Join the group at the Basilica Di San Lorenzo and meet your informative and friendly local guide who will take you on a journey of discovery that few tourists ever get to experience. Start with the the Piazza della Signoria near the impressive Palazzo Vecchio where you will learn how the square got its name. A short stroll away you’ll find yourself among the pint-sized jewelry shops as you cross the River Arno via the Ponte Vecchio. Learn how the medieval bridge was intended to be an important city defense. Enjoy the fascinating tale about the bridge’s hidden passageway that was built for the wealthy Cosimo I de Medici. See the inscription by Dante marking the site of the Amidel murder and absorb 2,000 years of history as you visit the Roman Forum, now the Piazza della Repubblica. Learn about the Renaissance awakening of artistic and cultural appreciation in Florence during the 15th century and hear about residents such as Machiavelli, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Donatello and Petrarch and the mark they left through their literary and artistic talents. Discover lesser-known spots such as the artisan Oltrarno Quarter where you will spot some wonderful backstreet cafes and delis to return to later. Dive down narrow passageways to emerge in quiet quarters of the city where everyday life rumbles on at an unhurried pace. Join the hustle and bustle in the Mercato Centrale where fresh produce, cheese, meat and fish provide a wonderful aroma such as only Italian foods can generate! Smell the leather as you walk through the Mercato Nuovo and learn the stories of tanners and leather smiths who relied on the river for their livelihoods. Take time to look up at the awe-inspiring sculptures under the Loggia dei Lanzi and admire the surrounding architecture in the Piazza della Signoria. Familiarize yourself with the artistic and architectural achievements of the Florentines in the Renaissance, and stroll by the Orsanmichele church as you explore how medieval crafts turned into Renaissance artistic leadership.