Just 8 km ( 5 miles ) northeast of Florence , 30 minutes on the number 7 bus from the Duomo or Piazza San Marco , the road winds up a wooded cypress-studded hillside , revealing at each bend ever-changing views of Fiesole 's gardens and historical villas and the monuments of the great Renaissance city below .
The bus ride up the hills to the northeast of Florence is full of stops offering marvellous views .