R3 · Full Day in Florence

An excursion which begins with a transfer from the hotel to Rome Termini Station in order to take a fast speed train to Florence. Florence, located on the banks of the Arno River, was a Roman stronghold in the 1st century BC but began to come into its own as a commercial and cultural center beginning in 1200 AD. During the 13th century, the construction of several important buildings began, and, as the city’s wealth grew, works of art were commissioned to adorn the churches and palaces. This revival of interest in art and architecture brought about the Italian Renaissance, an amazing outburst of activity between the 14th and 16th centuries, which completely changed the face of this Tuscan town. During its heyday under the benevolent eye of the Medicis, the city was lavishly decorated with churches, places, galleries and monuments, creating one of the world’s greatest collections of art treasures. The list of geniuses who lived or worked in Florence is stunning: Dante, Boccaccio, Fra Angelico, Brunelleschi, Donatello, Ghiberti, Raphael, Titian, Leonardo da Vinci, Giotto and Michelangelo. Efforts to preserve Florence as the “Jewel of the Renaissance” have been successful, inspite of all the calamities it has suffered during the past 400 years. Wars and floods have damaged some of its treasures, while all of the medieval bridges that once spanned the Arno are gone, except for the Ponte Vecchio. But today Florence shines again almost as brightly as it did in the days of Michelangelo, and with this adventure you will enjoy a taste of what this magnificent city has to offer. You will visit first the Academy of Fine Arts where the original David by Michelangelo is displayed, along with the Master’s unfinished Prisoners. The walking tour continues on to the enchanting Cathedral (Duomo) with Brunelleschi’s magnificent Dome (viewed from inside), passing along Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Baptistery with its bronze "The Door of Paradise" by Ghiberti, Piazza della Signoria, the former political center of the city, which displays an outdoor museum and where stands Palazzo Vecchio, the seat of the government when the city was ruled by the Medici family. Lunch at leisure and in the early afternoon some time at leisure for some shopping or for deepen your preferred historic city aspect. Our guides will be pleased to give you the best advices. At pre-arranged time meet the group for your return to Rome via a fast speed train and then transfer from the Rome station to the hotel.