Florence: A day of history and art in the Renaissance city
Our full day tour will offer you an unforgettable journey into the world of Renaissance Florence. You will explore the churches, galleries and palaces of Florence while learning all about Renaissance art and history and its main protagonists. Explore the opulent palaces of the Medici, admire the masterpieces of the Uffizi, and gaze at the beautiful Ponte Vecchio. With a top-rated private guide, you will experience the wonders of the Renaissance from every angle.
Explore the world's greatest collection of Renaissance art on our Uffizi tour
The Uffizi Gallery is one of the many must-see sights in Florence, and the masterpieces of Giotto, Botticelli, Da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo and Caravaggio are some of the most amazing achievements of the Renaissance and the Baroque. These artists showed the human form and the relationship between man and God in a new light. As you gaze at iconic paintings such as Botticelli's Birth of Venus on your private visit to the Uffizi you will discover the lives of the artists and the fascinating times in which they lived, and learned how they transformed the world.
Your personal guide will provide enlightening explanations about the symbolism of Botticelli's Spring and Birth of Venus , as well as highlighting the genius of his composition. Leonardo da Vinci's spellbinding Annunciation is another highlight, the most widely portrayals of this popular scene - the moment when the Angel Gabriel tells the Virgin Mary that she will give birth to the Son of God. Da Vinci was only in his early twenties when he painted this masterpiece at the start of a career that would change the world of art forever.
Come face to face with Michelangelo's David on our Academy tour
The Accademia is another unmissable gallery, with a collection of some of the finest works by Michelangelo. On your private visit to the Accademia you will come face-to-face with David, perhaps the most famous statue in the world, and understand why Michelangelo’s contemporaries were in awe, believing that he was guided by the hand of God. You will also admire his series of unfinished Slaves, a moving collection of figures who struggle to free themselves from their marble prisons.
Admire the genius of Brunelleschi and Ghiberti at the Duomo
The magnificent Duomo by Brunelleschi dominates the skyline of Florence. It is an amazing feat of engineering, and as you learn about its construction and the fiery personality of its architect, you will gain an even deeper appreciation for this wonder of the Renaissance. Your guide will also show you the beautiful Baptistery, with its famous bronze doors designed by Ghiberti. The extraordinary detail of the Biblical scenes on the doors even impressed Michelangelo, who thought they were so beautiful “they would grace the entrance to Paradise”, will be well discussed by our guide during your Florence Tour.
Explore the world of merchants and markets
Another fascinating chapter of Florence’s history is its mercantile past, the story of the city’s guilds and merchants. You will explore the beautiful Orsanmichele, the granary transformed into a market, and finally a church. The statues on its ornate facade, including Donatello’s splendid St George, symbolise the powerful guilds of Florence, whose influence extended far beyond the city. After learning about the lives of the merchants and the world of Renaissance trade, you will pass by Palazzo Davanzati. This exquisitely decorated palace, bright and spacious compared to the medieval buildings across the street, gives a valuable insight into the private lives of the city’s powerful merchant dynasties.
Discover a story of power and corruption at Palazzo Vecchio
Piazza della Signoria was the political heart of the Renaissance Florence. Standing in front of imposing Palazzo Vecchio, you will learn of the power and corruption of Florence. The story of Palazzo Vecchio is also the story of the irrepressible Medici dynasty, the banking family that ruled the city and provided invaluable patronage for Florence’s greatest scientists and artists, from Galileo to Da Vinci. In the piazza you will see the sculptures of the Loggia dei Lanzi and discover the darker side of the square’s history. A plaque marks the spot where the extremist preacher Savonarola, famous for his apocalyptic sermons, was hanged and burned at the stake in 1498.
Gaze into the waters of the Arno from Ponte Vecchio
Your private tour ends on the picturesque Ponte Vecchio, the bridge of Florence that has crossed the Arno since the fourteenth century. Butchers and fishmongers sold their goods here for centuries, until they were replaced by goldsmiths and jewellers at the orders of the Medici, who didn’t want to be disturbed by the smell of the meat market as they paced up and down the Vasari Corridor above the bridge. Ponte Vecchio is where the histories of Florence collide. Goldsmiths continue the work of their sixteenth century predecessors on the bridge, while beautiful portraits adorn the walls of the aristocratic passageway above. Gazing into the tranquil waters of the Arno at the end of your day, you will have truly experienced Florence at its magnificent best.