Florence, Statue of David & Uffizi Museum

Description

Be sure to read the Special Notes further down this page for important requirements and restriction.

What you will visit:

Florence, Italy (walking tour)
Florence is one of Italy's most artistically significant cities and arguably the seat of the Renaissance. A walking tour includes all the major landmarks including Piazza Duomo Cathedral and Piazza Della Signoria, the political heart of the city from the Middle Ages to the present day, as well the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge and the Santa Croce Church - the final resting place of such notables as Galileo, Machiavelli and Michelangelo.

Piazza Duomo Cathedral
Representing the wealth and power of the era, the Duomo, or "The Dome" took 14 years to build using a revolutionary method that was later copied for St. Peter's in Rome and St. Paul's in London. The fourth largest church in the world, the Duomo was consecrated in 1436. Fillipo Brunelleschi, master architect of the Italian Renaissance, designed the cathedral's green and white marble façade and magnificent dome. The Baptistery displays magnificent doors featuring scenes from the Bible sculpted on a series of bronze panels. The doors on the east side were dubbed by Michelangelo as the "Gates of Paradise."

Galleria dell'Accademia (Academy of Fine Arts)
One look at the crowd at the Accademia and you'll know there's something extremely special inside. What was once the world's first art school is now the home of one the greatest sculptures of all time - David by Michelangelo. While you'll see a replica of the statue in the Piazza della Signoia, the original is truly breathtaking. Sculpted between 1501 and 1504, it stands over 13 feet tall, and is spectacular in its the detail. Admiring the many works of Michelangelo, and other Renaissance masters during a one-hour visit.

Uffizi Museum and Gallery
As one of the oldest and most famous museums of the Western world, Uffizi Museum and Gallery is rivaled only by the Louvre in its collection of Renaissance masterworks. Originally, it was built to serve as administrative offices, but it now displays such notable works as Leonardo da Vinci's The Annunciation, Sandro Botticelli's The Birth of Venus and Rembrandt's self-portraits, to name just a few.

What you will see along the way:
It's a scenic 90-minute drive from Livorno to Florence.

Lunch:
Enjoy lunch at a first-class restaurant. A sample menu includes: A three-course meal of Vegetarian Lasagna, braised beef with seasonal vegetables, dessert, water, wine and coffee.

Shopping:
A little time will be allotted for shopping in St. Croce Square.

Special Notes:

Please note, free time may be modified to adhere to local regulations and guidelines for COVID 19 protocols.

This tour will not operate on Mondays as the Accademia and Uffizi are closed.

The drive between Livorno and Florence is approximately 1.5 hours each way, subject to traffic conditions. There will be a brief restroom stop at the authentic Florentine Leather Factory en route to Florence where you will find the finest "made in Italy" leather articles.

All sightseeing will be on foot, as motorcoaches are not allowed in the main center of Florence. Most of the sights are seen from the outside only. You might encounter considerable crowds and delays at the museums and venues during peak season. Please be aware that ongoing restoration work is often being carried out at the various venues visited.

Use of an audio headset (included) will enhance your tour experience.