Florence: Art, Markets, and Tuscan Cuisine, Small-Group Day Tour

The Basilica di Santa Croce is the largest Franciscan church in the world. Measuring 377 ft (115 m) long and 124 ft (38 m) in width, it is the second biggest temple in Florence, exceeded only by the Cathedral.

The church was established in 1294 on the same site where a small chapel had previously been built to commemorate the death of Saint Francis of Assisi. When the construction of the Basilica was completed, the principal Dominican church, Santa Maria Novella, was sidelined.

The Basilica of the Holy Cross (Santa Croce) is also called the Temple of the Italian Glories because it is the resting place of many illustrious Italians. Its mausoleum has nearly 300 tombs dating from the fourteenth to the nineteenth century.

Some of the most renowned people buried in Santa Croce are Galileo Galilei, Machiavelli, Lorenzo Ghiberti or Michelangelo.

Visit the San Lorenzo Market, starting from the outdoor section, which extends along the various picturesque streets surrounding the Central Market building. Hundreds of stalls line both sides of the streets display ceramics, clothing, stationery, souvenirs, and a variety of leather goods, including bags, belts, wallets, and jackets.

Whether you're looking for something to do with the whole family, a lunch with typically Tuscan flavors, a search for those special ingredients needed for a successful local recipe, or a souvenir to take home, the San Lorenzo Market is the right place for you! The Market is actually divided into two separate sections: one is indoors, commonly known as the Central Market, and primarily dedicated to food; the other is outdoors, extending along the narrow streets surrounding the large Central Market building.

Wander through medieval streets, visit artisans’ workshops, and admire masterpieces by Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, and Michelangelo, including the world-renowned David at the Accademia Gallery.

The majestic Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore dominates the Florence skyline with its famous dome designed by Brunelleschi, you will have the opportunity to admire its exterior, along with the Baptistery and Giotto’s Bell Tower, completing one of the city’s most iconic views.

The Baptistery of San Giovanni Battista stands opposite the Cathedral, in Piazza San Giovanni. Built in Florentine Romanesque style, the Baptistery has an octagonal plan and is topped by an eight-part dome. It features three magnificent bronze doors by Andrea Pisano and the more famous Lorenzo Ghiberti.

Giotto's Bell Tower is the Cathedral's majestic bell tower and one of the masterpieces of Italian Gothic architecture. It has a square base measuring approximately 15 meters per side, with corner reinforcements rising to a horizontally cantilevered crown 84.7 meters high.

Piazza della Signoria, the political heart of Florence from the Middle Ages to the present day, began to take its current form in 1268, when the Guelph party regained control of the city and razed 36 houses belonging to their rival Ghibellines, prohibiting new construction in the vacated spaces. Thus was born the distinctive L-shaped square.

Piazza della Signoria is surrounded by some of the city's most famous buildings, beginning with Palazzo Vecchio, in front of which stands a copy of Michelangelo's David (the original can be admired in the Galleria dell'Accademia).

Ponte Vecchio is the city's most famous and iconic landmark, a symbol of the romanticism that envelops Florence.
Ponte Vecchio was built in 1345 and is the oldest stone bridge in Europe. In the 15th and 16th centuries, the bridge's suspended houses were occupied by butchers and slaughterhouses, but when the court moved to Palazzo Pitti, Ferdinand I ordered the closure of these businesses due to the foul odor emanating from dead livestock. Since then, these commercial premises have been occupied by jewelers and goldsmiths.