A short walk from Piazza del Duomo (take Via del Calzaiouli) you'll find Piazza della Signoria, one of the most beautiful squares of Florence. This is the place for people watching and taking photos or just sipping a coffee in one of the cafés.
You'll find here the Palazzo Vecchio (you can visit inside and climb the tower with one ticket), the Loggia dei Lanzi (open-air gallery made of wide arches open to the street featuring beautiful sculptures), the Neptune Fountain (one of the most photographed spots in Florence), a copy of Michelangelo’s David statue, the statues of Hercules and Cacus and much more.
While Palazzo Vecchio was designed to be the home of civic life in Florence, it has served various functions over the years, including as a residence for the ruling Medici family. It now houses a museum with an amazing collection of art spanning the 13-19th centuries.
Highlights include the courtyard with its frescoes and statues, the Salone dei Cinquecento with epic 16th-century frescoes by Vasari, and the Studiolo, a small barrel-vaulted room which houses a cabinet of curiosities.