A Day in Florence: an Immersive Experience

Experience the magnificence of Florence on our immersive day-long tour

Starts from 1075 €

(30 Reviews)

A Day in Florence: an Immersive Experience

duration 6 hours plus a break

Tour Overview

Welcome to Florence! The birthplace of the Renaissance and host to some of the greatest artworks ever created - this is one city that needs no introduction. Florence might just be Italy’s most beautiful city, and its wonders could easily occupy you for a lifetime. But if you only have limited time in the city, our special A Day in Florence tour offers the perfect introduction to all the highlights - naturally with skip-the-lines access. Journey back in time to the glory days of the Renaissance and walk in the footsteps of Leonardo da Vinci; admire Brunelleschi’s majestic Duomo and stroll across charming Ponte Vecchio. Discover the world’s greatest gallery of Renaissance art in the Uffizi, and come face-to-face with Michelangelo’s David in the Accademia - perhaps the greatest expression of the human spirit ever created. Join us on this once-in-a-lifetime journey and experience the wonders of the Renaissance for yourself!

Tour includes:

  • Tickets and expedited entrance to the Accademia and Uffizi
  • Expert, fluent English-speaking local guide
  • Exploration of the most beautiful streets and squares of Florence

Highlights:

  • The Uffizi Gallery
  • The Accademia and Michelangelo's David
  • The Duomo and Brunelleschi's Dome (outside)
  • Piazza della Signoria
  • Ponte Vecchio

Hidden Gems:

  • Orsanmichele
  • The Baptistery (exterior) and Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise
  • The Loggia dei Lanzi with Giambologna's scuptures

Tour Description

Florence: A day of history and art in the Renaissance city

Our full day tour is an unforgettable journey into the world of Renaissance Florence. We'll be exploring the churches, galleries and palaces of Florence, learning about the art and history of the Renaissance through the eyes of its main protagonists. Explore the opulent palaces of the Medici and admire the masterpieces of the Uffizi; gaze on Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise and stroll across beautiful Ponte Vecchio. With a top-rated guide, you'll 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 on show here are some of the most amazing achievements of Italian art. We begin where the first Renaissance art historians began. This is the story of the artistic conquest of naturalism. Whilst the works of Cimabue and Giotto still reflect a late-medieval outlook on the relationship between the human and the divine, Masaccio's revolutionary experiments with three-dimensional space invoke a new world-order with man at its centre.

With the allegorical canvasses of Sandro Botticelli, meanwhile, we are thrust into the heart of the Renaissance and the world of the Medici court. The complex iconographies of Spring and The Birth of Venus are the products of learned humanist discourse, and reflect the fundamental role that beauty played in the elevation of the Renaissance spirit. These artists showed the human form and the relationship between man and God in a new light, and your personal guide will help you unravel their complex symbolism on this private tour. 

After encountering the works of wonderful artists such as Fra Angelico, Filippino Lippi and many more, we will come to the masters of the High Renaissance, artists whose works have come to epitomise the values and achievements of the age. You will be introduced to the uncommon genius of Leonardo da Vinci, whose tireless curiosity led him to obsessively analyse the natural world. Paintings such as the Annunciation and the Adoration of the Magi are rich combinations of scientific observation and painterly invention.

No less ground-breaking were the works of Raphael, amongst them the penetrating Portrait of Pope Leo X which sheds light on the complex intrigues of papal politics. Titian's famous Venus of Urbino on the other hand is the most provocative of all Renaissance nudes, a reminder of the sensuous nature of Venetian art. Finally we encounter Michelangelo's Doni Tondo, a highly unconventional and virtuoso work that points towards the new Mannerist style that was soon to subvert Renaissance classicism.

As you gaze at these iconic paintings 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.

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

Brunelleschi's magnificent Duomo 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 an early-modern 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.

meeting point

In Piazza della Signoria. You will receive further details, including a map and photo, on booking.

Tour Reviews

5.0 (30 reviews)

Our tour guide, Fadi Bassil was fantastic. I cannot think of enough positive things to say about our entire experience. We were a mixed group of two grandparents and one teenage grandson. Fadi kept us all interested and amazed throughout the long and diverse experiences of the day. He was knowledgeable and personable - I cannot praise him enough. I recommend him highly and would love to tour with him again myself!

Alice Kathleen Fanning - Nov 09, 2022

Fadi did a fantastic job, while we all coped with the heat. It was the heat that made us not do more exploring in Florence -- out last stop was a gelato shop, appreciated not only by the children! And we were all grateful for the air conditioning in the museums. Like the guides in Rome from Through Eternity, Fadi was extremely knowledgeable about what we were seeing. I'm most impressed with your guides. Lynne Hawkins, tourist (Valeri French is our travel agent)

Valeri - Aug 05, 2022

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