Florence Half-Day Walking Tour with Lunch Upgrade

Meet your guide in central Florence in the early afternoon to begin your tour. Admire the original 'David' statue in the Accademia, copies of which are all over Florence. See other works by Michelangelo, including unfinished sculptures known as 'The Prisoners' and another called the 'Palestrina Pietà.' Learn about the symbolism of Michelangelo's David, with his intense look of courage and determination, and what that meant for the Florentine Republic. Enjoy an informative walking tour through historic Florence to learn about this city's importance throughout the centuries. Begin in the Loggia del Bigallo overlooking Piazza del Duomo to see the iconic cathedral with Brunelleschi's red-tiled dome, the Baptistery and its 'Gates of Paradise,' and Giotto's elegant bell tower. Walk through the heart of Florence past the Orsanmichele Church (a masterpiece of Gothic art) to the Mercato della Paglia, one of the city's old markets. Rub the nose of the bronze pig – known as the 'Porcellino' – and toss a coin into the fountain for good luck. Learn about the Ponte Vecchio, Florence's oldest bridge and lined with gold and jewelry shops, before arriving in the Piazza della Signoria. Hear about the buildings that surround this square, including the Palazzo Vecchio where the Medici once lived. Admire the Fountain of Neptune and the sculptures on display in the Loggia dei Lanzi, Cellini’s Perseus and the Gianbologna’s Rape of the Sabines among them. Stroll through the ornately-decorated halls and rooms of the Uffizi Gallery, once the government offices of the Medici and now home to one of the finest collections of Italian paintings. See works by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Caravaggio, Cimabue, Masaccio, Michelangelo, and Botticelli, whose 'Birth of Venus' painting is a symbol of the museum depicting the sea goddess rising from her shell, a picture of ideal beauty.