The beautiful town of Fiesole is within sight of the much more famous Florence, but it would be a shame to miss this Tuscan gem.
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Fiesole perfectly combines medieval and Renaissance monuments with ancient archaeological sites dating back to the Etruscan era, which right here are among the best preserved in Tuscany.
Sights
Fiesole is a small town in size and all the sights can be found together within the centre.
The Roman theatre and the Etruscan walls
The most valuable area of monuments can be found about a 2-minute walk north of the cathedral.
The extensive archaeological site of the Etruscan city with its well-preserved walls dates from around the 5th to 4th century BC.
The site is closely adjacent to an outdoor Roman theatre dating from the 1st century BC.
It is open daily (it remains closed on Tuesdays in some winter months), but opening hours vary according to the season. For a detailed schedule, see museidifiesole.it/opening-hours.
Ticket prices are as follows:
- 7 eur - Archaeological outdoor area only
- 10 eur - archaeological area + museum
St. Romulus Cathedral
The dominant feature of Fiesole is the Cathedral of Saint Romulus, one of the oldest churches in Tuscany.
The three-aisled Romanesque basilica began construction in 1028 and was completed in the 14th century.
Admission is free.
How to get there
Public transport buses run to Fiesole from Florence with the normal city fare of 1,70 eur for 1 ride.
You will use several bus lines:
- 7 - goes to Santa Maria Novella main station.
- 47 - goes to Il Girone in the east of Florence, away from the centre.
- 45 - goes to the village of La Querciola north of Fiesole
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