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Settignano
Settignano is a frazione on a hillside northeast of Florence, Italy. The little borgo of Settignano carries a familiar name for having produced three sculptors of the Florentine Renaissance, Desiderio da Settignano and the Gamberini brothers, better known as Bernardo Rossellino and Antonio Rossellino. The young Michelangelo lived with a sculptor and his wife in Settignano—in a farmhouse that is now the "Villa Michelangelo"— where his father owned a marble quarry. In 1511 another sculptor was born there, Bartolomeo Ammannati. The marble quarries of Settignano produced this series of sculptors.
Settignano
Settignano is a hilltop village on the northeastern edge of Florence, historically known as the home village of several Florentine Renaissance sculptors, including Desiderio da Settignano, the Rossellino brothers, and Bartolomeo Ammannati. The young Michelangelo also spent part of his childhood here, staying at what is now called Villa Michelangelo, near marble quarries his father owned. Rather than a single monument, the appeal is the quiet hillside village itself: a small central piazza, narrow lanes, old stone houses, and views back down over Florence.
Getting there
From central Florence, Settignano is reached by local bus (ATAF line 10 from the city centre), with the ride taking roughly 30-40 minutes depending on traffic. By car, it's about a 20-25 minute drive up into the hills.
Time to allow
An hour or two is enough to walk the village centre, sit in the piazza, and take in the views. Those interested in a longer walk can continue on the roads winding through the surrounding hillside villas and olive groves.
When to go
Settignano stays fairly quiet compared to central Florence, so there's no strong need to avoid particular times. Late afternoon light is good for the views over the city; the walk up is more comfortable outside the height of summer heat.
Combine with
Settignano sits apart from the main museum cluster, so it works best as a separate half-day trip. On the same day, it can be paired with sights closer to the centre, such as the Basilica of Santa Croce or Casa Buonarroti, both about 5km away and reachable afterward by bus or taxi back into town.
Sources: open data from Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap · Updated August 5, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors
