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HALF DAY WALKING TOUR
The guided tour gives the opportunity to discover the art, architecture and the history of Florence. The tour includes a visit to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, one of the largest cathedrals in the Christian world begun in 1296 by Arnolfo di Cambio, the harmonious Dome by Brunelleschi decorated by many frescoes and stained-glass windows, the Giotto’s Bell Tower next to the Cathedral and begun in 1334, the Romanesque Baptistry with the bronze doors, believed to have been built between the 5th and 11th century on the site of a Roman temple. Walk to Piazza Signoria and admire the Palazzo Vecchio, built at the beginning of the 14th century and traditional seat of the Florentine government. It was the ducal palace of the Medici family before they moved to Pitti Palace. A few steps from Piazza Signoria, is Ponte Vecchio famous 14th century bridge lined with gold and silversmith shops which originally housed butchers. End of the tour at Santa Croce Church, started in 1294 and completed in the second half of the 14th. The vast interior hosts the celebrated tombs of Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Galileo, Rossini, etc. etc..
Duration: 3 hours
Operating every day.
UFFIZI GALLERY
Guided tour of the Uffizi Museum, one of the most famous and important collections of Italian and European paintings from the 12th to 18th century. The oldest museum in modern Europe. We can admire the vast collection of paintings by Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, Raffaello, Michelangelo, etc. etc.. No need to wait in line as pre-reserved tickets can be provided.
Duration: 3 hours
Operating every day EXCEPT Monday, January 1st, May 1st, December 25th.
MICHELANGELO TOUR (ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS & MEDICI CHAPELS)
Start the visit with the Academy of Fine Arts housing the most famous statue in the world, the David by Michelangelo, symbol of youthful but well-mastered force and a perfect example of the sculptor’s humanism. See also the four prisoners, originally made for the tomb of Pope Julius II in Rome and other paintings of the Florentine school of 13th-16th century.
Then visit the San Lorenzo Complex and Medici Chapels. See the Princes’ Chapel, sumptuously decorated with precious marble and semi-precious stones which was the principal burial place of the Medici grand dukes. No need to wait in line as pre-reserved tickets can be provided.
Duration: 3 hours
Operating every day EXCEPT Monday, the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month, January 1st, May 1st, December 25th.
UNUSUAL FLORENCE: FULL DAY OLTRARNO TOUR
Enjoy one of the most beautiful and typical parts of Florence, ancient quarter of the city and located “on the other side of the river Arno”: Oltrarno. See Church of Santa Maria del Carmine, begun in 1268, finished in 1476, devastated by a fire in 1771 and rebuilt in a rather grandiose Baroque style in 1792. Inside the church, visit the Brancacci Chapel, whose patrons from the middle of the 1300’s to 1780 were the Brancacci family. It was also damaged by the fire of the 18th century and then restored at the end of the 20th century. The Brancacci Chapel is one of the greatest treasures of Florence, recently restored and is worth a journey by itself. Enter the Chapel through an exquisite cloister, go up a flight of stairs and find yourself face to face with Masaccio’s masterpieces, Scenes from the Life of Saint Peter and the Original Sin. Walk to Church of Santo Spirito, Augustan church begun by Brunelleschi in 1444 and completed about 30 years later. The church, with a simple plastered façade, hosts a number of important works of art, including a Virgin Enthroned with Saints by Filippo Lippi and, behind the high altar, a Crucifix that may be an early work by Michelangelo.
Proceed to Palazzo Pitti, 15th century Renaissance building that was built to the plans of Brunelleschi for the Pitti family, the rivals of the Medici. The palace has had a long history of works of construction and of extensions which have lasted about four centuries. The palace remained unfurnished until 1550, when Cosimo I Medici and his wife Eleonora di Toledo bought the palace to transform it into a residence for the Grand Duke. Bartolomeo Ammannati was the great architect who made the most relevant modifications, like those to close the lateral doors with "kneeling" windows and to create the monumental courtyard that everyday fills with thousands of visitors. Visit the Palatine Gallery, part of the Pitti Palace which contains an outstanding collection of paintings by masters such as Raphael, Titian, and Peter Paul Rubens. The statue at the center is Venus Italica (1804-1812) by Italian sculptor Antonio Canova.
Enter the Boboli Garden that extends from the hill behind the Pitti Palace as far as Porta Romana. It reached its current extension and appearance, as one of the largest and most elegant Italian style gardens, through several stages of enlargement and restructuring work carried out at different times. See Grotta del Buontalenti, with a roly poly dwarf sitting on a giant turtle placed at the center with the presence of a group in marble Paride e Elena, created by Vincenzo de' Rossi in 1560. The third environment has at the center a delicious fountain (1570 c.) made by Giambologna, where four satirists insult Venus who, after leaving the bathroom, looks superior and disinterested.
End the tour at the Coffee House on the top of the garden enjoying a wonderful close view over Florence.
Duration: 6 hours
Operating every day EXCEPT on Monday (when Pitti Palace and Boboli Garden are closed), Tuesday (when Brancacci Chapel is closed), January 1st, May 1st and December 25th.
JEWISH SITES OF FLORENCE
Start the visit with the Synagogue, also called the Major Temple. It was built between 1874 and 1882 according to a project of Marco Treves and thanks to the testament legacy of David Levi in order to grant Florence with a place of worship for the Jewish community. The building suffered much from the damages of the Nazi occupation, who at first used the Temple as a garage for military vehicles and mined it just before they escaped from the city. Exiting the Temple, on the right there is the entrance to the Museum of Jewish History and Art, which can be reached through a staircase along which you can admire the splendid exemplary of plaques and candelabrums. The Museum, placed in an environment divided into two parts, intends to narrate the Jewish community from the historical point of view.
Proceed by car to Piazza Santa Croce and see the 19th century façade showing the Star of David. Walk to the Academy of Fine Arts housing the most famous statue in the world, the David by Michelangelo, symbol of youthful but well-mastered force and perfect example of the sculptor’s humanism. See also the four prisoners, originally made for the tomb of Pope Julius II in Rome and other paintings of the Florentine school of 13th-16th century.
Duration: 4 hours
Operating every day EXCEPT on Monday (when Academy is closed), on Saturday, January 1st, May 1st and December 25th.
FULL DAY WALKING TOUR
Guided tour discovering the most famous and interesting sites of Florence. See the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the harmonious Dome, the Giotto’s Bell Tower next to the Cathedral, the Romanesque Baptistry. Walk to Santa Maria Novella Church, Dominican church with white and green marble façade designed in the 15th century. Then stop at the famous Pharmacy of Santa Maria Novella, one of the oldest pharmacies in the world established by the Dominican fathers shortly after 1221. Here we can find essences, perfumes, pomades, spirits, balms, waters, liqueurs, etc. etc.. Proceed to Piazza Signoria and admire the Palazzo Vecchio. Procede to Ponte Vecchio and terminate the tour at Santa Croce Church.
Possibility of shopping in via Tornabuoni area where the most famous designers’ fashion shops (Gucci, Armani, Cavalli, Max Mara, Louis Vitton, Fendi, etc. etc.) are located.
Duration: 6 hours
Operating every day EXCEPT on Sundays in November and February (when the Pharmacy of Santa Maria Novella is closed), January 1st, May 1st and December 25th.
HALF DAY CITY TOUR BY CAR
Guided tour by car. Drive to Piazzale Michelangelo from where a magnificent view of the city can be admired. From here, going up a stairway, in a splendid setting overlooking the town, the Church of San Miniato al Monte terminated in the 13th century is one of the most remarkable examples of Florentine Romanesque architecture.
Drive to the city centre, see Church of Santa Croce and Duomo complex.
Duration: 3 hours
Operating every day
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