Private Guided Tour of Florence Basilicas and their Cloisters
Florence, Italy
Trip Type: Private Sightseeing Tours
Duration: 3 hours
The invaluable artistic treasures and beautiful Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance architecture of the spectacular churches of Santa Croce, San Lorenzo and Santa Maria Novella and the charm of the ancient cloisters, evocative oases of peace and greenery in the heart of the city.
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The invaluable artistic treasures and beautiful Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance architecture of the spectacular churches of Santa Croce, San Lorenzo and Santa Maria Novella and the charm of the ancient cloisters, evocative oases of peace and greenery in the heart of the city.A guided tour in discovery of the city, following a path that leads us through the entire historic centre, inviting us into the intimate hospitality of buildings in which Florence's history, art and religious beliefs come together in indescribable harmony.
Our tour begins at the Basilica of Santa Croce, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture with a facade clad in polychrome marble. We will admire the beautiful frescoes by Giotto and Agnolo Gaddi, the “Crucifix” and “Annunciation” by Donatello and the world-famous funerary monuments and tombs of illustrious figures from the past such as Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli. Next, we will enter the elegant “Brunelleschi Cloister” bordered by columns carved from pure stone, and then pass into the fourteenth-century “Ancient Cloister” at the end of which lies the beautiful “Pazzi Chapel”, a sublime example of Renaissance harmony, also the work of Brunelleschi.
Left the Basilica, we will arrive at the famous Piazza della Signoria, a concentration of architectural and sculptural masterpieces which has no equal in the world. Here begins the fascinating story of the powerful Medici family whose history was tied to that of the city for more than three centuries.
We will then pass into the Piazza del Duomo, the city's religious centre, where we will be able admire the Cathedral with its famous Dome, the Baptistery and Giotto's Campanile (bell tower).
In the heart of the lively Medici quarter, we will find ourselves in front of the Basilica of San Lorenzo, Florence's oldest church, consecrated in 393 by Sant'Ambrogio. Inside the Basilica is the “Old Sacristy” by Brunelleschi with the tombs of the founders of the Medici family and works by Donatello, Bronzino, Filippo Lippi, Rosso Fiorentino and Pontormo. Leaving the church, we will enter in the impressive “Cloister of the Canons” at the centre of which stands an imposing 16th-century orange tree which was dear to the Medici family and became a kind of symbol of their dynasty.
Finally, we will head towards the striking square where the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella stands with its splendid Renaissance façade by Leon Battista Alberti covered with white and green marble. Inside the Basilica, founded by the Dominican Fathers at the beginning of 1200, we will have the chance to see masterpieces such as the "Crucifix" by Giotto the "Trinity" by Masaccio and the spectacular frescoes by Filippino Lippi and Ghirlandaio. Our tour ends inside the elegant "Green Cloister" so named for its beautiful murals in green earth by Paolo Uccello. At the end of the visit, enrich your tour with a delicious 2-course “à la carte” Lunch, in a Typical Trattoria of Florence city centre (lunch not included for kids younger than 7).
Our tour begins at the Basilica of Santa Croce, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture with a facade clad in polychrome marble. We will admire the beautiful frescoes by Giotto and Agnolo Gaddi, the “Crucifix” and “Annunciation” by Donatello and the world-famous funerary monuments and tombs of illustrious figures from the past such as Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli. Next, we will enter the elegant “Brunelleschi Cloister” bordered by columns carved from pure stone, and then pass into the fourteenth-century “Ancient Cloister” at the end of which lies the beautiful “Pazzi Chapel”, a sublime example of Renaissance harmony, also the work of Brunelleschi.
Left the Basilica, we will arrive at the famous Piazza della Signoria, a concentration of architectural and sculptural masterpieces which has no equal in the world. Here begins the fascinating story of the powerful Medici family whose history was tied to that of the city for more than three centuries.
We will then pass into the Piazza del Duomo, the city's religious centre, where we will be able admire the Cathedral with its famous Dome, the Baptistery and Giotto's Campanile (bell tower).
In the heart of the lively Medici quarter, we will find ourselves in front of the Basilica of San Lorenzo, Florence's oldest church, consecrated in 393 by Sant'Ambrogio. Inside the Basilica is the “Old Sacristy” by Brunelleschi with the tombs of the founders of the Medici family and works by Donatello, Bronzino, Filippo Lippi, Rosso Fiorentino and Pontormo. Leaving the church, we will enter in the impressive “Cloister of the Canons” at the centre of which stands an imposing 16th-century orange tree which was dear to the Medici family and became a kind of symbol of their dynasty.
Finally, we will head towards the striking square where the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella stands with its splendid Renaissance façade by Leon Battista Alberti covered with white and green marble. Inside the Basilica, founded by the Dominican Fathers at the beginning of 1200, we will have the chance to see masterpieces such as the "Crucifix" by Giotto the "Trinity" by Masaccio and the spectacular frescoes by Filippino Lippi and Ghirlandaio. Our tour ends inside the elegant "Green Cloister" so named for its beautiful murals in green earth by Paolo Uccello. At the end of the visit, enrich your tour with a delicious 2-course “à la carte” Lunch, in a Typical Trattoria of Florence city centre (lunch not included for kids younger than 7).
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