Intro:
Join us as we travel into the heart of Tuscany to the wonderful city of Florence, home of some of the greatest cultural achievements in history.
Your tour will begin when we pick you up from your hotel at 8am and you will return at 5pm.

You will travel in a comfortable, temperature controlled vehicle down the Autostrada del Sole through Umbria and into Tuscany to reach our destination of the city of Florence, or ‘Firenze’ as we say in Italy.
From Michelangelo Square, you will be treated to a stunning view of the city of Florence, which has the river Arno flowing through its center.
Santa Croce is one of the largest churches in Florence. It has 16 stunning chapels, many of them decorated with frescoes by Giotto and his pupils. Filippo Brunelleschi (who designed the dome of the famous Duomo) built the Cappella dei Pazzi in the main cloister. Brunelleschi began building this chapel in the 1440’s and finished in the 1470’s.
Many artists have contributed to the beautiful works inside the church. They include:
Benedetto da Maiano (pulpit; doors to Cappella dei Pazzi, with his brother Giuliano)
Antonio Canova (Alfieri's monument)
Cimabue (Crucifixion, badly damaged by the 1966 flood and now in the refectory)
Andrea della Robbia (altarpiece in Cappella Medici)
Luca della Robbia (decoration of Cappella dei Pazzi)
Desiderio da Settignano (Marsuppini's tomb; frieze in Cappella dei Pazzi)
Donatello (relief of the Annunciation on the south wall; crucifix in the lefthand Cappella Bardi; St Louis of Toulouse in the refectory, originally made for the Orsanmichele)
Agnolo Gaddi (frescoes in Cappella Castellani and chancel; stained glass in chancel)
Taddeo Gaddi (frescoes in Cappella Baroncelli; Crucifixion in the sacristy; Last Supper in the refectory, considered his best work)
Giotto (frescoes in Cappella Peruzzi and righthand Cappella Bardi; possibly Coronation of the Virgin, altarpiece in Cappella Baroncelli)
Giovanni da Milano (frescoes in Cappella Rinuccini)
Masso di Banco (frescoes in Cappella Bardi di Vernio)
Henry Moore (statue of a warrior in the Primo Chiostro)
Andrea Orcagna (frescoes largely disappeared during Vasari's remodeling, but some fragments remain in the refectory)
Antonio Rossellino (relief of the Madonna del Latte in the south aisle)
Bernardo Rossellino (Bruni's tomb)
Santi di Tito (Supper at Emmaus and Resurrection, altarpieces in the north aisle)
Giorgio Vasari (Michelangelo's tomb)
Domenico Veneziana (SS John and Francis in the refectory)
Additionally, you will also be able to see tombs and monuments of such notable people such as Galileo, Machiavelli, Dante, Michelangelo and Rossini.
Photography is permitted throughout the church, although the use of flash is prohibited. Please remember to observe the dress code of the church and make sure that your shoulders and knees are covered.
From Santa Croce, we will visit what is considered the most famous sculpture in the world by many people, Michelangelo’s ‘David’. The sculpture is in the Accademia, which was the first academy of drawing in Europe. It was founded in the middle of the sixteenth century by Vasari, Bronzino and Ammannati.
David was commissioned in 1501 by the Cathedral Works Committee (Opera Del Duomo). Michelangelo was only 26 years old when he was given a giant block of leftover marble that came from the mountains of Carrara, famous around the world for its marble. This block of marble had already been worked on by various other artists and was intended to be displayed outside as a sign if the city’s proud artistic heritage, but it was moved to the Accademia in 1873 to preserve it from outside elements. Michelangelo used the odd-shaped block of marble and created one of the most beautiful sculptures that the world has ever seen.
In the gallery, you will also see another incredible work by Michelangelo, an unfinished piece entitled ‘Blockhead Slaves’. Michelangelo created ‘Blockhead Slave’ between 1520 and 1530. Its head is still fully encased in the stone block and the facial features are just beginning to be seen through the block of marble. Michelangelo believed that each block of marble held a sculpture just waiting to be freed by his handiwork. This particular work and ethic inspired the work of Rodin nearly 400 years later. There are large picture galleries as well as other works of sculpture for you to enjoy.
Additionally in Florence, you may see one of the three largest museums in the world, The Uffizi. The Uffizi gallery was built in 1581, under the request of Granduca Francisco de’ Medici, son of Cosimo I. The original design was that of Giorgio Vasari, one of the leading painters and architects during the 15th century.
There are over 45 rooms of paintings, sculptures, archeological finds and other works of art by such famous artists as Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Adoration of the Magi’ and other works by Da Vinci, Giotto, Tintoretto, Caravaggio, Rubens, Rembrandt and countless others. The Vasari Corridor, the raised passageway connecting the Uffizi with the Pitti Palace, was built by Vasari in 1565. It is hung with an important collection of 17th-century paintings and the famous collection of artists’ Self-portraits. For more information, the Uffizi has a wonderful website where you can virtually visit the rooms online. www.uffizi.com.
Afterward, we will experience a pleasant stroll in the Piazza della Signoria. Beginning in Medieval times, this Piazza has been the center of activity in Florence. It is a square that is beautiful and elegant, and a delight for visitors. It is dominated by the Palazzo della Signoria from the fourteenth century, which is noted for its high, crenellated tower. The Piazza is also surrounded by several other important Florentine buildings including the Loggia della Signoria and the Palazzo degli Uffizi on the south side, the Palazzo degli Uguccioni on from the sixteenth century on the north side and the Palazzo del Tribunale di Mercanzia (fourteenth century) on the east side.
We will then visit the Duomo, famous for its striking pink dome created by Brunelleschi, and the Baptistery. The actual name of the church is ‘Santa Maria del Fiori’ (St. Mary of the Flowers), but through the years, it has simply been known as the duomo. The first stone was laid on September 8, 1296. In 1418, a competition was held to design the dome, the only structure still not completed in the church. The two competitors were Lorenzo Ghiberti and Filippo Brunelleschi. These two men had competed in many other contests and were fierce competitors. Brunelleschi won the competition, and although both men were appointed to work on the dome, this did not work out, and soon Brunelleschi was the sole overseer of the massive project. It was the first 'octagonal' dome in history to be built without a wooden supporting frame. it is still the largest masonry dome in the world. Brunelleschi wanted to crown the dome with a lantern, but it was questioned whether this was actually possible, and he had to undergo another competition. The lantern was begun a few months before his death in 1446 and was completed by his friend Michelozzo. A huge statue of Brunelleschi now sits outside the Palazzo dei Canonici in the Piazza del Duomo, looking up towards his greatest achievement. For the entire fascinating story of the dome, consider reading the book, ‘Brunelleschi’s Dome’ by Ross King, available online or at your local bookstore. It is full of intrigue, competition, and the artistry of incredible architectural firsts.
And what would a visit to Florence be without a taste of the famous Florentine food? Florentine food is known for its peasant traditions based on just a few genuine ingredients: olive oil, tomatoes, beans, herbs, ham and salami. One of the first courses that Florentine food is known for is ‘ribollita’, a soup based on black cabbage, beans and other vegetables. It is a hearty soup and a staple of the Florentine diet. The bruschette is especially tasty in Florence. It is toasted bread with garlic and olive oil, sometimes covered with tomatoes, olives or other toppings. It is filling, delicious and inexpensive. No matter what your taste is, your taste buds will be delighted with your Florentine lunch.
After a stroll through the piazzas, we will walk across the famous bridge, the Ponte Vecchio, lined with all manner of shops on either side.
You will experience the finest that Florence has to offer with this full day tour from Stefano Rome Tours.

Please note
Santacroce: 5 euros to be paid upon arrival
Accademia: 6.50 euros*
Uffizi: 6,50 euros*
We will be glad to reserve your tickets in advance to the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia. This is a free service that we offer for your convenience. Purchasing your tickets in advance will allow you to bypass the lines. Please let us know when you book your tour if you would like for us to reserve your advance tickets for you.
*Closed on Monday