Forte di Belvedere
43.7634470, 11.2535190
About
Built between 1590 and 1595 for the Medici grand duke Ferdinando I, this star-shaped fortress stands on a hill above the Boboli Gardens in the Oltrarno district. Its ramparts give a higher, less crowded alternative to Piazzale Michelangelo, with views over Florence's rooftops on one side and the Tuscan countryside on the other. The fort periodically hosts contemporary art exhibitions and opens seasonally, so hours vary through the year.
