Palazzo Vecchio

Palazzo Vecchio is the heart of Florence. Built in 1299 to house the leaders of the medieval city it is the symbol of the city’s history. The golden age of Palazzo Vecchio began when the Medici family decided to turn it into a real palace, making it the family residence. During your visit, you’ll be able to admire the architecture of the palazzo, and its sculptures and paintings, and learn about its rich and complex history over the centuries. Your visit to the Palazzo Vecchio will be enhanced with a choice of an audioguide available in five languages—Italian, English, Spanish, French, and German—or a multimedia guide on a 7-inch tablet that provides fascinating audio-video narration with images in high definition and spectacular 3D re-creations. Upgrade your experience to include Arnolfo's Tower, and enjoy the fantastic views from the tower's summit. Visit the tower first, then head to the museum 1 hour later.

Uncover the secrets of Florence on this guided walking tour. See the city's top sites and decode its hidden symbols with the help of your guide and learn about the history of attractions like the iconic Dome of the Catedral de Santa María del Fiore.  Meet your guide in the elegant Piazza di San Lorenzo where you can see the distinct mixture of Renaissance and Romanesque architecture of the Basilica of San Lorenzo. Discover little-known, fun facts about the city and how it gave birth to the Renaissance. Be transported back in time as you hear about the intrigues of one of the most powerful dynasties of all time, the Medici family. Explore the traces of their astounding impact on the city, and admire several buildings related to various generations of the family. End your tour outside the famed Uffizi Gallery and get tips on how to eat, shop, and drink like a local with expert advice and recommendations from your guide.

Begin your tour by visiting the most important buildings in the heart of Florence. See the Duomo, the Baptistery of Saint John, the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo,  which is a museum containing many of the original works of art created for the Cathedral of Florence, and Giotto’s Bell Tower which stands adjacent to the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore. Then, move towards Piazza della Signoria where you can admire the sculpture of David by Michelangelo, placed outside the Palazzo Vecchio as a symbol of the Republic's defiance of the tyrannical Medici. Next, visit Ponte Vecchio Bridge, the most famous bridge in Florence and undoubtedly one of the city’s most illustrious landmarks. Throughout the tour, your professional guide will show you hidden places that most people don’t notice while walking in the city. With a perfect mix of information, covering history, and curiosities about the Medici and the Renaissance, you will understand the essence of this beautiful city.

This tour allows visits to a suite of off-the-beaten-path locations in Palazzo Vecchio Museum. Among them is the mysterious stairway built in the thick walls by the will of Gualtieri di Brienee. Skip the line and head off on a 75-minute guided tour. Discover the small study of Francesco I de’ Medici, a very elegant treasure "of rare and precious things," and the desk of his father Cosimo I, more widely known as Tesoretto. To round off the experience, hear about the huge trussed structure built by the great architect Giorgio Vasari, which supports the paneled ceiling of the Salone del Cinquecento, the main room of the palace.

Meet your host in-front of main door of palazzo and david statue in the square to get your voucher exchange with tickets as they provide some fascinating information about the Palazzo Vecchio before taking you to the skip-the-line entrance to this Town Hall that was founded in 1299 and built to showcase the grandeur of Renaissance Florence. Be greeted by the elegant arches, columns, and frescoes depicting city views and mythological scenes in the Courtyard of Michelozzo, designed by architect Michelozzo Michelozzi in the 15th century. Enter the Hall of the Five Hundred (Salone dei Cinquecento) a vast hall built to accommodate the meetings of the Grand Council of Florence that features gilded decorations, epic military frescos, and a monumental statue of Hercules and Cacus by Bandinelli. Look up in the hall to see paintings that celebrate the life of Cosimo I. Be surrounded by the artistry and architectural brilliance of the Renaissance where each room tells a story of the city's political and cultural history, from the Medici family's rule to the Republic of Florence.

Palazzo Vecchio was the home of Medici family, and an important site of the Renaissance. Renowned as the main symbol of civil power of Florence, learn more about the vast history of the palace with a 90-minute guided tour.  See the "Salone dei Cinquecento”, the Hall which is the largest and most important room in terms of artistic and historical value inside the palace. Marvel at paneled ceilings, large wall frescoes, golden decorations, and imposing sculptures. Explore the second floor of the palace, featuring the elegant Apartments of the Elements, the Apartments of Eleonora of Toledo, and the original Hall of Priors, along with many small chambers and a chapel frescoed by Bronzino.

See the highlights of Florence on a private tour by golf cart. Marvel at the architectural splendors of the Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, and Ponte Vecchio and learn about the sites with an audio guide. Start with pickup from your hotel, meet your driver, and customize the tour to your preference. Ride on an eco-friendly golf cart through the city and cover more ground in less time. Admire the views of famous sites like the Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, and Ponte Vecchio. Ride past the Uffizi Gallery, Palazzo Pitti, Piazza Santa Croce, Piazza Santo Spirito, Piazza Santa Maria Novella, and San Lorenzo. Learn more about the city with an onboard audio guide offered in multiple languages. Choose to add an optional stop at Piazzale Michelangelo for panoramic views of the city.

Experience the history of Florence through learning about the contributions of the infamous Medici family while seeing their influence on the city first-hand. Visit the Medici Chapel and see the gorgeous mosaic work. Listen as your expert guide takes you on a tour of the past, and hear how money and power drove an intense rivalry between the Strozzi, Pazzi, and Medici families. Discover the secrets and mysteries of the Medici family as your English-speaking guide takes you through the old streets and squares. Stroll through the traces left by the most extraordinary members of the Medici dynasty. Enter the Medici Chapel where most of the remaining remnants of the family found their last shelter on your own. See the sparkling semi-precious stones in the Florentine mosaic Commesso Fiorentino.

Join a private or small group guided tour in Florence to explore one of the most captivating eras in the city’s rich history, where the renowned Medici family took center stage. Benefit from skip-the-line access to the Medici Chapel. Follow your guide to the highlight of this tour, featuring the stunning octagonal Medici Chapel adorned with inlaid marble, and the extraordinary burials decorated by Michelangelo in the New Sacristy, where members of the Medici family rest today. Admire the Chapel of the Princes, adorned with marble and sparkling, semi-precious stones. Learn about Michelangelo’s Secret Room, where the artist hid for many weeks in 1530, all from an external viewpoint. Discover the family’s hidden crypt unknown to many tourists. This vaulted chamber remained undiscovered until 2004 when researchers lifted a stone slab behind the chapels’ main altar. Visit the locations featured in “Medici: Masters of Florence” and learn about the lives of key family members like Lorenzo the Magnificent, Cosimo the Elder, and Piero the Unfortunate. Delve into their intense rivalries with other prominent families, such as the Strozzis and the Pazzis. Next, See the exterior of Palazzo Medici Riccardi while exploring the rich history of the Medici family with your guide. Uncover the delicate relationship between art and power as your expert guide enlightens you about the Medici’s influence on Florence. Admire the intricate decorations of the courtyard from the outside. Venture into the charming streets of the San Lorenzo neighborhood to explore this historic district. Learn about the family’s founders and the rapid success of their bank, which became one of the most successful in Europe. Marvel at the exceptional design and architecture of the Basilica di San Lorenzo from the square. Stroll across Piazza del Duomo, then make your way to Piazza della Signoria, the political heart of Florence since the 14th century. Discover how the medieval government building was transformed into a Medici Palace in 1540. Visit the Palazzo Vecchio from an exclusive vantage point. Conclude your tour at the Piazzale degli Uffizi, reflecting on the art, power, and hidden secrets that shaped one of the most powerful families in Renaissance history. At the end of the tour, your knowledgeable guide will be delighted to offer valuable suggestions to enhance the rest of your unforgettable Florence experience.

Palazzo Vecchio is the heart of Florence, a symbol of the city since medieval times to the modern days. Made in 1299 in which it acted as a seat for the governing of citizens, the building started its golden age the moment when the Medici family moved into the Palazzo, transforming it into the beautiful palace of extraordinary richness that it is today. The guided visit pulls you into the imense wealth, extraordinary decorations, masterpieces and even an access to a secret passage through the beautiful camerino of Bianca Cappello, second wife of the Granduke Francesco I de’Medici.