Florence

Tour 1a – Morning Florence Guided Tour (all year round, every day)

Drive along the romantic Viale dei Colli up to Piazzale Michelangelo: a stop to admire the wonderful panorama of the city, one of the most beautiful in the world. The tour will proceed by coach through the old city centre. Then walking guided visit of the outdoor Duomo complex: the Baptistery with its bronze doors including the famous Porta del Paradiso and the visit of the Cathedral with the magnificent Cupola del Brunelleschi and Giotto’s bell tower. A short walk through the historic streets of the heart of Florence brings you to the enowed Academy Gallery where you can admire the famous David by Michelangelo and other works by the great artist. End if tour inside the museum.

Tour begins at 9:30AM and ends at approx. 12:30PM.

Tour 1a + Lunch – Florence Guided City Tour: morning + lunch (From Mar 16 – Nov 15, every day)

It is possible to book Tour 1a in combination with a lunch at a historic restaurant in the city center. The lunch will be held after the tour and be accompanied by an assistant.

Tour 1b – Florence Guided City Tour: afternoon

A fine coach tour offering panoramic views of the unparalleled beauty of Florence, taking in Fiesole, a delightful town of Etruscan origin set on the hills overlooking Florence and the Arno Valley. The tour continues to the old city center for a visit to the Franciscan Church of Santa Croce (exterior). A short walk through the historic streets of the heart of Florence brings you to the famous Piazza Signoria, where you can admire the imposing Palazzo Vecchio (exterior) and the beautiful Loggia del Lanzi. The tour continues with a guided tour of the famous Uffizi Gallery, where you can admire the superb paintings of Botticelli, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raffaello, Giotto, Cimabue,  and Masaccio. End of the tour inside the museum.

Tour begins at 2:30PM and ends approx. at 6PM.

Tour 1a+1b: All Florence, its great museums and Hills in just one day (Mar16 – Nov 15)

An expert local guide will be with you all day to show you the city. This is the best way to know a place thanks to the comments of somebody who lives in the city every day and knows it like nobody else. The history, the art, the culture of Florence explained in a fascinating way through the unforgettable panoramas of Piazzale Michelangelo and Fiesole, and by visiting the city, the old town and the famous Academy and Uffizi Galleries.

Tour 2a: Medieval and Renaissance Florence complete walking tour (morning)

The most complete and thrilling guided walking tour starts from the peculiar Central market zone, characterized by its workshops and multicolored stalls, where the Medici Chapels, and Basilica di S. Lorenzo, the church of Medici’s Family, are located. In a short time you can reach Pizza del Duomo, where you can admire the Cathedral (inside visit) and its dome by Brunelleschi, the bell-tower by Giotto, Saint John  Baptistery with its Paradise Door. The tour continues by visiting the medieval quarters where Danta Alighieri and Beatrice lived. Further on you can find Palazzo del Bargello. Not too far, there is Piazza della Signoria, a great “open-air sculpture museum”, overlooked by the imposing Palazzo Vecchio. Next to it is the Uffizi Gallery, one of the most important museums all over the world. Then you proceed to the picturesque Mercato della Paglia (Straw market), where the famous Piglet Fountain is located. You walk along the street that leads to Ponte Vecchio, the “jewels bridge”. By crossing the bridge, you will reach the wonderful Pitti Palace, where our tour ends.

Tour 3: Excursion to Siena and S. Gimignano (full day) (Nov 16th to March 15th)

A beautiful excursion through the delightful hills of the Chianti countryside, with an ever-changing scenery of vineyards and olive trees. Upon arrival in Siena, a guided tour of the old city center: walking along the small medieval streets, admiring the splendid palaces and ending up at the Cathedral where you can visit the splendid interior including the Libreria Piccoloini and the adjacent Museo dell’Opera Metropolitana. The guided tour will conclude in the Piazza del Campo, one of the most beautiful in the world, where you will find the Palazzo del Comune (exterior). Free time for lunch (not included). Departure for San Gimignano a tiny city that has remained intact through the centuries; situated on a hilltop, it is famous for its numerous towers, frescoes, and other art treasures; free time to discover this fascinating city. On the way back, through the ample coach windows, you will be able to admire the ancient medieval hamplet of Monteriggioni enclosed by its famous walls, still intact.

Tour begins at 9:00AM and ends at approx. 6:30PM,

Tour 4: Excursions to Pisa: afternoon

A splendid excursion through the fertile and picturesque Tuscan countryside and to the historic university city of Pisa, famous for its architectural beauty. Upon arrival arrival in Pisa, guided walking tour of Piazza dei Miracoli, with the celebrated Leaning Tower (exterior), the Baptistery (exterior) and other important monuments. This is followed is followed by a visit to the interior of the Cathedral, an unrivalled masterpiece of Romanesque art constructed between the 11th and 12th centuries. Free time at your disposal. Those who are interested can take a pleasant walk with our tour escort and reach Piazza dei Cavalieri, where you can admire the historic Scuola Normale, one of the most famous universities in the world.

Tour 5a: Excursion to Chianti: afternoon (All year, except Aug 15. Operates Mon, Wed, Thu, Sat & Sun)

An excursion to one of the most suggestive areas of Tuscany, known all over the world for its wine and its countryside of unrivalled charm, where woods alternate with vineyards and olive groves, in a landscape dotted with Romanesque churches, farmhouses, villas and castles of rare beauty. This tour includes a visit to a site of particular historic and artistic interest in an ancient hamlet and to one of the most famous wine-growing estates, complete with a snack and tasting of its prestigious wines.

Tour starts at 2PM and ends at approx. 7PM.

Tour 5b: Excursion to the heart of the Chianti Classico with dinner: afternoon (Mar to Oct. Tue & Fri)

Enjoy the charm of the Chianti countryside, one of the most suggestive areas of Tuscany, renowned all over the world not only for its famous wine, but even for its landscapes and vineyards, olive trees abd cypresses surrounding churches, parishes, castles, and villages hidden among the hills. The noble owners of one of these castles will be waiting for you and will accompany you around some reception rooms, the garden and the historical cellar of the Farm where the famous barrels of Chianti Classico are kept. After the visit a snack-tasting with a selection of fine wines will be served. The trip moves on to Greve in Chianti with a stop in the historic square flanked by open galleries where you can wander around the shops selling typical products of the Chianti area. Then you will visit Castellina in Chianti, a characteristic ancient hamlet set on a hill and nestled between stretches of vineyards and ancient settlement in a fortified castle dating back to the eleventh century, which maintains part of its walls and a stunning Romanesque parish church. In a characteristic Tavern in the magical atmosphere of this mall village, you will be served a typical Chianti Dinner with a rich menu and excellent Chianti wine.

Tour begins at 2PM and ends at approx. 10:45PM.

Tour 8A: Outlet Shopping Tour, half day. (All year round. Mon, Tue, Fri, & Sat)

This tour takes you to the outlets of the most prestigious designer labels in the Italian fashion industry, renowned throughout the world as expression of style, refinement, and luxury. The outlets will allow you to buy with solid 30 % to 50% discounts. During a comfortable trip on luxury, air-conditioned coaches, you will enjoy the beautiful landscape offered by the Arno Valley.

Departure from Florence to reach the Prada outlet. Stop of about 1.5 hours, then departure to reach the famous center The Mall (stop of 2 hours 45 minutes, approx) where you can find prestigious high fashion companies including: Gucci, Giorgio Armani, Fendi, Ferragamo, Valentino, Zegna, Bottega Veneta, Sergio Rossi, Loro Piana, and more. The pleasant Café in the Center offers  the chance of a snack (not included).

Tour M1: Guided visit to the Academy Gallery (all year, from Tue to Sun)

Total immersion in the art of Michelangeo to know his most renowed work, the “David”, and other important works of art such as “I Prigioni” and “San Matteo” and the “Palestrina Pieta”. The young Michelangelo carved the David from a huge block of rough marble in three years, creating an imposing sculpture of absolute beauty, an icon of the renaissance model. He depicted a magnificent nude young man at the height of his physical vigor, whose intense expression of strength and courage, which originiated from an absolute faith to God, roses as a symbol of power and invincibility of the Florentine Republic at the time of its maximum splendor.

Tour begins at 11:30AM and ends at approx. 12:45PM.

Tour M2: Guided visit to the Uffizi Gallery (all year, from Tue to Sun)

You can’t leave Florence without visiting one of the most important art galleries in the world. Here you can admire numerous works of art by Botticelli, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raffaello, Giotto, Cimabue, Masaccio, and many others. Among the precious exhibition halls of the Gallery, the most renowned one contains the refined works by Botticelli, amongst which the absolute masterpieces: “Primavera”, and “Birth of Venus”. The latter painting, the icon of the museum, represents the allegory of the birth of the goddess emerging from the sea foam and symbolizes the ideal of beauty as an expression of purity and spiritual quality, typical of the Renaissance Neo-Platonic aesthetics.

Tour starts at 4:30PM and ends at approx. 6PM.

Tour M1 + M2: Academy + Uffizi guided visits (all year, Tue to Sun)

The guided tour of the Academy Gallery (morning 11:30) can be purchased in combination with the guided visit to the Uffizi Gallery (afternoon 4:30PM). It also includes a lunch with drinks in a typical restaurant in the city center, accompanied by an assistant.

Tour 18: Florence (all year, Tue, Thu, and Sat)

Arrival in Florence at about 11:30AM and go to Piazzale Michelangelo, to admire a fantastic view of the city and of the famous Ponte Vecchio. Continue to the historical center and visit the Museum of Accademia, with the famous Statute of David by Michelangelo, Piazza della Signoria, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (visit), the beautiful Dome by Brunelleschi, the Baptistry and Giotto’s Belltower. After lunch visit Santa Croce Square with the homonious Church, where Michelangelo and Galileo are buried. Stop at a leather factory and leisure time. At approximately 5PM departure to Rome with arrival at about 9:00PM. Return to hotels or nearest point.

Tour starts at approximately 7:15AM.  Duration: approximately 14 hours.