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Travel Babbo’s Classic Florence

Europe » Italy » Florence

Tour Creators

Oliver is a Cambridge-based writer and archaeologist. Completing a BA in Archaeology, he continued to postgraduate research specialising in Early Iron Age architecture. He has excavated in Greece and led…Read More Bio »

Eric is a family travel writer and photographer based in California. He’s traveled to 90+ countries, including over 60 with his kids. He writes at travelbabbo.com. Eric lets each of…Read More Bio »

Tour Type:

Historical

Introductory

Florence

GPS-directed

Remote Tour Included

2hrs

2km

Hotbed of the Renaissance, Florence ushered in an age of artistic and architectural innovation, from the sculptures of Michelangelo to the gravity-defying dome of Brunelleschi that soars above the city’s world-famous cathedral. On this tour we will explore all the essential landmarks of the glittering Tuscan capital, discovering the intriguing world of the Medici family who contributed so much of the city’s material wealth. Along the way we’ll meet some of the Medieval world’s most influential figures, from Machiavelli and Dante to Leonardo Da Vinci.

Tour written by Oliver Kenzie (MRes), a Cambridge-based archaeologist, and inspired by Eric Stoen’s favorite walk through Florence.

Avoid the Crowds

Allows you to explore without having to be shoulder-to-shoulder in a large tour group

Expert-created Tour

Written by a Cambridge-based archaeologist, whose postgraduate (MRes) research has been devoted to Early Iron Age architecture

GPS Directions

Easy-to-follow GPS directions to get you from one point to the next on your tour

Highlights include:

Pitti Palace, Ponte Vecchio, and Florence Cathedral

Remote Tour Included

As with all our tours, a remote tour is included that can be enjoyed from home

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Itinerary

Travel Babbo’s Classic Florence

Pitti Palace - We start our tour in front of arguably Florence’s most imposing building, the Pitti Palace, the home of the powerful Medici family, amongst the most influential figures of the Renaissance period.
Ponte Vecchio - Spanning the River Arno, the Ponte Vecchio is one of the city’s most romantic spots, for centuries serving Florentines as the main north-south crossing.
Piazzale degli Uffizi - Few galleries can claim to house such a Remarkable collection of Masterpieces than Florence’s Uffizi. A treasure trove of pictures and sculpture, we will discuss the building as well as Florence’s impact on the Renaissance.
Loggia dei Lanzi - Although built to showcase public events, the Loggia dei Lanzi was turned into one of the world’s first public art installations, filled with statues to be admired by the passing public.
Piazza della Signoria - Historically the administrative centre of the city of Florence, the fine Piazza della Signoria also acquired across the centuries its own collection of artworks, including Michelangelo’s masterpiece, David.
Fontana del Porcellino - Wrapped up in curious local superstitions the fountain of the ‘piglet’ and its adjoining market is now a favourite spot for tourists, who to this day rub the boar’s nose for good luck.
Church & Museum of Orsanmichele - The towering rectangle that is the Church of Orsanmichele looks like no other church in Florence. Yet, its complex history led to it acquiring an unparalleled set of early Renaissance statues.
Piazza della Repubblica - At one time the city’s Roman forum, the Piazza della Repubblica has been somewhat returned to its classical ‘brilliance’ in more recent centuries. However, for much of its history it harboured a jumble of more humdrum residences.
Battistero di San Giovanni - Unlike the nearby cathedral, the baptistery retains much of its original Romanesque marble cladding. Even more remarkable, however, are the doors added by Ghiberti, a turning point in renaissance sculptured reliefs.
Florence Cathedral - A symbol of the city of Florence and recognisable the world over, the towering campanile and gravity defying dome of Florence are without doubt wonders of the medieval World.
Basilica di San Lorenzo - Once the seat of the Bishop of Florence, the important Basilica di San Lorenzo was reapproriated by none other than the Medici family as their own church and dynastic burial place.
Mercato Centrale - Our tour ends in an product of Italy’s Risanamento period, a bustling and seemingly boundless market place, designed for a new Florence.

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