Find the Best Things to Do in San Frediano

About San Frediano

Photo courtesy of synchronicity blog

San Frediano is one of most popular neighborhoods in Florence. You enter through Porta San Frediano on the west end of the Oltrarno. Borgo San Frediano takes you Chiesa San Frediano in Cestello. The church stands in the place where there was the monastery, Santa Maria degli Angeli, founded in 1450. Further down Borgo San Frediano, you can find Chiesa di Santa Maria di Carmine in Piazza del Carmine. Brancacci Chapel is located inside the church of Santa Maria di Carmine. Designed beautifully by Masaccio and Masolino from 1423 to 1428. San Frediano has many of the older artisians that are still working in their workshops like in the past.  

See & Do

Brancacci Chapel is a chapel in the Church of Santa Maria del Carmine. It is sometimes called the "Sistine Chapel of the early Renaissance for its painting cycle, among the most famous and influential of the period. Construction of the chapel was commissioned by Pietro Brancacci and began in 1386. There are many people that walk through this church to witness a masterpiece. The church and the chapel are treated as separate places to visit. So they open at different times. It is quite difficult to see the rest of the church from the chapel, so you must enter the church then head to the chapel. 

Eat

There are books of Hemingways displayed in the windows in many different languages. A cafe that has been dedicated to the famous American writer, Hemingway Cioccolateria Caffetteria decorated and furnished like a study and library with bookshelves lining one wall. And on the other wall a large poster of Ernest Hemingway like a shrine to the unforgettable writer. The bar top is blue marble matching the tonal blue on the walls. The best tip to taste is the edible milk chocolate spoon. 

Party

Notte Bianca is a famous festival that takes place in June in San Frediano and Santo Spirito neighborhoods. People gather for a night long of fun and music. Their are stands that line the streets with fast food like hamburgers, hot dogs and tripe sandwiches, a Florentine specialty. The streets are crowded from 9pm until 2am with bands playing their music, people dancing the night away and vendors offering cheap summer drinks. A fabulous way to see how Florentines celebrate the hot summer nights. 

Stay

Hotel Relais Il Cestello is situated in a calm and central part of Florence.  The Hotel overlooks the charming Piazza di Cestello in San Frediano and is moments away from all the major sights of the Renaissance capital of the world. This is a stylish 3 star accommodation with its spacious air-conditioned rooms. It is the perfect hotel whether travelling for business or pleasure. Within a short walk from Hotel Relais Il Cestello you will find Piazza del Duomo - the heart and soul of Florence, the Uffizi Gallery, Michelangelo's David, Palazzo Vecchio and Ponte Vecchio.

Shop

San Frediano is filled with little artisian workshops. Creating new and authentic wood-working pieces such as furniture and picture frames. There are also artisians that restored old pieces of furniture to make it look like new. San Frediano has many antique shops that display the ancient works of art done by in the same way as it was many centuries ago. Like Francheschi Cornici which has been making frames for over 20 years in San Frediano. The frames are made out of wood and created like the ones in the Renaissance.