The Medici family was one of the most important to ever live in Florence! This powerful Renaissance family resided in several majestic palaces and left behind tons of history. Learn more of their secrets with a local on a Florence Medici tour!
The Medici family’s economic and political success throughout the 1400s allowed Florence to become the cradle of the Renaissance. In the mid-1500s the Medici family was made by the papacy into a royal dynasty and it started ruling in Florence and Tuscany as Grand Dukes until the mid-1700s replacing the Florentine Republic. This walking tour takes you to the most important sights in town related to this family of Patrons of the Arts and allows you to discover the most significant art works and monuments the Medici Family commissioned to the Florentine Renaissance artists, including, among the others, Brunelleschi and Michelangelo.
Medici Riccardi Palace was their first residence in town and their business headquarters in the 1400s. Here is where Lorenzo the Magnificent was born and where Michelangelo was invited to stay with his family for a few months. Inside you will admire the famous Chapel of the Magi, featuring the detailed Benozzo Gozzoli’s fresco with faithful Medici’s portraits. Then, you will reach the parish church of San Lorenzo, which was commissioned to Brunelleschi by Cosimo il Vecchio de’ Medici in the early 1400s. You will visit the two magnificent Medici’s Chapels. The Chapel of the Princes with its baroque semiprecious stone wall decoration and the New Sacristy by Michelangelo featuring a very unique architecture and statues in the original setting. Next you will visit the interior of Palazzo Vecchio, today’s City Hall of Florence. The Salone dei Cinquecento, still used for official receptions, is the largest room in town featuring historical scenes on its wall and ceiling celebrating the Medici’s power. Da Vinci and Michelangelo were involved in its decoration.
This tour is available at 9am or 2pm on Monday, Friday and Saturday. This tour is available only in the morning on Thursday. Please request your preferred time slot at the time of booking.
Exact time will be provided in final documents. If you are staying at a centrally located hotel, your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby. Otherwise, a meeting point will be arranged.
- Private English-speaking guide at disposal for 4 hours
- Entrance fees to Palazzo Medici Riccardi, San Lorenzo Church, Medici Chapels, Palazzo Vecchio
- Gratuities (optional)
- Transportation
A great introduction to Florence - the cradle of the Renaissance. Walk through the amazing center of Florence and discover its unique secular heritage and breathtaking beauty with an expert and fun tour guide.
This tour takes you through the heart of Florence, focusing on the legacy of the powerful Medici family and the genius of Michelangelo. Learn how the Medici transformed the city during the Renaissance, fostering groundbreaking art, science, and banking practices that reshaped Europe. Visit must-see sites like Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, the Medici Riccardi Palace (home of Lorenzo the Magnificent), the Loggia del Porcellino, Santa Trinita Church, and Orsanmichele Church.
As you stroll through Florence's stunning streets, you'll uncover centuries of history, from its Roman origins to its rise as a center of Renaissance art. Explore the places where Michelangelo once stood, and admire masterpieces that have shaped the course of history. This is the perfect way to experience Florence through the eyes of its most influential family and artists.
Meeting point will be at a central location. Details will be provided in final documents.
See Florence from the water on a "Florentine Gondola"! This guided, leisurely boat ride down the Arno River lets you see and learn about Florence as you haven't before.
The boat or “barchetto” is one of the only 4 original traditional wooden boats left in Florence, conducted by a “barcaiolo”, a true Florentine tradition holder that will guide you with his long-reaching sweeping-oar. No noisy engines, only the charm of tradition and the voice of your expert guide.
Pass by the Uffizi gallery, admire the unique Ponte Vecchio bridge and learn about the mysterious Vasari Corridor, and see the Santa Trinita bridge and the amazing Palazzo Corsini. Then enjoy a glass of cool wine to finish off this wonderful evening tour.
Meeting point will be at a central location. Details will be provided in final documents.
Today, visit the home of the famous leaning tower - Pisa! In the heart of the city is Piazza dei Miracoli where you will simultaneously see the Leaning Tower, Baptistery, Cathedral, and the Monumental Cemetery. Each of these buildings are stunning in their own way and have unique stories to tell. Be sure to take a photo of you holding up the leaning tower!
Then, you will get 30 minutes to climb the nearly 300 steps of the leaning tower and take spectacular pictures from the top!
Meeting point will be at a central location. Details will be provided in final documents.
