Panorama showing Piazza Santa Maria Novella, the large square in front of Santa Maria Novella church, an important attraction in Florence. This virtual tour panorama, showing both the square and the church, was taken in May 2010.

Piazza di Santa Maria Novella - Florence visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Piazza di Santa Maria Novella' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Tuscany.

Piazza di Santa Maria Novella is the five-sided square named after the Basilica di Santa Maria Novella which stands on the northern side. Between 16th to the 19th centuries it was enlarged several times to accommodate the vast crowds that gathered to watch the annual Palio dei Cocchi (Chariot Race). Turning points for the race were marked by the two obelisks atop bronze turtles made by Giambologna in 1608.

Today, Piazza di Santa Maria Novella is a tourist attraction in itself, but a good meeting place. On the southern side is the Loggio di San Paolo and the Museo di Storia della Fotografia. It is close to Firenze SMN Station and Florence Cathedral.

Piazza di Santa Maria Novella - Hotels

Piazza di Santa Maria Novella contains a number of hotels, possibly both because the square is quiet and close to the main railway station. These hotels include Grand Hotel Minerva, Hotel Rosso 23, Hotel L'Orologio, Hotel Pensione Ferretti, Hotel Roma, Palazzo Dal Borgo Hotel and Hotel Albergo Croce Di Malta.

Piazza Santa Maria Novella,
50123 Florence

Bus: San Maria Novella (36, 68) and all the buses around Firenze SMN Station
Train: Firenze SMN Station
Walk: Piazza Santa Maria Novella is about 300m from Firenze SMN Station and 500m from Florence Cathedral.