Day Trip from Rome to Florence by Fast Train

Tour Overview

Florence is just 90 minutes from Rome by train, but the cradle of the Italian Renaissance is a world away from the Eternal City. Take advantage of our specially designed day-trip itinerary including round-trip transportation from Rome by fast train, and discover why Florence might just be the world’s most beautiful city. Spectacular Florence is little changed since the Renaissance, when geniuses like Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci roamed these very streets. From admiring their masterpieces in the Uffizi gallery and the Accademia to gazing on the breathtaking magnificence of the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio, our Florence day trip will get you up close and personal with all the highlights of the city of the Medici, leaving you with memories that will last as lifetime.

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Tour Description

An unforgettable experience on our Florence tour

Discovering the beauty of Florence and learning about its history is easier than you might think.  Florence is easy to reach on a high speed train. In 1.5 hours you get from the city center of Rome to the center of Florence, few steps away from the Duomo and the other main attractions. Our Florence day trip from Rome allows you to enjoy a leisurely day exploring the city before returning to Rome in the evening.

You’ll explore beautiful churches and magnificent art galleries, grand piazzas and atmospheric back streets. Accompanied by your personal guide, you’ll learn all about the art, history and culture of Florence, from its Roman origins to the present day. You’ll be amazed by how much you can see and learn in the course of a single day, as you stroll through the galleries of the Uffizi and gaze into the waters of the Arno from Ponte Vecchio.

Our office, staffed by native English speakers, will take care of all the practicalities, organising your day in Florence with a high speed train from Termini station in Rome to Santa Maria Novella station in Florence. When you arrive at the station in Florence, you’ll be met by your private guide. At the end of the day you’ll be escorted back to Santa Maria Novella station, to return to Rome by train.

Discover the treasures of the Uffizi

Your Florence day tour begins with skip-the-lines to the Uffizi Gallery, one of the greatest collections of art in the world. Florence was at the heart of the artistic revolution during the Renaissance, and a visit to the Uffizi is the perfect introduction to the city. Originally built as a complex of offices for Florentine magistrates in the 16th century, the Uffizi was later used to store the art collection of the Medici family. These vast galleries are now open to the public, and contain masterpieces such as the Birth of Venus by Botticelli and Leonardo da Vinci’s Annunciation. Botticelli’s paintings contain rich symbolism, and with your guide you’ll uncover the secret meaning of these mysterious masterpieces.

During your private tour of the Uffizi Gallery your personal guide will take you on a journey through the history of art, showing you the famous highlights of the gallery, including works by Raphael, Titian and Caravaggio, as well as some hidden gems. Come face to face with Raphael’s self-portrait and Caravaggio’s disturbing Medusa, while learning about the turbulent lives and times of the artists, and discovering what inspired them. You’ll gain a new perspective on the geniuses of the Renaissance, and a much deeper understanding of Renaissance culture and society.

Michelangelo’s David on our Accademia tour

After lunch your artistic journey continues at the Accademia, where you’ll come face to face with the most famous statue in the world - Michelangelo’s David. On your visit to the Accademia your experience will be further enriched by the explanations of your private guide, as you discover the fascinating story behind David’s creation, and learn about the remarkable life and career of the artist. You’ll also have the opportunity to see some other masterpieces by Michelangelo, which are overlooked by the majority of visitors. Michelangelo’s Slaves are some of the most moving examples of Renaissance sculpture, depicting larger-than-life men struggling to free themselves from their marble prisons.

Learn about the genius of Brunelleschi at the Duomo

The most iconic building in Florence is undoubtedly the Duomo, dominating the city’s skyline. On your tour you’ll admire the magnificent of Florence, richly decorated facade of the cathedral and hear the incredible story of the dome’s construction. The architect of the dome, Brunelleschi, took 16 years to achieve this feat of engineering, silencing the sceptics who thought he would never be able to do it.

The interior of the Duomo is no less impressive, as you’ll discover when you gaze up at the enormous frescoes covering the interior of the dome. Your guide will also show you the famous Gates of Paradise at the nearby octagonal Baptistery. These extraordinary doors were designed by the precociously talented Lorenzo Ghiberti, and their ornate beauty never fails to impress.

Explore a world of art and politics in Piazza della Signoria

The beautiful Piazza della Signoria resembles an open-air art gallery, filled with Renaissance sculptures and the impressive Fountain of Neptune. As you explore the square, your guide will show you another side of the piazza, telling you the story of the extremist preacher Savonarola as you stand at the spot where he was burned to death. You’ll also visit the 14th century Palazzo Vecchio, the centre of Florentine power, and learn how the Medici dynasty came to control the city. A visit to Piazza della Signoria will enrich your understanding of how art, religion and politics were all interconnected in Renaissance Florence.

Admire the view from Ponte Vecchio

This ancient bridge across the Arno is now dominated by jewellery shops, but it was once famous for its butchers. During your journey to Florence you’ll find out how and why this change came about, and learn about daily life and commerce in the city. A walk across Ponte Vecchio is the perfect end to your day in Florence, as you enjoy the splendid views of the river in the historical heart of the city.

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