Florence at Twilight Tour: Secrets of the Renaissance

Tour Overview

Get your time in Florence off to the perfect start with our introduction to the jewel of the Italian Renaissance. See Florence at its spectacular best as evening turns to night, leaving the crowds and the heat behind on this carefully crafted city orientation walk. We’ll hit the ground running by introducing you to the Renaissance’s most important patrons, princes and artists before making our way to Florence’s jaw-dropping Piazza del Duomo, where Brunelleschi’s dome shines as a symbol of the city. Follow in the footsteps of Dante through the atmospheric and timeless laneways of medieval Florence, and gaze awe-struck at sweeping Piazza della Signoria, original site of Michelangelo’s David and now home to an incredible open-air sculpture gallery. Cross iconic Ponte Vecchio and discover the secrets of the city in buzzing Oltrarno, before concluding your Florence 101 itinerary with a complimentary glass of wine at an atmospheric local bar. Join our expert guide for this fun and authentic experience, and feel Florence come alive!

Tour Description

Get your time in Florence off to the perfect start with our expert local guide

When you arrive in Florence, it’s a safe bet that you’ll want to hit the ground running. That’s where we come in! Our Florence at Twilight itinerary offers the perfect introduction to the city on the Arno, providing you with a fun and informative crash course on everything from history to culture, art to cuisine and more - all delivered by one of our expert local guides who knows everything there is to know about Florence. 

Experience the city’s unique alchemy of art and architecture as we explore the spellbinding historic centre where magic is woven into the very stones, and get the lowdown on what life is like for the locals in the city of the Medici. We’ll also be on hand to answer all your questions and help you plan the remainder of your trip on this carefully crafted walking tour of Florence. 

Learn how Florence became the cradle of the Renaissance 

The history of Florence is inextricably bound up with the flowering of the Renaissance, a golden age of art, learning and culture that sowed the seeds of our modern world. On our tour we’ll be embarking on a captivating journey through the historic streets of Florence as we unravel the extraordinary tale of how this beautiful city became the cradle of the Renaissance and one of Europe’s most powerful states. Our expert-guided tour takes you back in time to the glory days of the 15th and 16th centuries as we explore the historic events, visionary minds, and cultural innovations that gave birth to an era of unparalleled artistic and intellectual brilliance. 

On this walking tour of Florence, you’ll be immersed in the stories of renowned figures like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Brunelleschi, men whose towering genius left an indelible mark on Florence's landscape. Learn how powerful princes and eye-wateringly wealthy merchants ponied up the cash to make their magnificent artworks and architectural wonders possible, and witness first-hand how Florence's innovative creative spirit ignited a cultural revolution whose reverberations are still being felt today.

See Florence’s most beautiful landmarks, including the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio

Our itinerary will see us chart a course through the most beautiful part of Florence’s historic centre. Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Florence's history, art, and culture,  discovering iconic landmarks along the way. Gaze up in awe at the jaw-dropping Duomo, capped by Brunelleschi’s extraordinary dome, and get a peek at the cathedral’s iconic bell tower and baptistery in the gentle evening light. 

No tour of Florence would be complete without a stop at historic Piazza della Signoria, dominated by imposing Palazzo Vecchio, original site of Michelangelo’s David sculpture and centre of power in the city for centuries. The Loggia dei Lanzi, meanwhile, is the world’s greatest open-air sculpture gallery, offering a dazzling insight into the artistic splendours of the Renaissance. 

Equally unmissable is the iconic Ponte Vecchio, perhaps the world’s most photographed bridge. A bridge has forded the Arno river here since the 10th century, and the ramshackle medieval construction we see today was built in 1345.  For hundreds of years fish-sellers, butchers, and leather artisans plied their trade along its length, making the Ponte one of the more rough and ready corners of the city. Until, that is, one 16th-century Medici noble, upset by the smell and noise created by these plebeian trades, had them replaced by the more dignified goldsmith shops and jewellers that still occupy the bridge today. In Florence, fascinating historical anecdotes are concealed in every  brick and stone. 

Walk in the footsteps of Dante and Michelangelo through the historic city 

Florence has changed remarkably little since the Middle Ages and Renaissance - the same streets and alleys zigzag and curve their way across town, the same palaces and churches soar majestically into the Tuscan sky as when giants of art and culture like Dante and Michelangelo stalked these streets. As we make our way along the city’s atmospheric streets, we’ll learn all about the fascinating lives of Florence’s greatest sons and daughters. We’ll explore the neighbourhood where Dante lived, and pass by the massive Gothic church of Santa Maria Novella, where contemporary paintings dramatically visualised the elemental world of heaven and hell dreamed up by the great poet.  

Soak up the atmosphere of buzzing Oltrarno with a glass of wine on us!

Our introduction to Florence tour will do more than give you the lowdown on the architectural treasures and historical fascinations of Florence. The pleasures of the palate are also a fundamental aspect of the tapestry of life in the city: from the meaty bistecca Fiorentina to  vegetarian classics like ribollita and pappa al pomodoro, Tuscan gastronomy is famous for its delectable specialties. And for lovers of the grape, let’s not forget that the region is one of the world’s most renowned wine-growing regions - think Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino!

Get to grips with the fundamentals of Florentine cuisine in the company of our guide, and end your tour with a complimentary glass of wine on us at an atmospheric enoteca in the buzzing Oltrarno neighbourhood on the Arno’s southern bank. As the wine and conversation begin to flow, you’ll be well and truly immersed in the rhythms of the city, and ready to plan the rest of your adventure in Florence!