Private City Stroll through Florence - the Duomo Square & Ponte Vecchio

Name: Private City Stroll through Florence - the Duomo Square & Ponte Vecchio
Brand: Walks
SKU: e4c763ca-4f49-49b3-9052-0d676634d883
Price: 249.0 EUR
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.66 (18923 reviews)

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Highlights

Dive into the city of Florence on this private, guided stroll
Discover renowned sites and hear behind-the-scenes tales from your expert historian guide
Marvel at the famous Giotto bell tower in the Duomo Square
Find your place in the historical line-up of statues at the Loggia dei Lanzi
Take in the spectacular views of the River Arno from the Ponte Vecchio

Summary

Find your Florentine feet with this private walkthrough of the historic center of Florence - that’s ‘Centro Storico’ to the locals. Living up to its name, this area hosts streets from the middle ages, connecting squares that were once the playground for the most famous names of the Italian Renaissance. Your expert local guide will point out all of the essential sites, with a few not-so-well-known stories weaved in to make sure you take in everything around you.

Tour info

Duration

2 hours

Group Size

Pricing (From)

Group: (2-99 years)

€249.00

Commentary

Italian, English

Meeting Point

Piazza del Duomo, 6n, Firenze, 50122, IT

Why take this tour?

This experience begins in the Piazza del Duomo, or Cathedral Square, where your private guide will give you the details on the Santa Maria dei Fiore - the Duomo dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Hear about its impressive history, going all the way back to the 13th century, while your guide points out the elements of the intricate facade that you may have missed on your own. Just next door is the free-standing bell tower (campanile), an innovative architectural design from one of Florence’s world-renowned Masters, Giotto. Then your expert guide will show you the fascinating octagonal Baptistery nearby, host to the bronze doors that Michelangelo dubbed ‘the Gates of Paradise’, and the site of the baptism of Dante himself.

Next up, the incredible Piazza della Signoria - the central meeting place of Florence since the Roman era, accessed by following the lively Via dei Calzaiuoli. Look out for the copy of Michelangelo’s David, holding the original location of the Master’s work outside the Palazzo Vecchio, the traditional seat of power of the Medici family. Learn about the riveting ups and downs of one of the most powerful families of the Renaissance, a gripping story that is bound to the history of Florence itself. The open-air star of the square, the Loggia dei Lanzi, boasts a formidable collection of statues underneath its beautiful arches and your guide will point out the pieces that can’t be missed.

Passing through the square of the Uffizi Gallery - literally the office of the Medici - you will head for the River Arno and the most famous bridge in Florence, the Ponte Vecchio. Originally home to butcher shops and tanners, an effort was made to elevate the bridge to the status it has today of being host to the city’s jewelry shops and goldsmiths. You’ll hear about the intriguing Vasari Corridor and the tour will end with insider knowledge of the Oltrarno - the part of the city on the other side of the Arno River. This tour is just the beginning, your local guide will leave you with recommendations and must-see sites to check out in the rest of your time in Florence.

Sites Visited

Piazza del Duomo,

Duomo (outside),

Giotto’s Campanile (outside),

Baptistery of St John and bronze doors by Ghiberti and Andrea Pisano (outside),

Via dei Calzaiuoli,

Piazza della Signoria,

Palazzo della Signoria or Palazzo Vecchio (outside),

Loggia dei Lanzi,

Galleria degli Uffizi (outside),

Arno River and Ponte Vecchio

What’s included?

Local guide
Expertly guided walking tour
Entrance Tickets (should you wish to enter a site)
Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off

Things to know

Before you book

This is a walking tour. While there are stops along the way, guests should be able to walk at a light to moderate pace without difficulty. Comfortable walking shoes are a must.
Tours run rain or shine. Please dress accordingly. In the event of exceptionally heavy rain, the tour may be canceled and you will be given a full refund.
Please note, this tour does not include entrance to the main sites. If you’d like to visit any particular site, you will need to buy a ticket at the location.

Before you go

This is a walking tour. While there are stops along the way, guests should be able to walk at a light to moderate pace without difficulty. Comfortable walking shoes are a must.
Please arrive at the meeting point ready for your tour - prior to arrival use the bathroom and ensure you have eaten.
Tours run rain or shine. Please dress accordingly. In the event of exceptionally heavy rain, the tour may be canceled and you will be given a full refund.
Please note, this tour does not include entrance to the main sites. If you’d like to visit any particular site, you will need to buy a ticket at the location.
Due to circumstances beyond our control, sites may occasionally close. We make every effort to stay as close to the advertised itinerary but substitutions/omissions may be necessary.
No refunds or re-bookings can be provided for late arrivals or no-shows after tour commencement or departure.

Covid Policy

Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
Gear/equipment sanitized between use
Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
Guides required to regularly wash hands
Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations received greater than 24 hours prior to tour commencement are fully refundable. Cancellations received within 24 hours of tour commencement are nonrefundable. Amendment requests are subject to availability and price changes. Late arrivals and no shows are nonrefundable. This is applicable to any tour participant that fails to arrive or arrives after tour departure.

Redemption information

Mobile tickets will be accepted

Your voucher will be collected or scanned on redemption

Operator Website

Operated by:

About operator:

Walks (takewalks.com, walksofitaly.com) began over a decade ago (2008, to be exact) in Rome, Italy. We quickly became the premier walking tour company in 7 countries - Italy, Spain, France, the UK, Greece, and Portugal. Our US cities include San Francisco, NYC, Boston, Chicago, and New Orleans.

In 2021, we joined The Hornblower Group (cityexperiences.com) expanding our reach and working alongside this powerhouse travel brand.

Our tour products vary but predominantly we #takewalks, exploring the world by foot - we believe, the best way to get into the heart of a city and its incredible people. From introductory strolls to food tours, day trips, cooking classes, and below the surface, in-depth tours, we have our hand in everything a traveler could want. Oh, and we also like to give our clients exclusive access to the biggest attractions in the world...

Despite the big changes in our brand over the years, our focus has remained simple - to relentlessly create tours with the client experience at the forefront and anchored upon the dedicated, intelligent, and above all, passionate local guides who want to share their cities with you.