FLORENTIA ITINERARIES Introductory Walking Tours Introduction to Florence - an encompassing tour for first-time visitors The Golden Age selected masterpieces of art & architecture The Medici Dynasty the legacy of Florence s art patrons Specialty Tours The Oltrarno backstreets & daily life in Florence s artisan quarter The Hills of Florence an active itinerary exploring art, history & nature in the hills area Unusual Florence hidden treasures for seasoned travelers Custom Tours Please see descriptions Museum Tours Uffizi Gallery Accademia Gallery Bargello Museum Palatine Gallery Medici Chapels Opera del Duomo Museum San Marco or any of the lesser-known museums Tuscany Tours & Excursions Chianti Siena Lucca
Introductory Walking Tours 1. Introduction to Florence an encompassing tour for first-time visitors Especially designed for those who experience the city for the first time, this itinerary focuses on the core of the city: The Cathedral (also known as Duomo), the religious center of the city, and its Baptistery, the oldest building in Florence also famous for Ghiberti s Gates of Paradise. Piazza Signoria with the towering Palazzo Vecchio, center of political power in Florence for seven centuries. Ponte Vecchio, the oldest and most intriguing of the Florentine bridges across the Arno river. Piazza della Repubblica, once the Roman forum, later the city s Medieval market, and still today the liveliest square at the heart of Florence s shopping district. 2. The Golden Age of Florence selected masterpieces of art & architecture This itinerary focuses on the late Middle Ages and Renaissance period, when Florence was a financial powerhouse and its merchant class reached their peak of wealth and influence. Spurred by the patronage of individuals and corporations, the arts flourished. Florence became an architectural wonder and a cultural capital whose influence over the rest of Italy and Europe was felt for centuries. Among the highlights that may be included in this tour are: The Accademia gallery, where Michelangelo s David and the unfinished Slaves reside. Brancacci Chapel, where Masaccio s realistic frescoes introduce the Renaissance to painting. The Bargello museum, home to the largest collection of Renaissance sculpture in Italy. Santa Croce, masterpiece of Florentine Gothic architecture, with the adjacent Pazzi Chapel, jewel of Renaissance architecture, and the Opera di Santa Croce museum where Cimabue s iconic Crucifix is located. Palazzo Davanzati and Palazzo Strozzi, prime examples of the Florentine palazzo. 3. The Medici Dynasty legacy of Florence s art patrons This itinerary sheds light on the rise, peak and ultimate decline of the Medici family, Florence s ruling dynasty for over three hundred years. The Medicis were successful bankers who turned into powerful politicians, as well as enthusiastic patrons of the arts and sciences. Under their patronage, figures such as Botticelli, Michelangelo, Cellini and Giambologna produced some of their finest works of art, which still embellish the city. From the rise to power with Cosimo the Elder and Lorenzo the Magnificent, to the transformation into a hereditary monarchy with Cosimo I, and the final decline which led to the extinction of the family in the 18th century, we cover the peoples and places, the facts and anecdotes that revolved around this powerful, intriguing family. The highlights of this itinerary include: San Lorenzo, Brunelleschi s Renaissance architectural masterpiece. The Medici Chapels, a powerful and ostentatious display of Medici power through their sumptuous family tombs Palazzo Medici-Riccardi, first residence of the Medicis, with the famous Chapel of the Magi. Palazzo Vecchio & Palazzo Pitti, later Medici residences, connected by the beautiful Vasari Corridor
Specialty Walking Tours The Oltrarno backstreets & daily life in Florence s artisan quarter In this itinerary, we explore a typical Florentine neighborhood (quartiere) focusing on several aspects of its life and history. We study the piazza as the neighborhood s social and geographical heart; the varied architecture (towers and palazzos, courtyards and loggias, churches and chapels). For visitors who wish to experience local life both past and present by exploring everything within a real Florentine neighborhood, from the monuments to the shops where locals buy their food, to the artisan shops where ancient trades are still practiced today. This itinerary is ideal for visitors who wish to experience local life, both past and present, by exploring everything within a section of the real Florence, from the great monuments to where locals buy their food and wine. The Hills of Florence an active itinerary exploring art, history & nature in the hills area Florence is blessed with a natural landscape of exquisite beauty. The city is surrounded by a backdrop of lush hills. The hills have been populated for centuries, but development on the hills has occurred quite differently from the rest of the city down in the valley. The estates of prominent Florentines have occupied what were once forested hills, and the area has slowly been transformed into a semi-rural environment a uniquely elegant urban countryside. Our itinerary begins in the hills that are closest to the city, and ends in the heart of the city itself, near the Arno river. Among the places visited are: The Medieval Walls. On the south side of the city, the Medieval city walls are still intact. Walking from the city core through the 800-year old city gate and up next to the ancient walls is an unforgettable experience that truly brings back in time. Piazzale Michelangelo. This balcony over the city has the most beautiful view over Florence, as you can see in the front page of our website. San Miniato al Monte. On the neighboring hill is the millenary abbey of San Miniato, where the unique elegance of the Florentine Romanesque style manifests itself in the green and white marble geometric ornamentation and the majestic gold mosaics of the apse. This is one of Florence s oldest and most astonishing monuments. Arcetri. Slightly farther from the city core, this is the area is where Galileo spent some of most salient years of his life. Here, the landscape is almost rural: the views extend into the hills of Chianti, where one can catch a glimpse of the much-celebrated landscape typical of the Tuscan region: olive and cypress trees, villas and castles. Unusual Florence hidden treasures for seasoned travelers This tour is especially designed for those visitors who may have been to Florence one or more times, feel that they have already seen the main monuments of the city, and are looking for new thrills. Our itinerary focuses on monuments and museums that are usually by-passed by most tourists, either because they don t have time to fit them into their schedule, or because they do not know of the beauty and importance of these locations. The selection of monuments for this itinerary varies from time to time, but here s an idea of possible sights: Galileo s Museum of the History of Science Santa Maria Novella s church and cloisters The Opificio, magnificent museum of precious stone artifacts from the Medici time to the present day Chiostro dello Scalzo s unique monochrome frescoes Andrea Del Sarto s Last Supper, perhaps Florence s least-known treasure
Custom Tours In addition to our regular itineraries, we can create custom tours focused on a theme of your choice. Here are some examples of popular custom tours: Michelangelo s Life & Works a tour focused on Florence s most famous artist, covering world-famous art pieces such as David and Bacchus, as well as lesser-known sites such as Casa Buonarroti, the home Michelangelo bought for his family and which is now a small museum with exquisite works of the great master. The Etruscans - an archeological tour through Fiesole & Florence, exploring the Etruscan and Roman cultures which preceded Florence as we know it today. From the splendid Roman theater at Fiesole (still in use to this day) to the Chimera and other precious Etruscan bronzes in Florence s Archeological Museum. Jewish Florence - an itinerary celebrating the legacy of the Florentine Jewish community from the Middle Ages to the present time, including sites such as the old Ghetto, the Synagogue and the Museo Ebraico. Museum Tours The Uffizi Gallery contains masterpieces ranging from the late Middle Ages (such as Giotto s Madonna Enthroned) to the Mannerist and Baroque painters, going through Renaissance masterworks such as Botticelli s Primavera, Leonardo da Vinci s Annunciation and Michelangelo s Holy Family. Accademia Housed in what used to be Europe s first Art Institute, the Accademia is most famous to be the home of Michelangelo s David. Notable, and also by Michelangelo, are the Slaves, a series of larger-than-life, unfinished sculptures conceived as part of a monumental project that was never completed. Bargello This is the most comprehensive Renaissance sculpture collection in Italy, including masterpieces such as Donatello s David, Michelangelo s Bacchus and Giambologna s Mercury, together with dozens of other magnificent sculptures encompassing every manner of art, from the minimalist to the flamboyant. Palatine Gallery A unique gallery, in that its collection of paintings is not displayed following the conventional museum sequence. All paintings have remained as they were placed by the grand-dukes who lived in the palace, following their own personal taste (down to the lavish picture frames). The paintings range from the 15th to the 18th century, including works by Titian, Raphael and Rubens. Medici Chapels The monumental tombs of the Medici grand-dukes are unique in Florence. The enormous main chamber, entirely covered by semiprecious stone mosaics, has an opulent, eerie and unforgettable feel. A special laboratory, the Opificio delle Pietre Dure, was created to craft the mosaics and is still operating today. Opera del Duomo A wonderful complement to a visit of the Bargello or Accademia, this museum houses the original works from the Cathedral complex. It is a collection of Gothic and Renaissance masterpieces, including Donatello s Mary Magdalene and Michelangelo s Deposition. San Marco Museum The best-preserved religious complex in Florence. Its Renaissance cells contain exquisite frescoes painted by Beato Angelico for inspiration and meditation. Here also lived Savonarola, the fanatical monk who managed to expel the Medici from Florence and rule the city for four years under his own theocracy. In addition to these famous museums, our tours can cover any of the lesser-known museums in Florence, such as Casa Buonarroti, Michelangelo s home in Florence, Palazzo Davanzati, the best-preserved Medieval home in Florence, the Horne and Stibbert museums, with their collections of art, artifacts and weaponry, and many others.
Tuscany Tours & Excursions Chianti The area between Florence and Siena, known as Chianti, is one of the most prominent wine-producing regions in the world. But wine is not the only reason for the region's fame. The landscape has a unique type of beauty. Tuscany is a land of softly rolling hills where a perfect balance between nature and human activity has been reached. The views belong in a Renaissance painting. Our Chianti excursions vary depending on the season, the weather, and the events that may occur throughout the year. A typical excursion may include a walk through of one of the many stone villages, often built from the ruins of Medieval castles; a visit of one of the many Etruscan tombs that dot the hills of the countryside; and last but not least, a visit to a local winery or tasting room, where one can sample our local wines. Siena Siena was Florence's rival city for several hundred years. Our walks usually start with a panoramic stroll through the virtually intact Medieval urban fabric of the city. Few places in Europe can give you an idea of the looks and feel of the Middle Ages as Siena can. The heart of the city, Il Campo, is a shell-shaped piazza which not only still serves as the political center of Siena (the 14th century Palazzo Pubblico, or civic building, dominating the square with its tall slender belltower is today s City Hall), but it is also the social fulcrum of Siena, and the place where twice a year the city's seventeen neighborhoods meet and compete in the ancient horserace known as Palio. The Cathedral of Siena, a masterpiece of Italian Gothic architecture, also reflects the dramatic events of Siena's history. At a time when the size of the cathedral was the measure of the political and economic prestige of a city, Siena attempted to expand its cathedral to a size that would overshadow that of the cathedral of Florence (Siena's rival and enemy since always). Unfortunately, the Great Plague of 1348, and the terrible economic and social problems that followed, put an abrupt end to this ambitious project. At that point, the city authorities were obliged to review their original plans to rebuild their cathedral, and turned to the more realistic project of embellishing the existing one. One can still explore the remains of the looming structures which had to be abandoned. Lucca The city of Lucca was the most important city in Tuscany during the Dark Ages and is today a rare jewel still unspoiled by mass tourism. Chosen as capital of Tuscany by the Lombards in 568, it remained the main political center in the region for almost five centuries, until the capital was moved to Florence in 1001. Because of its political importance and flourishing industries, Lucca subsequently became a cultural center as well. The Romanesque style finds in Lucca some of the most beautiful expressions in architecture, sculpture and painting. Lucca is the Tuscan city with most millenary churches, sacred places where truly one feels as if transported back in time at the beginning of the last millennium. Our visits of Lucca include not only the ancient churches, but also many other unique destinations: from the amphitheater square, a perfect ellipse built over the ruins of the Roman circus (which are still visible, incorporated into people s houses), to the Renaissance walls that still encircle the city, considered by many urban historians to be the best-preserved Renaissance walls in Italy a promenade on these walls is a truly rewarding experience, also offering views over the whole city of Lucca.