Tour difficulty

  • Easy
  • Medium
  • Hard

Duration

10 hours

Rome Walking Tours: Day Excursions

Florence in a Day from Rome

 

Description

Your driver will pick you up at your accommodations and take you directly to Rome’s train station to board the high-speed train to Florence, where your tour guide will be waiting for you. Among the sights you’ll see before lunch are the Piazza della Signoria and its beautiful outdoor sculptures, symbols of the rise of municipal power, and the Piazza della Repubblica, originally the old Roman forum and later the site of the main markets and Jewish ghetto. The tour will continue to the Piazza del Duomo, the location of the cathedral complex, which includes the Baptistery, Giotto’s Campanile, and the fifteenth century cathedral designed by Arnolfo di Cambio and Filippo Brunelleschi. The Baptistery, used as the main church until the Cathedral was completed, is famous for its magnificent entrance doors designed by Lorenzo Ghiberti in 1425 and dubbed “the Gates of Paradise” by Michelangelo. You will continue to the Ponte Vecchio, a symbol of Florence, and until 1218 the city’s only bridge across the Arno. It supported all types of shops until 1593, when Ferdinand I banished the butchers and fishmongers to less choice real estate and decreed that only goldsmiths and jewelers be allowed to occupy the high-rent premises. After lunch at a selected restaurant, you will visit the world-famous Uffizi Gallery, where your guide will focus on masterpieces by Giotto, Botticelli, da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Tiziano, and Caravaggio. Alternatively, you can visit the Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo’s Prisoners and the original sculpture of David. Your guide will then accompany you to the train station in time for your “Freccia Rossa” back to Rome, where a driver will meet you and take you back to your accommodations.

What's Included

  • Expert, licensed English-speaking guide
  • Round-trip transportation to the Rome train station
  • Round-trip tickets for the high-speed train to Florence. Seats reserved.
  • Private tour of the main sites of Florence including: the Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, the Duomo Complex and the Uffizi Gallery or Accademia Gallery.
  • Skip-the-line tickets
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Other Info

  • This is a private tour – your party only
  • The Museums of Florence are closed on Mondays
  • Modest attire is required in churches and basilicas; knees and shoulders must be covered.
  • Large bags and large umbrellas are not allowed in the museums, and retrieving checked items could affect your ability to cover the entire suggested itinerary.
  • This excursion lasts 10 hours from pick up to drop-off time.
  • Please note that the journey time between Rome and Florence by train is approximately 1.5 hours
  • Please wear comfortable shoes, as this tour requires a fair amount of walking.
  • This tour is not fully accessible for wheelchair users or people with walking disabilities. However, please contact us directly and we will take you on alternative routes suitable for you.

Faq

Is there a dress code I should know about?
There is a dress code for churches and basilicas. Shoulders and knees must be covered; shorts, miniskirts, and sleeveless shirts are not permitted. It is also recommended that you not take large bags or backpacks on tours that include churches as you may not be permitted to enter and storage accommodations are not usually available.
What if there is bad weather?
Our tours operate rain or shine!
Is tipping customary in Italy?
Tipping is indeed customary in Italy ! It is considered a kind gesture and proper etiquette to leave “a little something extra” depending on the level of service you receive. For a private guide it is suggested to leave 15 – 25 euros for a typical 3-hour tour.
What happens after I’ve requested a booking through your website?
Your Own Italy will send a confirmation email within 24 hours of your booking. You will then be invited to make your payment using a link that will be provided.
Can wheelchair users go on this walking tour?
Not all walking tours are fully accessible for wheelchair users or those with walking disabilities. However, if anyone in your group requires special accommodation, please let us know when completing the booking and we will work out suitable alternative routes.
Can tours be modified?
Yes, we will do our best to adjust any tour to accommodate special requests.
How far in advance should I book my walking tour?
Tours should be booked 48 hours in advance. While we cannot guarantee availability if booking occurs in less than 48 hours, we will do our best to accommodate your request.
What are Your Own Italy’s payment terms?
Full payment is due when the tour confirmation email is sent, within 24 hours of your booking. You will be provided with a link to our payment page. We accept Visa, MasterCard, and American Express.
What is your cancellation policy?
Tours must be canceled by email 24 hours prior to the start of the tour. If cancellation is made in less than this time, Your Own Italy cannot guarantee a full refund.
How do I amend a reservation?
Any changes to existing reservations must be requested by email. All efforts will be made to accommodate changes, but they cannot be guaranteed.
What should I do if I have a larger group than the size suggested on the website?
Your Own Italy is delighted to accommodate large groups. Please specify the number in your party when booking, and every effort will be made to organize a tour within the time limits provided.

Meeting Point

Please specify when booking whether you would prefer to meet your private guide at your accommodations or at a designated point near the highlights of the tour.

Duration Of Tour

Walking Tours last approximately 3 hours unless otherwise specified.
Tour times are average – some groups prefer a more leisurely pace with fewer sites, with your private guide, this is your option.