Explore Florence’s must-see monuments and museums with a fresh perspective
Historic Center Tour
2.5-3 hours
This walking tour is perfect for both newcomers to Florence who want to get their bearings and for those who want a better understanding of the city’s development from its founding by the Romans to its emergence as one of Europe’s most important cities. As we take a look at some of Florence’s most awe-inspiring monuments, including the Duomo, Orsanmichele, the Palazzo Vecchio, and the Ponte Vecchio, we will retrace the city’s dramatic rise to power and explore its development as the birthplace of the Renaissance. For those who want a more comprehensive experience, this tour can be comfortably combined with a visit to the Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo’s David or entry into one of the city’s great churches, like Santa Croce.
Uffizi Gallery
2.5-3 hours
No visit to Florence is complete without a tour of the Uffizi, which houses some of the world’s most famous Renaissance paintings by the likes of Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli, Titian, and many others. This tour will trace the dramatic development of Renaissance painting from medieval masters like Giotto to the stunning baroque works of Caravaggio, and will reveal Florence’s critical role in art history. While we will be sure to visit the gallery’s must-see pieces, the tour will also include a look at some under-appreciated gems that embody Renaissance elegance. Whether you’re hoping to admire the beauty of great masterpieces or want an in-depth look at the history behind them, I will be sure to help you maximize your time in one of Europe’s most frequented museums.
Accademia Gallery
1.5-2 hours
The home of Michelangelo’s famous David, the Accademia also houses several of the master’s unfinished works and an impressive collection of medieval and Renaissance paintings. Our tour will explain the importance of the David in the context of Renaissance art and explore Michelangelo’s role in creating one of Florence’s most iconic symbols. We will also consider how Michelangelo’s career and how he revolutionized art, using other great works in the Accademia as a guide.
The Duomo Complex and Museum
3-3.5 hours
While Brunelleschi’s impressive dome atop Florence’s cathedral stands as the eternal symbol of the city’s Renaissance triumph, the entire piazza is studded with artistic masterpieces. On this tour we will admire the precious mosaics in Florence’s thousand-year old Baptistery, view the impressive Renaissance frescoes inside the cathedral, and explore the ancient ruins of Santa Reparata beneath the cathedral. We will also discover the priceless treasures that once decorated the cathedral complex in the Duomo Museum, including works by Donatello, Lorenzo Ghiberti, and Michelangelo.
Santa Croce
1.5-2 hours
This impressive Franciscan church is best known as the final resting place of some of Florence’s greatest minds. On this tour, we will visit the tombs of Galileo, Machiavelli, Michelangelo, and others and discuss their life in Florence and contributions to world history. We will also admire beautifully preserved fresco paintings by Giotto, a medieval artist who inspired generations of Florentines to experiment with new art techniques, and the fantastic architecture of Filippo Brunelleschi’s Pazzi Chapel as we consider the importance of sacred spaces in medieval and Renaissance Florence.