Luggage Storage Santa Maria Novella

About Santa Maria Novella

Santa Maria Novella is Florence's main train station, and therefore the gateway to the city for the vast majority of its 16 million annual visitors. With the addition of local travelers, Santa Maria Novella station handles almost 60 million passengers a year. As a result, it's always a busy place.

Designed in 1932 and opened in 1934, the station is a classic example of Italian modernist architecture. Opened during the heyday of Benito Mussolini's rule, the building has been described as resembling the symbol of Italian fascism, the axe or fasces from which the movement took its name. However, this resemblance is coincidental and was never part of the station's design.

You can see a more accurate sign of the times in which the station was built on platform 16. The station contains a memorial to the Jews and other prisoners who transported from the train station to concentration camps during World War II.

Santa Maria Novella station takes its name from the grand church opposite. The moment you step out of the station, you'll be greeted by some of Florence's characteristic Renaissance architecture. The station sits just to the west of the old part of Florence, and is only a short walk away from many of the city's most popular attractions.

Things to do near Santa Maria Novella

The train station's central location means you don't need to wait to explore. Drop your bags nearby, and you'll find yourself wandering the charming streets of Florence in no time at all. Many of Florence's most interesting attractions are far closer to the station than you might think.

• Get your first taste of Florence's famous architecture at the church of Santa Maria Novella. Built in 1470, this is the oldest of Florence's great basilicas. Just across the street from the train station and accessed via a pedestrian concourse, the church's colorful façade is the perfect introduction to Renaissance Florence.

• Shop the way Dante might have done at the world's oldest pharmacy. This unique store has been continuously operating in the same location since 1221. The products are still made to the same medieval recipes used by the monks who founded it. A gift from the Santa Maria Novella pharmacy is something truly unique.

• Go shopping on Via de' Tornabuoni. Florence's most famous shopping street is home to luxury brands by all the top Italian and international designers.

• Visit the Mercato di San Lorenzo. The 19th-century market hall houses gourmet food stalls where you can treat yourself to legendary Tuscan cuisine. And the many stalls in the streets surrounding the market offer the leather goods Florence is known for, as well as souvenirs and other items.

• Take in the city from the Piazzale Michelangelo. This public square offers a panoramic view of Florence, and is the perfect place to capture a shot of the red-roofed skyline against the hills of Tuscany. Try visiting near sunset for the best possible view.

Transit options near Santa Maria Novella

• The train station lies on the high-speed line from Turin to Rome and points further south. High-speed trains connect the station to all of Italy’s major cities.

• Buses 6, 11, and 14 connect the station with the heart of Florence. It’s only a 10-minute walk from the station to the center of town, but it’s good to know there are transit options if you need them.

• Tram T2 and a shuttle bus connect Santa Maria Novella train station to Florence Airport.

Luggage storage near Santa Maria Novella

The central location of the city’s main train station makes it easy to explore the city on foot. Before setting out, you'll want to make sure your bags are safely stored at a Florence luggage storage shop. Bounce can put you in touch with local service providers near Santa Maria Novella so you can store your possessions and get on with exploring the city.

Attractions and Activities near Santa Maria Novella

• Uffizi Gallery: The Uffizi gallery is without a doubt one of the world's greatest art galleries. Home to masterpieces by Rembrandt, Artemisia Gentileschi, Caravaggio, Titian, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Botticelli, you could spend hours if not days exploring this staggering collection. Large bags are not allowed in the museum, so make sure you store your luggage near Santa Maria Novella  before you visit.

• Cappelle Medicee: Rub shoulders with the rich and powerful at the Cappelle Medicee. The Medici family ruled Florence for almost 300 years, starting in 1434. It was Medici money that funded the explosion of Italian art we now call the Renaissance. Many members of this famous family lie buried in the chapel, parts of which were decorated by Michelangelo.

• Museo Novecento: This minimalist museum allows art lovers a break from the Renaissance in favor of more recent works. Dedicated to Italian art of the 20th and 21st centuries, you may find some new favorites here.

• Museo Salvatore Ferragamo: Established by the legendary Italian designer, this museum tracks the ever-evolving world of high-fashion with a focus on the environmental and social impacts of the business.

• Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore: Perhaps Florence's most iconic landmark, the spectacular Cathedral and its famous baptistery are works of art all by themselves. You haven't truly been to Florence until you've climbed to the top of the iconic red dome of this magnificent building.