Yes — it\u2019s about a 4-minute walk from Santa Maria Novella station.
Discover Authentic Florence: A Local Travel Guide by Mercure
At Mercure, we believe you shouldn't need a guidebook to feel like you belong somewhere. That's the idea behind Discover Local: since 1973, every Mercure hotel has been built around its neighbourhood, not just dropped into it — from the décor on the walls to the flavours on the menu. Step into any Mercure and our teams are on hand with the kind of tips you won't find in a guidebook: the market stall locals queue for, the bar where nobody speaks English, the walk that skips the crowds. They live here. They know. Discover Local isn't a generic city guide — it's a short, honest list of the restaurants, markets and neighbourhoods our own hotel teams actually recommend to guests, updated as the city changes around us. Below, you'll find our picks for Florence, an interactive map to help you find your way, and answers to the questions travellers ask us most. So — where will Discover Local take you?
Our map pins local favourites such as the Galleria dell'Accademia, the Boboli Gardens and the Mercato Centrale, alongside our Mercure hotel.
Top 5 Things to Do in Florence
Sant'Ambrogio Market
Founded in 1873, this is where Florentines still do their daily shopping — less polished than San Lorenzo, more useful if you want to see how the city actually eats.
Da Rocco
A 30-seat trattoria physically inside Sant'Ambrogio market, open for lunch only, serving whatever the market had that morning — ribollita, peposo, slow-cooked ragù.
San Lorenzo neighbourhood
The district right around the hotel — historic, central, and a few minutes' walk from Piazza del Duomo.
Santa Maria Novella Station area
The hotel is 4 minutes on foot from the station, itself worth a look for its 1930s rationalist architecture.
Ponte Vecchio walk
Reachable on foot from the hotel through the historic centre, past Brunelleschi's Dome and the Baptistery.
Explore Florence's Best Local Spots with Our Interactive Map
What's on the map in Florence
We've mapped local spots around Florence, from Renaissance masterpieces to bohemian San Frediano.
Art & history
Florence historic centre
The Duomo and Giotto's Bell Tower, Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio, the Uffizi, the Ponte Vecchio and Santa Croce – the Renaissance city, on foot.
City centre · Historic centre · Perfect for art and history
Galleria dell'Accademia
Home of Michelangelo's David – and plenty more extraordinary works besides. Book ahead.
San Marco · Museum · Made for art lovers
Museo Galileo
A unique collection of scientific instruments telling the story of discovery and invention.
By the Uffizi · Science museum · Great for curious minds
Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens
Explore Palazzo Pitti, then lose yourself in the Boboli Gardens, a timeless green escape.
Oltrarno · Palace and gardens · Perfect for a stroll
Museo Casa di Dante
A museum on Dante Alighieri and the medieval Florence he knew.
Centre · Museum · Ideal for literature
Rampe del Poggi
Monumental ramps below Piazzale Michelangelo, with sweeping views over the city. Climb at sunset.
San Niccolò · Viewpoint · Perfect for a stroll
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
Brunelleschi's dome rules the skyline. Climb up inside it for one of the finest views of the city.
Piazza del Duomo · Cathedral · Made for iconic views
Giotto's Bell Tower
The slender Gothic campanile beside the cathedral, clad in white, green and pink marble. 414 steps up to a terrace above the rooftops – ready?
Piazza del Duomo · Bell tower · Great for a climb
Palazzo Vecchio
The medieval town hall on Piazza della Signoria, symbol of Florentine power for centuries, with richly decorated halls inside.
Piazza della Signoria · Palace and museum · Ideal for history lovers
Uffizi Gallery
One of the world's great art museums, on the Arno, with Italian masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance.
Arno riverside · Art museum · Made for art lovers
Ponte Vecchio
The old bridge over the Arno, lined with jewellers' and goldsmiths' shops hanging over the river. Cross it twice: once at dawn, once at dusk.
Arno · Historic bridge · Perfect for a stroll
Basilica of Santa Croce
A 13th-century Gothic basilica where many illustrious Italians rest, with a majestic marble façade on its own square.
Santa Croce · Basilica · Great for history lovers
Local life
Mercato Centrale
Taste Tuscany in one hall: lampredotto sandwiches, pecorino, schiacciata, ribollita, cantucci and finocchiona at Florence's lively central market.
San Lorenzo · Food market · Made for foodies
San Frediano
Bohemian San Frediano: street art, artisan shops and trendy cafés. Stop at Brac, the bookshop-café locals love.
Oltrarno · Neighbourhood · Perfect for local life
Osteria Santo Spirito
Good-value Tuscan cooking on Piazza Santo Spirito. Order the truffle gnocchi.
Santo Spirito · Osteria · Ideal for dinner
Il Latini
A lively historic trattoria famous for bistecca alla fiorentina. Bring an appetite.
Centre · Trattoria · Made for Florentine steak
La Ménagère
A restaurant, bistro and event space with bohemian design and a vegan-friendly menu.
San Lorenzo · Restaurant · Great for brunch
Rivoire
A historic café on Piazza della Signoria, famous for its hot chocolate. Take a seat and watch the square.
Piazza della Signoria · Café · Perfect for people-watching
FAQ
San Lorenzo, right by the hotel, is now mostly geared toward visitors. Sant\u2019Ambrogio, a 15–20 minute walk away, is where locals actually do their food shopping.
It\u2019s within walking distance through the historic centre, along with Ponte Vecchio.
At the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence.
Try a lampredotto sandwich, pecorino toscano, schiacciata, ribollita and cantucci.
A bohemian Oltrarno district with street art, artisan shops and cafés.
Where to Sleep in Florence
This Mercure hotel appears on our map:
- Mercure Firenze Centro