The best tour of Florence: art, architecture and a sweet pause

What's included

What you'll see and do

1. Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore

   Built between 1296 and 1436, the main cathedral in town was, at its completion, the largest ever built. Nowadays it is considered the third in the world, after St. Peter in Rome and St.Paul in London. Indeed, the dome by Filippo Brunelleschi is still the largest brick dome ever built and - at the inner side - the widest frescoed surface worldwide (3600 sqm). The architectural style, influenced by the pristine design by Arnolfo di Cambio and later modified by Francesco Talent and Filippo Brunelleschi, marks the turning from a mature Gothic manner to the first Reinassance.

   Pass by without stopping

2. Battistero Di San Giovanni

   Standing between Piazza San Giovanni and Piazza Duomo, this Romanesque building was completed around 1059. The exteriors are characterized by the alternation of white marble from Carrara and green "serpentine" from Prato, with three majestic bronze portals designed by Andrea Pisano and Lorenzo Ghiberti.

   Pass by without stopping

3. Palazzo Vecchio

   Seat of the city government since the beginning of the 14th century, this building was originally named Palazzo dei Priori. Through the centuries it has been enlarged several times, also changing its denomination: from Palazzo della Signoria, to emphasize the role of the main authority of the Republic, to Palazzo Vecchio, when in 1565 the court of Duke Cosimo de'Medici moved to the "new" Palazzo Pitti. Between 1865 and 1871 it was seat of the Italian parliament, being nowadays house of the city council. A private guide will lead you in the inner court, designed in the 15th century by Michelozzo

   30 minutes here

4. Loggia dei Lanzi

   Built between 1376 and 1382, the building was initially conceived to host popular assemblies during the Republican age in Florence. Its round arches anticipate the Renaissance style later expressed in the arcade of Ospedale degl'Innocenti, by Filippo Brunelleschi. During the domination of the Medici, the space was gradually transformed into a place for art exhibitions: several marble and bronze statues of the Mannerism and Classicism are still on display here.

   Pass by without stopping

5. Ponte Vecchio

   One of the symbols of Florence, well known all around the world, it was initially built in 1345, after the collapse of a previous bridge on the same site. Since 1442, the city authority ordered the local butchers to gather on the stores of Ponte Vecchio, for hygienic reasons. This, together with the construction of the "Vasarian Corridor" in 1565 - to connect safely Palazzo Vecchio and Palazzo Pitti, gave to Ponte Vecchio its characteristic and unique look of a "inhabited bridge".

   Pass by without stopping

6. Le Gallerie Degli Uffizi

   One of the most prestigious and best known art galleries in the world lies in the heart of Florence. The Uffizi are hosted in a large and articulated building whose construction started in 1560, under the direction of Giorgio Vasari; the main core of the building is a U-shaped structure, facing Palazzo Vecchio on one of the short sides and river Arno on the other. The building, initially meant for public offices of the city authority under the Medici's government, is connected to Palazzo Pitti, on the other side of the river, by an elevated path called "Corridoio Vasariano".

   120 minutes here · Admission included

Where it starts and ends

Before you book

Cancellation

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

Languages

de, en, it, fr, es

Ticket

Mobile Only

Runs on

Every day

Group size

Up to 6 travelers per booking

Operated by

Book Your Italy

Know before you go

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Photos