Oltrarno District

The Oltrarno district, in Florence

The Oltrarno is the district of Florence located on the other bank of the Arno, calmer and more authentic, dear to the craftsmen and the Florentines. The Florence audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this lively district, rich in monuments, lively squares and art workshops.

The left bank of the craftsmen and the Florentines

Located on the left bank of the Arno, beyond the river, as its name Oltrarno indicates, this district is calmer and less touristic than those of the right bank, where the great monuments are concentrated. It nevertheless holds numerous treasures and attracts the Florentines, who come to enjoy its lively squares to party and eat at the restaurant. There you find great monuments, like the majestic Pitti Palace, the former grand-ducal residence, and the Basilica of Santo Spirito, as well as fine squares like the Piazza Santo Spirito. But the Oltrarno is above all the district of the craftsmen: behind its discreet façades hide innumerable art workshops, where the traditional know-how is perpetuated, gilding, cabinetmaking, restoration, leatherwork and goldsmithery. Authentic, lively and creative, the Oltrarno offers a more intimate and working-class face of Florence, to discover through its alleys.

What to see

Here you wander in the district of the left bank of the Arno, calmer and more authentic, which holds great monuments like the Pitti Palace and the Basilica of Santo Spirito, fine lively squares where the Florentines party, and above all innumerable craftsmen's workshops perpetuating the traditional know-how. The Oltrarno offers an intimate face of Florence. It is a must-see stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Oltrarno district lies on the left bank of the Arno, in Florence, reachable on foot by the bridges. It is a public district freely accessible; the monuments, workshops, shops and restaurants have their own hours. It is particularly lively in the evening, around its squares.

What is the Oltrarno district in Florence?

The district of the left bank of the Arno, calmer and more authentic, which shelters great monuments like the Pitti Palace and the Basilica of Santo Spirito, lively squares and above all innumerable craftsmen's workshops perpetuating the traditional know-how.

Where is the Oltrarno district?

On the left bank of the Arno, in Florence, in Italy.