Florence Palazzo Vecchio and Arnolfo Tower Sunset Tour with Optional Dinner or Aperitivo
Florence, Italy
Rating: 
Trip Type: Cultural Tours
Duration: 90 minutes
Experience one of Florence’s greatest treasures, the Palazzo Vecchio, at sunset on this 1.5-hour tour. With a professional guide, explore the former hub of Florentine power, admiring its art-filled rooms and stunning Hall of the Five Hundred. Then, gaze at twilit Florence on a tour of the battlements, and choose to climb the palace’s Arnolfo Tower for bird’s-eye views. Upgrade to include a traditional 'aperitivo' (a glass of wine and appetizers) or dinner overlooking Piazza della Signoria. Numbers are limited to 25 on the palace tour for a personalized experience.
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Experience one of Florence’s greatest treasures, the Palazzo Vecchio, at sunset on this 1.5-hour tour. With a professional guide, explore the former hub of Florentine power, admiring its art-filled rooms and stunning Hall of the Five Hundred. Then, gaze at twilit Florence on a tour of the battlements, and choose to climb the palace’s Arnolfo Tower for bird’s-eye views. Upgrade to include a traditional 'aperitivo' (a glass of wine and appetizers) or dinner overlooking Piazza della Signoria. Numbers are limited to 25 on the palace tour for a personalized experience.
Book your selected tour and, on the day, meet your guide in the early evening at the Piazza della Signoria in central Florence.
Admire the plain 14th-century façade of the fortress-palace, and hear how it was the hub of Florentine civic power for centuries, and is still home to the city council.
As you admire the exterior, take in the crenelated battlements and 311-foot (95-meter) Arnolfo Tower, the clock tower that is Florence’s second highest viewpoint after Bruneschelli’s Dome.
Enter the palace with your guide and explore it opulent interiors. As you walk, learn how the building became home to Florence’s first Medici ruler, Cosimo I, in 1540, and how the Medicis went on to rule the city for centuries, acting as patrons of the arts.
Ogle the courtyard by Michelozzo and see the main chambers, halls and boardrooms filled with Renaissance paintings, frescoes and statues by greats including Michelangelo, Donatello and Giorgio Vasari.
Marvel at the showpiece Hall of the Five Hundred, with its Vasari battle frescoes, and view other highlights, including the study of Francesco I Medici and chambers of Cosimo’s wife, Eleonora of Toledo.
As dusk takes hold, climb to the rooftop for a guided walk around the battlements 130 feet (40 meters) above the square. Gaze at the sunset-washed city, and if you wish, climb the Arnolfo Tower for even more spectacular views.
After approximately 1.5 hours, your guide will depart, ending your tour and leaving you to continue exploring and leave as you wish.
Tour with Aperitivo or Dinner Upgrade:
After your palace tour as described, why not cap your evening with an aperitivo or dinner? Upgrade to either option, and after your tour, walk to a traditional restaurant on Piazza della Signoria. Leave your guide and go inside to enjoy an aperitivo or dinner complemented by views of the beautiful square, now ablaze with lights.
Your aperitivo will consist of a glass of prosecco or soda and snacks, while the 4-course dinner will comprise of classics such as pasta and roast pork (see the Itinerary for sample aperitivo and dinner menu), served with water and with other drinks available to purchase.
After your aperitivo or dinner, make your own way back to your hotel.
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