From a distance, the golden-hued Ponte Vecchio and striped Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore define Florence’s urban landscape. Look between those landmarks, however, and it’s the city’s squares—known as piazze in Italian—that infuse Firenze’s storybook streets with vibrancy.

Here’s how you make the most of the Tuscan capital, no matter how short or long your stay.

Tackle both sights in a single day (snack breaks included).