# Fiesole, above Florence > Fiesole is a small old town on a hill 8 km from Florence, where Florentines have escaped the summer heat for centuries. It's older than Florence itself, with a Roman theatre, baths and Etruscan walls, and from the top of the hill comes the best view of the city and the cathedral dome. Bus 7 takes about half an hour from the centre; allow half a day. Web page: https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/fiesole - City: [Florence](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence), Italy - YesGo score: 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 4 h - Opening hours: Town always open; archaeological area by day - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Town free; archaeological area paid - Getting there: Bus 7 from Piazza San Marco, about 30 minutes - Highlights: Roman theatre, Florence view, cathedral - Altitude: About 300 m - Time needed: Half a day - Location: 8 km north-east of Florence - Coordinates: 43.80000, 11.30000 - Facts checked: 11.11.2026 ## Key facts - **Etruscans** — founded the town long before Florence (source: English Wikipedia) - **1st c. BC** — the Romans built a theatre that's still used (source: English Wikipedia) - **1028** — work began on San Romolo cathedral (source: English Wikipedia) - **c. 8 km** — from central Florence (source: English Wikipedia) - **Summer** — the Estate Fiesolana festival fills the Roman theatre (source: English Wikipedia) ## History of Fiesole **Fiesole** is older than Florence. The **Etruscans** founded it on a hilltop above the Arno valley, and Faesulae was long the leading town in the area. Then came the Romans, who added a theatre, baths and a temple. Florence grew up later, down by the river, and in time came to rule its older neighbour. In the Renaissance, wealthy Florentines began building **villas** with gardens on Fiesole's slopes to get away from the summer heat and noise. One of the first was built for the Medici, and under Lorenzo the Magnificent philosophers and poets gathered there. The hill has been a favourite Florentine outing ever since, and writers and painters have recorded its views for centuries. Today Fiesole is a quiet town with one main square, a few churches, cafés and paths through olive groves and cypresses. It's cooler than the city below and far less crowded, which makes it a fine break from Florence's museums. ## The Roman theatre and archaeological area The main sight is the **archaeological area** just behind the square. At its heart is the **Roman theatre** from the 1st century BC: stone tiers curve down to the stage with green hills behind. It isn't just a ruin; every summer it hosts the **Estate Fiesolana** festival of concerts, plays and open-air cinema. Nearby are the remains of **Roman baths**, with pools and arches, and the base of an **Etruscan-Roman temple**, while a stretch of the old Etruscan wall of huge stones runs along the edge of the site. A small **archaeological museum** by the entrance holds finds from the digs: Etruscan and Roman pottery, bronzes and jewellery. Allow about an hour for it all. ## Things to do in Fiesole - **Roman theatre** — 1st-century BC tiers looking out over the hills. - **Archaeological museum** — Etruscan and Roman finds. - **San Romolo cathedral** — Romanesque church on the main square. - **San Francesco friary** — the hilltop and its viewpoint. - **Piazza Mino** — cafés and the town's evening life. - **Paths above Florence** — among olives and cypresses. > **The best view of Florence** From the main square, walk up steep Via San Francesco to the friary at the top of the hill, about 10 minutes. Partway up is a terrace with all of Florence spread out below: the cathedral dome, the bell towers and the river. It's especially lovely at sunset, and far less crowded than Piazzale Michelangelo. ## The cathedral and San Francesco On the main square, **Piazza Mino**, stands **San Romolo cathedral**, begun in **1028**. It's plain outside, with a tall crenellated bell tower, and inside a dim Romanesque hall on ancient columns with a raised choir. Entry to the cathedral is usually free. Climb higher, to the very top of the hill, and you reach the Franciscan friary of **San Francesco**. It's peaceful, with flowers in a little cloister and a small museum of objects the friars brought back from distant missions. But the real reward is the view, with Florence laid out below. Further down the slope is the **Villa Medici** in Fiesole, with terraced gardens, one of the first Renaissance villas. Its gardens sometimes open to visitors by appointment. ## How to get to Fiesole from Florence 1. City bus **7** from Piazza San Marco or **Santa Maria Novella** station, about 30 minutes to Piazza Mino. 2. A standard city ticket works, the same as on Florence's trams. 3. On foot it's about an hour uphill on the old road via San Domenico. 4. A taxi from central Florence takes about 20 minutes. ## Spending half a day in Fiesole A good plan is to come up after lunch. See the archaeological area and museum first while they're open, then climb to San Francesco and the viewpoint, and finish with dinner or an aperitivo on the square at sunset. Bus 7 runs into the evening, but less often late and at weekends, so check the timetable. In summer Fiesole is a few degrees cooler than Florence, which makes it the ideal time for an evening concert in the Roman theatre. Wear comfortable shoes: the streets are steep and the olive-grove paths are stony. Children tend to love the theatre, where they can run up and down the ancient steps, and the winding bus ride up. ## Before you go Tick off what's ready — your ticks are saved in this browser. - [ ] Buy a city ticket for bus 7 - [ ] Check the archaeological area's hours - [ ] Wear comfortable shoes for steep streets - [ ] Climb to San Francesco for sunset - [ ] Look up the Estate Fiesolana programme ## Views of Florence: compare and choose Viewpoints and panoramas in Florence rated by YesGo. - [Florence Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/florence-cathedral) — YesGo score 60/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h · Free; dome paid - [Ponte Vecchio](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/ponte-vecchio) — YesGo score 60/100 (Yes, go) · 20 min · Free - [Piazza della Signoria](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/piazza-della-signoria) — YesGo score 53/100 (Yes, go) · 40 min · Free - [Palazzo Vecchio](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/palazzo-vecchio) — YesGo score 52/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · Courtyard free, museum paid - [Vasari Corridor](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/vasari-corridor) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Paid, timed entry - [San Miniato al Monte](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/san-miniato) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free - [Piazzale Michelangelo](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/piazzale-michelangelo) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free - [Giotto's Campanile](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/giottos-campanile) — YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Combined cathedral pass - [Boboli Gardens](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/boboli-gardens) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 45 min · Paid - [Fiesole](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/fiesole) — YesGo score 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · Town free, ruins paid ## The hills above Florence Fiesole and its Roman theatre, then back by bus to the cathedral and Baptistery. 1. [Fiesole](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/fiesole) — YesGo score 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · Town free, ruins paid 2. [Florence Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/florence-cathedral) — YesGo score 60/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h · Free; dome paid 3. [Florence Baptistery](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/florence-baptistery) — YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Combined cathedral pass ## Don't mix it up Fiesole is a separate town, not a district of Florence, though an ordinary city bus gets you there. Piazzale Michelangelo is a different viewpoint, south of the Arno; Fiesole is in the northern hills. ## Tips - Bus 7 takes about 30 minutes. - Best view: by San Francesco. - Cooler than Florence in summer. - Wear comfortable shoes. ## Questions ### How do I get from Florence to Fiesole? City bus 7 from Piazza San Marco or Santa Maria Novella station, about 30 minutes, on a standard city ticket. ### What is there to do in Fiesole? See the Roman theatre and archaeological area, San Romolo cathedral, the San Francesco friary and the viewpoint over Florence. ### How long do you need in Fiesole? Half a day: an hour for the archaeological area and about the same for the climb and a stroll. ### Is Fiesole free to visit? The town and viewpoints are free; only the archaeological area and museum charge. ### Is Fiesole worth visiting? Yes, for the view over Florence, the Roman theatre and a cool, quiet break from the crowds. ## How we checked History and sights from English Wikipedia. Archaeological area prices and hours weren't confirmed with an official source — hence the 'checking' badge. ## Sources - English Wikipedia: Fiesole and Fiesole Cathedral - Fiesole museums, museidifiesole.it --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.