Cultural Tours: Food, Wine, Shopping

Of course Florence is the home of Renaissance Art but there is much more to see and do than just the art! The following tours combine the historical overview of the City Walking Tour with other important cultural aspects of Florence: food, wine, artisans, and shopping! These tours are half day tours that are great on their own, or pair nicely with an Art and History tour for a well-rounded full day itinerary.

Evening Stroll Through Florence: Wine and History

A great way to avoid the midday heat and the crowds! Join me for an evening Walking Tour around Florence. With this tour we have the option to jump right into the walking tour or start with a glass of wine at a local enoteca where I will give you the historical overview of Florence while you sip local wines. On this walking tour we will see the Cathedral complex, Piazza Della Repubblica, Ponte Vecchio, and Piazza della Signoria from outside. Just like with the day time walking tour, I like to take the opportunity to show you my favorite pockets of Florence and give you a bit more of a “local’s experience” including pointing out my favorite artisan shops, bars, restaurants, gelaterias, etc. During the summer months it may be possible to include a late-night visit to Michelangelo’s David at the Accademia Gallery. Ask me for more information.

The Oltrarno: Artisan Traditions from the 15^th Century to Today

This tour takes us into the southern side of the city to the “other side” of the Arno river. Today the Oltrarno is known for its artisan traditions and workshops. Walking around the area, you will notice it gives off the feeling of being transported back to an earlier time. The tour combines visits to 15^th century monuments, like the Brancacci Chapel and Santo Spirito, with visits to 3 or 4 local artisan workshops. The workshops visited on the tour are catered to your interests and depend on opening times.

History with a Side of Shopping Tour

If you are interested in a walking tour around Florence but want to make sure you have enough time for shopping this tour is for you. Florence is home to big name fashion houses like Ferragamo and Gucci, but many come here for the small boutique shops and the hand-made artisan products. On this tour we will cover the cities main highlights like the Cathedral complex, Piazza Della Repubblica, Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria from the exterior while leaving ample time to discover the city’s shops. Let me know what type of shopping you are interested in and I will weave a custom itinerary together that includes harder to find and lesser known Florentine shops and boutiques.

History with a Side of Food Tour

This tour is for those who love the history AND the food in Italy! This itinerary mixes together the main sites of the City Walking Tour with a few stops along the way at Florentine food staples. A morning walking tour will start off at one of Florence’s historical coffee bars where we will have an explanation of the Italian coffee culture and a tasting of the pastries before working our way up to lunch foods. An afternoon or lunch time tour might start with a tasting of Lampredotto or a tagliere of salame and cheese. No food tour would be complete without a gelato stop! While visiting the city’s main sites from the exterior, including the Cathedral complex, Piazza Della Repubblica, Ponte Vecchio, and Piazza della Signoria, we’ll have time for 3-4 quick stops for food tastings as we learn about the city’s past. Come prepared with an empty stomach.