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essential florence

Essential Florence

Highlights: Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio / Baptistery Doors / Ponte Vecchio / Piazza della Repubblica

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the world's greatest shrine to the Renaissance, with Italy With Us

About your tour

Only here for a day? Your first visit? Need to refresh your memory about the story of Florence or want to know more about it? Then Italy With Us Guided Tours Florence is for you! We have a tour of all the basics for those who are pressed for time, or simply require a relaxed introduction to the city and its attractions.

Florence is a city whose mercantile wealth acted as an example to the medieval Italian city states that were not blessed with powerful navy like Genoa and Venice. Trade, banking and mercantilism created a great deal of wealth for the Florentine aristocracy which is clearly visible once you start your walking tour around this wonderful city.

The tour starts at our Florence office, situated just around the corner from the Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio - the social and political centre of Florence. The route includes the well-known points of interest, including the Ponte Vecchio (with its jewelry) and Piazza della Repubblica (with it Roman origins). But that's not all! Your guide will tailor the tour to your interests by taking requests and choosing further places of interest to you. The tour will lead you to the art gallery that follows-on after the tour (either the Academia or the Uffizi).

It is a good intro to the city if you are considering Florence Day Trips as a possibility during your stay, and we can provide Tour Guides in Florence for any occasion.

Top tour highlights

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    Ponte Vecchio

    The Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) is a stone bridge of the Arno River consisting of three segmental arches, and famous for its shops. Originally butchers shops occupied the building, and in modern times the bridge is now home to famous jewelry shops, art dealers and souvenir sellers.

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    Piazza della Signoria

    Piazza della Signoria is situated in front of the Palazzo Vecchio and is the symbol of the Florentine Republic. Being the origins of political life in Florence since the 14th century, this piazza is an L-shaped square named after the Palazzo della Signoria, nowadays called Palazzo Vecchio which overlooks this historically political landmark.

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    Piazza del Duomo

    Home to the third largest cathedral in the world, the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore designed by Filippo Brunelleschi; Piazza del Duomo is one of the most visited places worldwide. The cathedral is famous for its magnificent Renaissance dome which towers above the city.

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    The Doors of Saint John Baptistery

    The Doors of Saint John Baptistery were created during the 14th and 15th century by Andrea Pisano (south doors) and Lorenzo Ghiberti (north & east doors) respectively, and form part of the Florence Baptistery, part of the Duomo complex. The Baptistery Doors are famous for their bronze relief sculptures.

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    Piazza della Repubblica

    Marking the center of Florence city since ancient Roman times, the Piazza della Repubblica is one of the main squares of Florence and home to the Giubbe Rosse Café which was a meeting place for famous artists and writers of the early 20th century.

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    Orsanmichele Church (outside)

    The Orsanmichele Church, famously known for the sculptures of saints, was constructed during the late 13th century on the site of the kitchen garden of the monastery of San Michele. The church was originally built as a grain market, and was converted to a church between 1380 and 1404.

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