Best of Florence Tour

Michelangelo's David, Accademia, Piazza della Signoria, Piazza Duomo, Ponte Vecchio
Pick-up and skip-the-line tickets Included!
Kids pay half price!​

Flexible Starting time

Pick up at your hotel

Skip-the-line tickets

Professional Guides

Duration

about 3 hours

Activity level

moderate

Sights Included

Accademia Tour
– Michelangelo’s David (skip-the-line)
– Michelangelo’s Prisoners
– Renaissance masterpieces
Piazza Duomo
– Cathedral(from outside)
– Baptistery (from outside)
– Giotto Bell Tower (from outside)
Piazza della Signoria & Ponte Vecchio
– Palazzo della Signoria (from outside)
– Loggia dei Lanzi
– Views of the Arno River

Tour Description

Discover Michelangelo’s David and the highlights of Florence with our Best of Florence Tour

Florence

Florence is deservedly one of the most famous cities in the world. It’s also one of the cornerstones of Italian culture. 

Many of the greatest Italian artists were born here, and helped to shape the image of Italy in the world. 

Florence is the city where the Renaissance started – it’s the city of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, of Dante and Machiavelli. 

Florence is also renowned for its great cuisine and wine.

And its history is as complex as the history of Italy itself.

Our Best of Florence Tour is designed to help you connect to Florence’s culture and history, and make the most of your time in the capital of Tuscany.

1. Piazza Duomo

Your guide will pick you up at your hotel, and you’ll head to one of the most famous sights: Piazza Duomo, location of the famous cathedral. 

The Duomo is the most remarkable church in Florence, and it’s one of the city icons. 

It’s an imposing gothic cathedral enriched by one of the greatest masterpieces of architecture: the dome by Brunelleschi. 

Brunelleschi was a brilliant artist, and one of the most important architects in history. His studies on perspective and his love for classical art represent the very spirit of the Renaissance.

The dome was his greatest accomplishment. It’s extremely innovative yet, at the same time, it’s also a very traditional building. Brunelleschi took inspiration from the Pantheon in Rome but created an original structure, which challenged the Roman tradition because of its size and pioneering technique.

Your guide will reveal its secrets, and tell you the intriguing story of its construction. 

In Piazza Duomo, you’ll also see many other remarkable sights, such as the Baptistery and the Bell Tower by Giotto. 

Then, your Best of Florence Tour will continue in Piazza della Signoria. 

2. Piazza della Signoria

Piazza della Signoria (Signoria Square) was the political heart of Florence in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. 

It is also an open-air museum, surrounded by grand buildings and statues.

There is no better place to learn about the history of Florence, and the city’s intriguing, complex politics. Your guide will tell you the story of the Medici, the most influential family in Florence, and their contribution to creating the city’s identity. 

In the Renaissance, art was an expression of power. 

In Florence, it was mostly the expression of the power of the Medici, who commissioned some of the most famous artworks in the city. 

You will admire the impressive facade of Palazzo della Signoria, whose entrance is decorated by a replica of Michelangelo’s David, and by the Hercules and Cacus by Baccio Bandinelli. 

Next to the square is the Loggia dei Lanzi, a portico decorated with many important sculptures. 

Among them, you will also see the impressive bronze sculpture of Perseus with the head of Medusa by Benvenuto Cellini. 

3. Ponte Vecchio

Most Italian cities are divided by a river, and Florence is no exception. 

After Piazza della Signoria, your Best of Florence Tour will continue on Ponte Vecchio, the most famous bridge on the Arno river. 

Ponte Vecchio is the oldest bridge in Florence, dating back to Roman times.

It’s not just a walkway across the river – it’s also the site of traditional jewelry stores and goldsmiths. 

Above the stores, you can still see a corridor that connected the two main residences of the city’s rulers (Palazzo della Signoria and Palazzo Pitti) so that they could go from one palace to another while avoiding the crowds.

Ponte Vecchio is one of the most important and iconic parts of Florence’s history – a must-see sight. 

4. Michelangelo’s David and the Accademia

The last stop of your Best of Florence Tour is the most famous artwork in town: Michelangelo’s David in the Accademia. 

Don’t worry about the lines – we’ll have skip-the-line tickets! 

Why is David such an important statue? Your guide will provide a full explanation of this incredible masterpiece, in the context of the history of Florence, and the life of its creator. 

Who was Michelangelo, and why is he renowned as one of the greatest artists of all time? You will learn about his life, his difficult personality, and – of course – his art. 

The Accademia isn’t only home to David, but also other masterpieces by Michelangelo such as the Prisoners and the Pietà di Palestrina.  It’s one of the best places to experience Michelangelo’s art and gain a deeper understanding of his revolutionary work.

Book our Best of Florence Tour and explore the wonders of the Renaissance capital with a professional private guide. 

We’ll help you to create some incredible memories in Italy.

Due to logistical reasons, the order of the sights may vary.

*The inside of the Duomo is not included in the tour. But, if you want to go inside, you can visit it after the tour – just ask your guide for information!

IMPORTANT INFO!

You MUST bring an ID, a passport or a driver’s license to enter the sights.

*Pick-up is included only if you’re staying within the pick-up area. If your hotel is not in the pick-up area, let us know and we will find the best solution. 

Pricing
449 € for 1 person
59 € per additional adult
29 € per additional kid under 18
What's included
Skip-the-line tickets
Pick-up at your hotel

Book now!

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Contact us if you want more info or to design a tailored tour!
Send us a message using the form below, contact us via whatsapp icon Whatsapp, or call us at +39 376 165 1457

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    Tour Itinerary

    Italian ArtVentures' Feedbacks

    Michelle
    Michelle
    Above & Beyond
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    We were amazed by the service we received in Rome and even in Benevento. Giovanni went above and beyond to organize tours and transportation for our family of 15 traveling. Massimo was an incredible and knowledgeable tour guide in Rome. He made it fun for the kids and knew when to take a break. Provided water and an amazing lunch spot for us all. We still are talking about some of the stories he told us. Stefano met us at the train in Benevento and was only supposed to drive us through San Bartolomeo, my father's hometown. But he pulled up my father's and grandfather's genealogy and found some interesting facts that were amazing to find out. He printed and laminated it for us to take. It was an emotional day but such a wonderful part of the trip. The minibus was perfect for everyone to fit comfortably and head over to Almafi. Thank you Giovanni and your amazing staff for making this trip one of the most memorable trips ever!!!
    Rosa
    Rosa
    Exceptional!
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    Giovanni was so exceptional at his job that you left the trip feeling torn between wanting to tell the World and also keeping him a best kept secret. Everything that he had orchestrated happened, seamlessly for us as if he had choreographed the entire country of Italy to show up, act, behave on queue. I put together a lot of trips, all over the world, for a group of around 20 friends each adventure. As the chief coordinator, you are always a little concerned about third party tours and tour guides: will everyone show up, is this a scam, can they speak English? Giovanni had infinite patience answering my questions and provided so much detail about our adventure, that everyone knew what to expect ahead of time. He took into consideration everyone’s interest, abilities and aptitudes. We saw a side of Italy that felt intimate and entertaining. There are not enough stars in the galaxy to award him.
    Kara
    Kara
    Great Experience!
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    What a great experience for me and my family to have these private tours planned by Giovanni. We wanted a curated set of events during our time in Rome and Florence and Gio delivered such a wonderful set of activities to suit my husband and I and our two teenagers. Each of the four days was a memorable experience. Alex was so fantastic and I would recommend him highly- we had one our best meals with him just learning from him and having great conversation. Andres in Florence was a blast and incredibly connected to the history of the area, just a wealth of information so much so that we are definitely coming back to Florence to spend more time. Caterina walked us through the Roman ruins and the Colosseum which was awe inspiring. And, one of the best things we did which I highly recommend is a pasta making class with Romina. We learned to make two dishes with her and then ate the food we had prepared. Such a great way to spend our time connecting to Roma. Thank you Gio and to all our guides! We will cherish our memories made together.
    Brian
    Brian
    Thank you!
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    Giovanni-thank you for a wonderful itinerary of guided visits to all the sights in Rome! We so appreciated the communication and detailed planning that ensured our visits to the Vatican/St. Peter's, Colosseum, Hadrian's Villa and Florence came off without a hitch.
    Your guides are so friendly and knowledgeable. They made the history accessible and enriching.
    You covered every detail, down to lunch reservations, business class train tickets and wonderful air-conditioned transportation with friendly drivers!
    Thank you again for all the e-mails to develop a personalized itinerary for a special trip! We give you 5 1/2 stars on a 5 star scale!
    Bonnie
    Bonnie
    Highly recommended!
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    I highly recommend Italian ArtVentures. We decided to use a private tour company, rather than the cruise ship excursions, and we were not disappointed. Giovanni was excellent at planning. We booked a tour in Rome and Pompeii. Giovanni was able to customize a tour that was special to us, so we could visit the LDS temple. Maria was our guide at the Vatican. She was fun, smart, and thoughtful. She translated for us as needed and was able to answer all of our questions. One major bonus of having a tour guide is skipping the line for St. Peter's Basilica. Our driver was awesome, traveling quickly and safely. The van was new, clean, and comfortable. We asked for a restaurant recommendation, and Giovanni made us reservations for Amalfi. It was incredible. The next day, we went to Pompeii with Stefano. He was fantastic. He made sure we saw the highlights and we avoided the crowds because of his expertise in the area. Booking was simple, communication was excellent, the cost was well worth what you get. This company is very professional. Totally awesome experience!
    Kevin
    Kevin
    Perfect Tour
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    Truly outstanding experience visiting the Vatican with Maria! She was the perfect guide - knowledgable, smart, funny, passionate about the subject matter. She had a deep knowledge of the art, architecture, history, and the religious significance of the whole area, and gave us thoughtful, interesting commentary throughout our tour. Although she seemed to have a bottomless knowledge of everything, she also knew how to present the information in a way that was considered, insightful, and crucially, not too overwhelming for us. As we walked, she called attention to many things, some big, others details that could easily be missed. She was well prepared, but also brilliant at answering questions and flexible about following our interests. Several times she pointed out a small detail, then drew a connection back to it later in the tour. She knew the Vatican, Sistine Chapel, courtyard and Basilica like the back of her hand, steering us to less crowded routes and perfect viewing vantages. One of us is Catholic, and one of us loves art, and Maria brilliantly held both our interests throughout the tour. Highly Recommend!
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