Florence: Guided Walking Tour with Accademia Gallery Visit

Explore the birthplace of Renaissance Art & Culture - Take a guided walking tour of Florence to see its most famous sights including the Accademia Gallery, Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and Piazza della Signoria! Start your tour at the magnificent Piazza della Signoria, which has functioned as the political center of Florence for centuries (since the mid-14th century).

Stand at the base of the Palazzo Vecchio (a 94m/New tallest building in Florence, tallest ever in Florence), which is an iconic building that has been in existence for many years.

If you look closely at the entrance to the Palazzo, you will see a replica of Michelangelo's original David statue; the statue was originally outside of the Palazzo until 1873, representing the strength and independence of Florence's government at that time.

A mere short distance away, one can discover the Loggia dei Lanzi, an extraordinary open-air gallery showcasing sculptures that bring Renaissance masterpieces to life.

The Rape of the Sabine Women is a famous sculpture made by the artist Giambologna, and it shows how talented he truly is, as it was entirely carved from one piece of marble.

The figures are so well-defined, with their extremely dynamic poses and fluid lines, that they appear to be weightless or suspended in space.

Following the historic main street of Florence (Via Calziuloli) you come upon Orsanmichele; a beautiful structure recounting the story of the guild system in Florence.

At last, your walk concludes at Piazza San Giovanni (the birthplace of the state) and where the incredible Duomo (the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore) stands.

As you look out from Florence, you'll see the magnificent dome of Brunelleschi's Dome; this is considered to be the largest dome of all time made from brick alone.

Adjacent to each other, Ghiberti's stunning "Gates of Paradise" at the Baptistery, Giotto's gorgeous Bell Tower, and the Baptistry's fabulous marble details, all combine harmoniously as a remarkable representation of the medieval and renaissance architectural styles.

Once you are done exploring Florence's historical center, which is an outdoor museum by itself (1 hour), you can also visit the Accademia Gallery and do part 2 of your tour (2nd hour).

The Accademia Gallery has, as its most famous piece, Michelangelo's David, who has attracted visitors to this gallery because he is very well proportioned and has a very expressive face.

Michelangelo’s statue David was created when he was only 26 years old from an unused block of marble rejected by previous artists.

To get the maximum enjoyment out of your experience of viewing David, make sure to look at David from a variety of perspectives.

Each perspective will show you something unique about David that you cannot see from another perspective; thus, if you want to appreciate David as much as possible, look at him from as many different perspectives as possible because David is the most famous piece of art ever created.

During the Accademia, we will be looking at a series of sculptures by Michelangelo known as the Prisoners/Slaves which were not completed allowing insight into Michelangelo's methods of creation.

The sculptures appear to be fighting to break free of their prison in marble and also reflect Michelangelo's view on sculpture being an avenue to free a figure from confinement in rock.

The wonderful collection of Gothic and Early Renaissance Art that has many of history's greatest painters represented, such as Botticelli and Ghirlandaio, can be enjoyed at this museum! You will also want to stop by the Musical Instruments Museum, which has many rare instruments including Stradivari violins and historic pianos.

If you made it through a guided tour, you can remain in the gallery as long as you'd like and contemplate your favorite pieces or continue to explore the other collections at your leisure!