Fiesole

Fiesole is the Etruscan village next-door, a Tuscan hilltown just a city bus ride from downtown

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Fiesole's tourist office
Via Portigiani 3–5, just off Piazza Mina da Fiesole
tel. +39-055-596-1323
www.comune.fiesole.fi.it

Hotels in Fiesole
Hotel Villa Fiesole [moderate]
Hotel Villa Dei Bosconi [cheap]
Hotel Dino [cheap]
Mns Suites Villa Miralunga [moderate]
B&B Residenza La Mongolfiera [cheap]
Eden Rock Resort [premier]
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The town and catehdral tower of Fiesole above Florence
Fiesole and the cathedral tower. (Photo by Carlo Baldacci, Courtesy of the Comune of Fiesole)You can experience a bit of the Tuscan village good life with just a short ride on Florence's no. 7 bus.

Older than Florence and overlooking it from on high, the Etruscan village of Fiesole has a few sights, cafés on the main square, and best of all, a cool mountain breeze even on the hottest August days.

Most of what people come to Fiesole to do is simply wander the streets for a break from the big city sights and a taste of small town Italy. But, as you stroll, do take the time to pop into a few of the the town's (admittedly modest) sights.

The 11th-century Cathedral contains some delicate Mino da Fiesole carvings.

The Roman Theater in Fiesole
The Roman theater of Fiesole (Photo by Nikater)Perhaps the biggest sight in Fiesole is the ruins of the Roman theater and baths (tel. +39-055-596-1293, www.fiesolemusei.it; closed Tuesdays Nov–Feb), an excavated complex that has a 4th century BC temple, that 1st century BC theater (which hosts summertime concerts under the stars; see "tips" below), and a few arches remaining from some AD 1st century baths.

Eventually, make your way up (and I do mean up) Via San Francesco to the tiny terrace of panoramic gardens overlooking a postcard view of Florence down in the valley. There are usually several people with easels set up under the holm oak trees, capturing the scene in watercolor.

Hiking from Fiesole to Florence
My favorite way to get back down to Florence from Fiesole is by foot.

You can leave the main piazza on Via Beato Angelico, keeping left at the bend to hike down along cypress-lined Via Vecchia Fiesolana, passing walled gardens. On weekdays you can visit the gardens of Villa Medici, first gate on your left (Mon–Fri 9am–1pm; tel. +39-055-59-164 or 055-59-417); and the gardens at Villa Le Balze at no. 26 (by calling ahead at least two days in advance: tel. +39-055-59-208).

At the hamlet of San Domenico halfway down sits the monastery where Fra' Angelico first took his vows; the Chapter House (ring at no. 4) preserves two of his paintings, with another in the church itself.

Here you can hop the no. 7 bus again to ride back through Florence's uninteresting outskirts to the center.If you continue up the hill from here, you pass on your right the church of Sant'Alessandro, which has a few lithe columns of cipollino marble recycled from ancient Roman buildings.

The steep road ends at the church and friary of San Francesco, which has a Gothic altarpiece painted by Neri di Bicci, and in the nice cloisters the remains of the 3rd century BC Etruscan wall and a small missionary museum containing works you wouldn't necessarily expect in a Tuscan village: statues from ancient Egypt and Ming and Qing vases from China.

Tips

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This material was last updated January 2011. All information was accurate at the time.

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