Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance, but what does this mean in terms of what we see in the streets? Join me on a Live Virtual Tour as, over the course of one hour and from the comfort of your own home, we learn about the guilds which ran the city in the Middle Ages, and about the Medici dynasty, which ruled for three centuries and whose legacy is without comparison in the world of art collections and patronage, leaving us exceptional examples of Renaissance architecture and art.
Europe/Rome (UTC +2hs)
We start off at the religious centre of town, at the Duomo, or Cathedral, with its magnificent Cupola (masterpiece by Brunelleschi), the Bapistery and the famous Giotto bell-tower.
Half way between the religious and the political centres of town lies the stunning Medieval structure of a church dedicated to Saint Michael, which served various important purposes throughout the ages and which was home to some of the world's most iconic examles of early Renaissance sculpture.
Known as the political centre of Florence, this square has a history going back to the early Roman origins of the city, and leading to its present day role as the main civic centre, with the Town Hall in the Palazzo Vecchio next to the Uffizi, the main museum of art. Also of primary importance are the numerous statues in the square, each with its own history and symbolism.
The tour ends at the famous Ponte Vecchio, or Old Bridge, straddling the river Arno, with its centuries old jewellers and goldsmiths.
Included in the price is the guide's fee. The fee is for a total of 5 separate devices (laptops, tablets, iPads) No extras are necessary as this is a virtual live tour. You are required to have a good internet connection and a basic knowledge of the Zoom platform.
I offer in-person day trip tours to Pisa, Lucca, Livorno, Siena. However, aside from my guiding fees, you would also be required to cover my transportation and any other costs (food, drink) that may be incurred.
Please pay special attetion to the differences in time zones. If you are dialling in from the Asia Pacific the difference could actually signify another date.
Being, as it is, a Virtual Live Streaming tour, the requirements are quite simply to sit back, relax with a beverage and enjoy the tour.
We met Mr Manolis directly at Firenze SMN station (we arrived there by ourselves). He was very punctual and was waiting for us and gave me a call to remind us of the meeting point. We discussed the program per email before our arrival and he was always open to offer additional ideas or to adjust the program along the day when needed. He was very organized and was good at avoiding crowded spots and yet show some of the most interesting places which was not leaning towards the rudimentary itineraries. He knew perfectly on how to plan the visits in order to optimize our time. His knowledge of history is very rich. His witty intellect and openness to discuss about any topic kept the tour engaging throughout. To conclude, we had a very pleasant and well spent time. We would highly recommend him.
Thank you for your appreciation. It was a pleasure showing you around Florence and Pisa. I found our exchanges throughout the day to be very interesting and I benefited in no small way from them.
I would recommend Manolis to any American desiring to get the most out of a trip to Florence and Tuscany. He is a native English speaker, so no accent, but has lived and studied in Florence for many years. We wanted to get out of Florence for a few days, and Manolis not only designed a tour, but found us a driver who was almost as wonderful as he. He was a wonderful leader to our family group, which included young adults visiting for the first time. Prior to our visit, he worked extra hard to recommend hotels and thought about how the tours would go. Our 3 days included a half-day tour of the Uffizi which he personally guided and made the museum reservations for us. We spent an additional two days visiting cities outside Florence, including Siena, Pisa and San Gimignano. He recommended a few additions which turned out to be the highlight of our tour. I would work with him again in a minute.
Thank you for your kind appreciation. It was a pleasure for me to be your guide. I’m lucky you sought me and I’m privileged to be showing such lovely places. Stay safe.
A very interesting route with explanations outside the tourist circuit. Curiosities and secrets revealed! This is exactly what we were waiting for! Thank you!
Thank you for your words and for the thumbs up from all of you.