Santa Croce and Guided Walking Tour in Florence
- 2h 30m
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- 5 languages
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross) church in Florence, also known as the "Temple of the Italian Glories" as it is being the burial place of some famous Italians like Galileo, Michelangelo, Machiavelli and etc. Explore the immense artistic wealth in Santa Croce with the interior, the exterior which is covered with a polychrome marble façade, the Bell Tower, Crypt and the 16 Chapels. Later in the afternoon embark on a walking tour to view the most famous attractions and squares of the Florence city. Tour Highlights • Temple of the Italian Glories ( Tempio dell'Itale Glorie) • Burial place of several Florentine and Italian masters such as Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Galileo Galilee, Rossini and more • Find frescos by Giotto and a chapel designed by Brunelleschi • Walk over the famous Old Bridge • Learn from a professional guide who will show you the city's hidden treasures
Inclusions
What's included
- Entrance Ticket with reservation to the Santa Croce
- Guided city walking tour
- Radio system to hear the guide
- Officially Certified Guide
What's not
- Food and drinks
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Transportation to/from attractions
- Entrance tickets to the attractions of the walking tour
Itinerary
Start the tour in the main square, where the famous soccer game played in medieval costumes, the Calcio Storico Florentino takes place every year in June. Your guide will describe in detail all the immense artistic wealth in Santa Croce; frescoes (1380) by Gaddi in the Cappella Maggiore tell the story of "Santa Croce", and beautiful frescoes by Giotto in the Bardi and Peruzzi Chapels show scenes from the life of St. Francis and St. John the Evangelist. On your way to the left of the entrance, see the memorial of the 19th-century playwright Giovanni Battista Niccolini built as an inspiration for the Statue of Liberty. As you walk through the hallowed walls, learn about the art of Donatello and his crucifix, one of the jewels of the Renaissance, as well as the art of Brunelleschi and the perfect architectural harmony of his Chapel of Fools.
See the monumental cemetery and damaged paintings and that was destroyed in the tragic flood of 1966 and have been subsequently restored. After visiting the interior, learn about the exterior which is covered with a polychrome marble façade. Finally, the guide will tour you around the Bell Tower, Crypt and the 16 chapels. The tour takes about an hour, and you will have the opportunity to return to anything you might want to see again after the tour ends.
From the point of the meeting, the guide will give you an insight into the history of this Renaissance city and how this incredible cultural movement of the Renaissance transformed not only Florence but eventually the rest of Europe. The guide will start off with Piazza Della Republica, the main square of Florence that marks the center of the City. After a little talk of history & the changes of Piazza Republica since its origin, you will walk straight to the marvelous piece of art, the Piazza Della Duomo. A showstopper of Filippo Brunelleschi, Giotto, Arnolfo & Francesco Talenti.
Walk passing the Duomo Square the guide will lead you straight through the old buildings and some of the historical landmarks of Florence to Palazzo Vecchio, where David’s’ sculpture (the original is in the Galleria dell'Accademia) by Michelangelo is placed outside the Palazzo Vecchio as a symbol of the Republic's defiance of the tyrannical Medici.
Afterward, as you walk past the Palazzo Vecchio, the guide will explain to you about the Uffizi Gallery, one of the greatest museums of the world, and then you will reach the most famous old bridge in Florence known as “Ponte Vecchio”.
Your next stop is Palazzo Pitti, the enormous palace of Florence's largest architectural monuments of Filippo Brunelleschi and the household of the Pitti Family, later of the Medicis’. The tour takes about two hours, enough time to help you understand the uniqueness and beauty of Florence city.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Walking Tour Meeting Point - The tour will operate at 17.00 as mentioned on the vouchers. Please be present in front of the Hard Rock Cafe Firenze (Via dei Brunelleschi, Piazza della Repubblica, 1, 50123 Firenze FI)
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 18 travellers
- Operated by
- Star Florence
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Confirmation will be received at the time of booking
- A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements
- A refusal of entry due to inappropriate dress code, the tour will not be rescheduled or refunded
- Walking Tour is subject to favourable weather conditions. If cancelled due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date.
How it compares in Florence
- Its from-price is 66% below the median of the 3255 experiences we list in Florence.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Florence
Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance, gathers masterpieces of art and architecture into a compact city of stone streets beside the Arno.
The Duomo, with Brunelleschi's great red-brick dome, Giotto's bell tower and the Baptistery's gilded doors, marks the centre of town. A few streets away, Piazza della Signoria and the Palazzo Vecchio face a loggia full of sculpture, and the Uffizi Gallery holds Botticelli, Leonardo and Raphael. Michelangelo's David stands in the Galleria dell'Accademia.
Top-ranked sights in Florence: Piazza della Signoria, Uffizi Galleries (Gallerie degli Uffizi), Florence Duomo (Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore).
Special offers in Florence
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
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