History of Florence Exclusive Walking Tour — Semi-Private (12 Guests Max)
About this activity
Explore Florence’s Renaissance heart on a 2.5-hour semi-private walk for up to 12 guests. See the Duomo exterior, Ponte Vecchio, Oltrarno and Piazza della Signoria with a local guide; no venue admission is included.
Highlights
- Marvel at Florence’s iconic Duomo exterior
- Admire the golden Gates of Paradise on the Baptistery
- Stroll along the historic Ponte Vecchio
- Uncover stories in Piazza della Signoria
- Explore the vibrant Oltrarno neighborhood
Full description
Walk through Florence’s historic center and Oltrarno with an expert guide. Begin outside the Duomo, Baptistery and Giotto’s Campanile, then follow the city’s Roman and Renaissance layers through Piazza della Repubblica and Via de’ Tornabuoni. Cross the Arno to Piazza Santo Spirito, return via Ponte Vecchio and finish at Piazza della Signoria. All landmark visits are from outside.
Begin in Piazza San Giovanni with exterior views of Florence Cathedral, the Baptistery and Giotto’s Campanile. Your guide explains Brunelleschi’s dome, the marble facade and the bronze doors before leading you through Piazza della Repubblica and Via de’ Tornabuoni. Admire Palazzo Strozzi from outside, cross Ponte Santa Trinita for Arno views, and discover Piazza Santo Spirito and the Oltrarno district. Continue past Pitti Palace’s exterior and the shops of Ponte Vecchio. Back on the historic-center side, see the Uffizi courtyard, Palazzo Vecchio and the Loggia dei Lanzi from outside before the walk ends in Piazza della Signoria. The 2.5-hour route is outdoors, runs rain or shine and includes a local guide. Entry to museums and landmark interiors, food, drinks, gratuities, hotel transport and luggage storage are not included.
Included / Excluded
- Expert local English-speaking guide
- Guided walk through Florence's historic center
- Personalized small group experience (max 12 guests)
- Attraction admission tickets
- Food and drinks
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Gratuities
Itinerary
Duomo, Baptistery and Giotto’s Campanile
Meet at the San Zanobi Column, then view the cathedral, Baptistery and bell tower from outside.
Piazza della Repubblica
Explore the square built over Florence’s Roman forum.
Meeting point
Start Location
San Zanobi Column — Florence walk meeting point
Piazza di San Giovanni, 23, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy
Meet 10 minutes before departure at the San Zanobi Column on the north side of the Baptistery of St John, outside, at Piazza di San Giovanni 23.
Get directions →Important information
Know before you book
- This semi-private walk is not wheelchair accessible.
- The tour has a maximum of 12 guests.
- Food, drinks, venue admission and hotel transport are not included.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable shoes for cobblestone streets.
- Bring water and weather-appropriate clothing; the tour runs rain or shine.
- Meet at the San Zanobi Column, north side of the Baptistery, Piazza San Giovanni 23, 10 minutes early.
- This is an outdoor route; landmark and museum interiors are not included.
- Bring an ID or a photo of an ID; avoid oversized bags.
Cancellation policy
Up to 24 hours before the beginning of the activity: full refund Less than 24 hours before the beginning of the activity or no-show: no refund
Reviews
We booked this tour to get as much as possible out of our time at The Met. What we didn’t know we were getting was a personalized experience full of captivating stories about the artists' lives and the people who brought the art to the museum. Robin was a wealth of knowledge and a highlight of our trip to New York!
Spent a great day with Charlie he was very engaging and shared lots of information and entertaining stories with us. He took great care of us and we would recommend him for any future tours.
Mark, tour guide for the Metropolitan Museum is an outstanding teacher: engaging; entertaining; professional; personable; experienced and deeply knowledgeable as a result of a lifelong passion and relationship with the Met. He loves what he does and cares deeply about sharing his knowledge and insight to spark curiosity and inspire his clients--his students--to understand context and meaning of each piece or work of art reviewed. My wife, a retired professor emeritas and myself both left thoroughly impressed and grateful to have been taught by best and most captivating guides we have had the privilege of meeting on one of our many travels and adventures. Hire the best. Hire Mark. Worth every penny and every minute of your time you can afford at the Met. Like us, you will look forward to coming back for another teaching session from Mark. In my case, hopefully we will be back on my birthday next year! (Thanks again Mark!)
Frequently asked questions
FAQs
Additional information
Meet your guide at the San Zanobi Column on the north side of the Baptistery of St John, outside at 23 Piazza di San Giovanni, Florence. Arrive 10 minutes before departure. Bring an ID or a photo of one. Tour runs rain or shine; no oversized bags. Guest contact: +1 917 999 0380.