Duomo, Ponte Vecchio and Uffizi Walking Tour

Florence is a city jam-packed with once-in-a-lifetime sites - so many that it's difficult to know where to start. With our Florence In a Day tour, we have distilled the best of the best into an epic 8-hour voyage of discovery through the most jaw-dropping art, architecture and historical intrigue that the city has to offer. From Bernini's world-changing Duomo and Michelangelo's divine David, to the hallowed halls of Italy's most popular art museum, the Uffizi, this tour will leave you with no doubt as to why Florence is one of the world's most dazzling cities. If you only have one day to see all the top attractions in Florence, our Florence In a Day Tour will get you to all there - in the company of some of the best guides in the city. Start your day by meeting the most famous marble sculpture in history - Michelangelo's incomparable David. You'll skip the long lines at the Accademia Gallery and walk straight into a life-changing masterclass on the sculpture. Think you know it because you've seen it a thousand times in pictures? Think again: David holds secrets you can only understand when you see him in person and in the company of one of our expert, English-speaking guides. You'll also get to see Michelangelo's unfinished 'Slaves', and, with the help of your guide, get new insights into his tortured artistic process. Next, you'll head to another stone structure that changed world history - Florence Duomo. As you admire the Dome from outside and inside (skipping the insanely long line) you'll hear the story of how its architect Brunelleschi recovered lost knowledge and expanded the realm of what was deemed humanly possible all in his pursuit of building it. After a quick stop at the doors of the baptistery to admire the Ghiberti's masterworks (which Brunelleschi was insanely jealous of), you will dive into the beautiful streets of Florence to learn some of the rich history of the city. From the outdoor sculpture gallery of the Piazza della Signoria to the characters sculpted along the walls of Orsanmichele church, the history of Florence will be brought to life one sculpture and building at a time. After a two-hour break for lunch (not included in the price of your tour, but your guide will show you the very best spots to eat) you'll reconvene at the doors of the Uffizi, Italy's most popular art museum and one of the greatest collections of art in the world. Your route, like the museum, will be chronological. After skipping the entrance lines your expert, an English-speaking guide will introduce you to early Renaissance masterworks from Cimabue, Duccio, and Giotto. Through their paintings, you'll learn to distinguish the styles and techniques that created a revolution in the visual arts. Next, it's on to classics of the High Renaissance, like Botticelli's 'Primavera' and 'Birth of Venus'. You'll see the progression of artistic techniques and revel in the explosion of color and perspective. But it's not all art theory; you'll learn about the incredible personalities and bitter rivalries of some of the biggest stars of the day like Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci. Finally, you'll see the artistic legacy of the Renaissance in works from later masters like Titian and Caravaggio. When you have seen what comes before you'll be able to view their paintings in an entirely new light! This is more than just a tour, it's a voyage through time that will make you appreciate all that it took to bring the visual arts out of the dark ages and into the modern world. In an intimate group of 15 people or fewer, you will have unparalleled access to your expert, English-speaking, guide. With plenty of time to ask all those questions that you can't find in books, this is the perfect way to immerse yourself in the fascinating world of Renaissance art.