross several roads without lights or marked crossings, so you need to manage traffic carefully.
• After dark: Lighting on upper Rampe flights and night access to San Miniato's stairs are not confirmed.

Additional information

• Tour access: The audio tour opens in your phone browser, so you do not need to download an app.
• Pace: You set your own pace, using GPS map and walking directions along a 1.8 km route of about 75 minutes.
• Best time in summer: In summer, start about two hours before sunset to enjoy light at Piazzale Michelangelo.
• Best time in winter: From November to January, daylight fades before 17:00, and vespers is at 18:30 at San Miniato.
• Rose Garden hours: The Rose Garden closes at 17:00 from November to February, so start by about 15:30 if you want it open.
• San Miniato hours: San Miniato is free and open daily, but it is closed to visitors during services.
• Services at San Miniato: Mass and daily vespers are in Latin and Gregorian chant, and you should enter during services only to take part.
• Torre San Niccolò: The tower is open only for guided summer climbs via MUS.E and involves about 160 steps.
• Weather caution: Avoid walking this route in rain, as ramps and stone or cobbled stairs become very slippery.
• Start location: The walk begins near the south end of Ponte alle Grazie, a short walk from Piazza Santa Croce.
• Buses to start: City buses over Ponte alle Grazie exist, but routes for this tour were not confirmed with the operator.
• Bus up without stairs: Bus 12 or 13 from the station takes about 19 to 36 minutes to reach the Piazzale under the winter timetable.
• Return buses: To return, walk back to the Piazzale and use line 12 from Piazzale San Miniato or line 13 from Piazzale Il David.
• Bus stops to avoid: Do not board at 'Galileo San Miniato', as line 12 only calls there on its way up.
• Route changes: From 5 November 2026, lines 12 and 13 avoid the closed Ponte Vespucci.
• Rose Garden stop: If the Rose Garden is closed, the audio for stop 6 plays at the upper gate.
• Road safety: Cross Lungarno Serristori and Viale Galileo only when vehicles have fully stopped.
• Viale Poggi walking: You walk along Viale Poggi for about 75 meters without a sidewalk, keeping to the edge and facing traffic.
• Unmarked crossings: Viale Poggi and Via del Monte alle Croci are crossed where no crossing is marked, so cross only when both ways are clear.
• After dark note: If San Miniato's gate is shut at night, stop 9 plays from the gate with the façade visible.
• Crowds and pickpockets: Piazzale Michelangelo is very crowded at sunset, so keep bags closed and in front of you, especially on buses 12 and 13.
• Local etiquette: Via di San Niccolò is a lived-in street with busy bars and narrow sidewalks, so be considerate of residents.
• Church etiquette: At San Miniato, keep your voice low on the terrace and only enter during Mass or vespers to participate, not just to look around.
• Scaffolding view: Giotto's bell tower is in scaffolding for restoration until about 2030, which affects the skyline view from the Piazzale.

• Please check your final voucher for the redemption details and specific instructions.
• Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.