With our engaging local Guide we start from San Lorenzo square, where you can find the Medici Chapels and the Basilica of S. Lorenzo, the church of the Medici family, where we visit the elegant cloister, designed by Brunelleschi, the architect of the famous Dome: a green oasis of peace in the heart of the Medici district.
We admire the beauty of the Palazzo Medici Riccardi and in no time we reach Piazza del Duomo, where you can admire the impressive Cathedral with the Cupola del Brunelleschi, Giotto's bell tower and the Baptistery of S. John with the Gates of Paradise. Then we proceed to the picturesque Mercato della Paglia (Straw Market), where is the famous Fontana del Porcellino. [readmore] Not too far away, there is the elegant Piazza Della Signoria, a great outdoor sculpture museum, dominated by the imposing Palazzo Vecchio. Next to it the Uffizi Gallery, one of the most important museums in the world.
All along the trail between Palazzo Vecchio, Uffizi Gallery and Pitti Palace you will follows from the outside the famous Vasari Corridor which was commissioned on the occasion of the wedding between Francis I and Joan of Austria and built in the record time of only 5 months by Giorgio Vasari, a precious jewel that serve the purpose of giving the ruling family of Florence a safe passage between the seat of government and their home. Walking along the Arno River you will pass through the Ponte Vecchio, the famous "jewels bridge" and by crossing the Old bridge you will reach the wonderful Pitti Palace.
The Tour continues visiting the medieval quarters where Dante Alighieri (the great Poet of the “Divine Comedy”) and Beatrice lived and where you also find the beautiful Badia Fiorentina with the characteristic hexagonal tower and the austere Bargello Palace before to end the tour in the elegant Piazza Della Repubblica.
Lee masThe local guide service could be provided in two languages
Please wear comfortable shoes and clothes that cover knees and shoulders, in order to visit churches
In a rare case of not reaching minimum of participants, the tour would be refunded or you could substitute it
or cancellation made less than 48 hours before the tour departure and in case of no show, 100% of penalty will be applied
Sitting in the midst of picturesque Tuscany, Florence is one of the most appealing cities in Europe. You might recognize it best for its economic and political achievements in the Middle Ages. Or, perhaps, you know it for the artistic gems created during the Renaissance. However, the city is much older than that! In fact, it was founded in 59 BC by Julius Caesar himself. The intention was to create a calm haven for military veterans. The name he chose for the settlement was Florentia meaning flourishing. He probably wouldn't even dream about how accurate and fitted it will turn out to be in the future!
Florence was situated on a fertile land as well as on a major travel route between the north of Italy and Rome. These predispositions made it easy for the small settlement to flourished into a commercial and, later, banking hub. In fact, Florentine spread their fishing nets all over Europe. The powerful Medici banking family was the ultimate puppet master behind it all. We can thank Florence's economic prosperity for the artistic (r)evolution.
The wealth and constant mingle of influences created the perfect ambiance for the exploration and creation of art. Many of the most influential masters (including Botticelli, Michelangelo, Ghirlandaio and Leonardo da Vinci) created their greatest masterpieces in this city. Ah, there is so much to learn and even more to see! These few paragraphs barely scratch the surface. Book your Best of Florence walking tour and make sure no detail escapes your attention.