Medici Florence & Tuscan Food Tour

Medici Florence Tour Itinerary

This guided walking tour of the Florence of the Medici family will take you to some of the Italian city's most important monuments, revealing the history of the richest family in Italy and their huge impact on the art and architecture of the region. You'll visit the Palazzo Pitti, a majestic Renaissance palace. It was bought by the Medicis in 1549 and was their chief place of residence for 200 years.

Inside the Pitti Palace, the Medici family would hold extravagant parties and banquets as a display of their power and wealth. Did you know that this family governed Florence for 350 years? Your expert guide will explain their history and reveal curious facts surrounding them while you contemplate the famous Vasari Corridor, a covered passageway that connects the palace with the Palazzo Vecchio, commissioned by the Duke Cosimo I de' Medici in 1565 so that he could pass freely between the palaces without having to be seen. It passes over the River Arno, built on top of the shops on Ponte Vecchio, and even goes through the Santa Felicita Church, so that the Medicis could attend mass without mixing with the public.

The famous dynasty left their imprint on practically every branch of society during their time. Amongst the family members, there were three popes, two queens, various military leaders and a number of politicians, like Lorenzo "The Magnificent". This ruler of Republic of Florence was a true patron of Renaissance arts, sponsoring artists including Buonarroti, da Vinci and Botticelli... You'll hear lots more about "the Magnificent" as you pass the impressive Palazzo Medici.

Tuscan Street Food Tasting

Not only will you experience the history of Tuscany and its beautiful capital on this tour, but you'll also have the opportunity to delight your taste buds with its cuisine. Before finishing off your guided route around the city centre at around 2:45 pm, you'll make a total of three stops at different street food stalls in the old quarter. At each one, you'll try a speciality of local gastronomy.

Sample a selection of salumi, a tasting plate of Italian cold cut meats; coccoli or Tuscan fried bread dough, a popular snack of Florentines for many years; and gelato, homemade ice cream. For the perfect accompaniment, enjoy a glass of Gottino, a wine from the Tuscan region of Chianti.