Whether it’s your first visit to Florence or you’re coming back to see old friends (Michelangelo, Leonardo, etc..) this is a great opportunity to see the main historical and architectural sites of Medieval and Renaissance Florence. Together we can make our way through the side streets of the city center where we come across true masterpieces of art and architecture literally hiding in plain view of the visitor. Florence is an open-air museum just waiting to be revealed.
We meet at Republic square, in front of the Apple store.
The tour begins where the history of Florence began, in what is today known as Republic square.
A view of the Cathedral of Florence, Santa Maria del Fiore, with its magnificent dome, a masterpiece by Filipo Brunelleschi, the Giotto Bell Tower and the Baptistery dedicated to Saint John the Baptist.
In this square are some truly unique features of Florence, like the Chestnut Tower, the oratory of San Martino, and about Dante Alighieri, Italy's greatest poet, who lived in this very part of town.
In this most famous square we learn all about the saga of the Medici dynasty, their influence on the history, politics and even the arts in Renaissance Florence.
Time for a quick break with a view on the famous Old Bridge.
This square offers important examples of different architectural styles.
the tour ends in the square of the seven centuries old Dominican Friars church.
Santa Maria Novella Square
Guiding fee. Please be advised that I don't do hotel pick-up. The meeting point is in the very central Piazza della Repubblica.
transportation, food, beverages, entrance fees.
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.
- This tour is customizable, please write to me if you have specific requests. Unless it's a deluge, my tours run whatever the weather.
- Dress code is casual. However, please bear in mind that certain venues (churches, religious sites) require that your shoulders and knees be covered. Also, it is good manners to take your hat of cap off when entering a church (except in wintertime, when you can keep it on to stay warm).
- It is preferable to have a little cash with you (that's Euros) as some places may only accept payment in cash.
- Please think of your hydration. If you have a bottle of water with you, we can get refills along the way.
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.