Come by day to shop, but come by night to admire the city lights reflecting off the river
Ponte Vecchio means ‘Old Bridge’, and it’s a deserved name: this structure dates back to 1345. It’s the oldest bridge in Florence — the only one to escape destruction as German forces retreated in 1944.
This bridge spans the Arno river at its narrowest point, but in fact scarcely looks like a bridge at all. Compared to the light and airy metallic structures of today, the Ponte Vecchio is pleasingly sturdy. Made of stone and wood, it is crowded with overhanging shops. It is not simply simple a way to get from A to B, but rather a road, market place and piazza all rolled into one.
Diamond in the Rough
The bridge is packed with jewellers’ shops, and has been since the 16th century when Ferdinando I de’ Medici sent them in as a more agreeable replacement for the malodorous butchers and fishmongers, who used to throw their putrid leftovers straight into the river. Florence was becoming a great centre of Renaissance culture, and they had to keep up appearances.
Highway
The Vasari Corridor is a covered passageway which runs above the shops on Ponte Vecchio. Cosimo I commissioned it to connect the Uffizi with the Pitt Palace, his humble abode across the river. When the Germans were retreating, only the bridge’s access points to the city were destroyed — in fact, the Vasari Corridor was, for a time, the only way to get from one side of the river to the other, short of having a boat.
Explore the best of Florence, the beautiful capital city of Tuscany on this full-day private tour with an expert guide. The birthplace of Dante and Michelangelo and ruled by the infamous Medici family, Florence is often called the Cradle of the Renaissance and is an open-air museum of beautiful Renaissance architecture, statues and monuments, cobbled streets, hidden gems down little-known side streets, world-famous galleries, sunny piazzas, gorgeous old bridges, and wonderful vistas.
On your private tour, you will:
Florence sits serenely on the Arno River in the heart of Tuscany and is known for its Renaissance beauty everywhere you look.
On your private tour of this Renaissance city, home to some of the greatest names of all time from Michelangelo to the Medici, you’ll explore all the most notable highlights, including the Duomo, with Brunelleschi’s Dome, which took 140 years to complete, and the Baptistry of St John, built over 70 years and named after the Saint Protector of Florence- San Giovanni.
You’ll hear all about the lives, accomplishments, and scandals of the families and artists that made Florence, as you wander the quaint cobbled streets, gazing at magnificent buildings, glorious piazzas and spectacular statues.
Admire views of the Ponte Vecchio and the Arno, and hear about life in modern Florence as you walk through the vibrant markets that have been going since medieval times, and end with an orientation around the trendy Oltrarno area, filled with artisanal shops and lively bars. Enjoy a delicious gelato with your guide who will be happy to help you with dinner/shopping/sightseeing recommendations.
Please note that there is often a long line to enter the Duomo of Florence. If the line is too long you will not visit the interior of the Cathedral on tour, and your guide will give you tips on the best time to return to avoid standing in line.
Discover the highlights of Florence and follow an expert and entertaining tour guide to the most significant places through the historical centre and learn about the amazing history of the city from the time it was the capital of the Renaissance to the time it became the capital of early unified Italy.
On your private half-day tour, you will:
Your tour begins in the prestigious Accademia Gallery, where you will enjoy timed entrance tickets to the museum, and explore stunning artwork, including Michelangelo's David.
Then see the religious centre of the city: admire the Duomo, whose impressive Dome was designed by Brunelleschi, and the Baptistery of Saint John, one of the oldest buildings in Florence. From the religious centre, you will walk to the political centre, and enjoy a pleasant stroll through Piazza Della Signoria, surrounded by its ancient buildings and the Loggia Dei Lanzi.
In this open-air museum, we will see original masterpieces by Giambologna and Cellini. From there, you'll cross the famous Ponte Vecchio, the medieval bridge on the Arno River.
This half-day tour of Florence's Renaissance artwork and architecture is a must for all visitors.
Please note: that there is often a long line to enter into the Duomo of Florence. If the line is too long you will not visit the interior of the Cathedral on tour, and your guide will give you tips on the best time to return to avoid standing in line.
Explore the best of Renaissance in Florence on this full-day tour including a guided visit to the Uffizi Gallery and to the Accademia Gallery where you will admire the world-famous "David" by Michelangelo.
On your private tour, you will:
Located in the very heart of Tuscany, in a basin crossed by the Arno River, the magnificent city of Florence stands as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, filled with historical relics and artistic masterpieces by the greatest masters of Humanism and the Renaissance. You can read it in Dante, see it in Michelangelo, or just be engulfed by it when you walk into a church.
Begin your day in the impressive Uffizi Gallery, one of the largest museums in the Western world, holding over 3,000 works of notable artists. The Museum complex is deeply bound to the history of the city and the House of Medici and echoes the splendour of a whole era. Masterpieces by Giotto, Masaccio, Piero della Francesca and Botticelli are waiting for you, along with the most recent Caravaggio, Tiziano and Tintoretto and the stunning Leonardo da Vinci’s Annunciation and Adoration of the Magi.
After, the walking portion of your tour highlights key Renaissance sites and masterpieces, including the chance to see the Duomo Duomo and its impressive dome designed by Brunelleschi, and the Baptistery of Saint John, one of the oldest buildings in Florence.
You will also visit the political centre, and enjoy a pleasant stroll through Piazza Della Signoria, surrounded by its ancient buildings and the Loggia Dei Lanzi.
In the afternoon, your guide will take you to the prestigious Accademia Gallery, where you will enjoy skip-the-line tickets to the museum, and explore stunning artwork, including Michelangelo's David. After an hour, your guide will leave you to explore the gallery at your leisure.
Please note that there is often a long line to enter into the Duomo of Florence. If the line is too long you will not visit the interior of the Cathedral on tour, and your guide will give you tips on the best time to return to avoid standing in line.Explore Florence with a private guide, one of the most iconic and beautiful cities in Italy and discover the city's rich history, art, and culture on this introductory tour perfect tour for anyone arriving in Florence for the first time.
On your private 2.5-hour tour, you will:
Discover the most popular highlights in the historic centre of Florence with your expert guide and learn about its amazing history from when it was the capital of the Renaissance to when it became the capital of early unified Italy.
First, you will see the religious centre of the city: admire the Duomo, whose impressive Dome was designed by Brunelleschi, and the Baptistery of Saint John, one of the oldest buildings in Florence.
From the religious centre, you will walk to the political centre, and enjoy a pleasant stroll through Piazza Della Signoria, surrounded by its ancient buildings and the Loggia Dei Lanzi. In this open-air museum, we will see original masterpieces by Giambologna and Cellini.
From there, you'll cross the famous Ponte Vecchio, the medieval bridge on the Arno River. Your tour finishes with a delicious gelato (on us!) before your guide leaves you with recommendations for how to spend the remainder of your day. Please note that there is often a long line to enter into the Duomo of Florence. If the line is too long you will not visit the interior of the Cathedral on tour, and your guide will give you tips on the best time to return to avoid standing in line.
Known as the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence is one of Italy’s most beautiful and historically significant cities. It boasts a wealth of beautiful buildings, world-class museums like the Uffizi and Accademia Gallery, as well as many illustrious inhabitants across the centuries, including Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli. Strolling through the city’s picturesque streets, it is easy to see why it inspired so many artists, writers and great thinkers. Florence has so much to offer, and taking a private tour of the historic centre in a golf cart is a great way to make the most of your time in the city, experiencing the Tuscan capital’s must-see sights along with lesser-known local favourites.
On this 2-hour golf cart tour, you will:
Experience Florence like never before on a 2-hour private golf cart tour, blending the intimacy of a walking tour with the comfort of a driving tour. Designed for culturally curious travellers, this exhilarating orientation allows you to explore the cradle of the Renaissance with ease, accompanied by a knowledgeable local guide who brings the city's fascinating history to life.
Your adventure will begin at your hotel or another central location of your choice, where you will get acquainted with your Florentine driver-guide and hop onboard your comfortable golf cart, embarking upon a journey of discovery around one of Italy’s most stunning cities. You’ll enjoy a carefully curated selection of the key attractions alongside captivating corners of Florence beyond the usual tourist paths, expertly tailored to your particular interests.
While the exact route of your tour is flexible according to your preferences, you’ll be sure to see the legendary Ponte Vecchio, a medieval bridge lined with jewellery shops, offering picturesque views of the Arno River. You’ll make your way around the city’s myriad of picturesque Piazzas, including the Piazza della Signoria, where Florence’s political and artistic legacies intertwine, and the majestic Piazza del Duomo, where you’ll see the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, with its emblematic dome by Brunelleschi, an unprecedented feat of engineering that remains remarkable more than 600 years after construction began. All the while, your guide will regale you with the hidden details of the iconic landmarks and the stories behind them, as well as the incredible locals that have put Florence on the map from the Renaissance until the present day.
You’ll have the opportunity to venture south of the river to discover Oltrarno, Florence’s artisan quarter, where local craftspeople keep centuries-old traditions alive. You can also ascend to the nearby Piazzale Michelangelo, where a sweeping panoramic view of the city awaits, making for an ideal spot for photos. Once your time with the guide comes to an end, you’ll be left with lasting memories and a deep affinity for Florence’s intriguing history and timeless beauty.
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