Rooftop Caffè del Verone in Florence

Caffè del Verone: a café beneath the Innocenti loggia

The hospital's former drying loft

Caffè del Verone occupies the top-floor loggia of the Istituto degli Innocenti, the former foundling hospital whose portico lines Piazza della Santissima Annunziata. In the late 15th century, this “verone” was used to dry the hospital's linen; after a long period of neglect, it was restored and reopened in 2016 as the café of the Museo degli Innocenti. A glazed structure of wood and glass fits between the stone pillars, extended by a long outdoor gallery.

A panorama over the rooftops

From the tables, the view stretches over the tiled roofs, the neighbouring gardens, the green dome of the synagogue and the hills surrounding the city; the dome of the Duomo is also part of the panorama. This discreet spot remains quieter than the hotel rooftops in the centre.

From coffee to aperitivo

The Verone works as a cafeteria all day long: coffees, cold drinks, sandwiches and pastries at the counter, then a glass of wine or an aperitivo in the late afternoon. It is open to everyone, including those not visiting the museum, and lifts make it accessible to people with reduced mobility.

Practical information

The café is open every day from 10am to 9.30pm, with reduced hours in early August and a summer closure of around two weeks in August. To be sure of a table at sunset, it is best to call ahead. Access is through the entrance of the Museo degli Innocenti, at number 13 Piazza della Santissima Annunziata, five minutes' walk from the Duomo and a quarter of an hour from Santa Maria Novella station.