Tourist Guides

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Unqualified guiding is not permitted by the Italian Law.
Therefore, when booking a local guide in any Italian city, it is your right to ask for proof that he or she holds a license before closing any deal. Under present regulations in Italy, as in most European countries, there is no such thing as a "docent", "lecturer", "art historian" or "cultural association" to deal with when hiring the services of a local guide, either directly or through travel agents. Before showing any personal title or degree, guides must show that they are Licensed Tourist Guides first.

Licensed Tourist Guides are the only professionals permitted to conduct tours in all sites and museums within a city.

To become a Licensed Tourist Guide in Italy – like in most EU countries - candidates must pass an examination given by the local public tourist authorities to assess and test their knowledge of the city in terms of its history and geography, its art and architecture, its museums and art galleries, churches, its environs and cultural features. As part of the requirements, candidates must also prove their knowledge of each of the foreign languages they applied for with oral and written tests.

Licensed Tourist Guides provide a professional service to visitors: they act fairly in all dealings with all those who engage their services together with their colleagues, tourist services purveyors, local tourist boards and cultural insitutions. They protect the reputation of tourism in their own area of operation by taking all steps to ensure that their clients treat the environment, wildlife, sites and monuments and the local customs with respect. Licensed Tourist Guides are ready to share with visitors reliable up-to-date information on all aspects of the local life that may be of any importance to them such as temporary exhibits, food & drink tips, markets, public transport, major events, and local venues.

 

Florence has been one of those iconic cities that people have dreamed of visiting for hundreds of years. During the Renaissance it was a major center of thought, expression and art of all kinds. Many magnificent churches, opulent palaces and impressive monuments were constructed over the centuries, making it one of the most memorable cities in Italy!

1 - Il Duomo (Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore)

Anyone that visits Florence can’t miss the Duomo. Plain and simple. A gorgeous example of renaissance that still holds the title of having the largest masonry dome in the world, and was the largest octagonal dome at the time with no wooden supports. The Duomo stands as a testament to the might and glory of Florence: a marvel of architecture, engineering and art. Next to the Duomo is of course Giotto’s bell tower and in front stands the baptistery with Ghiberti’s famous “Gates of Paradise” doors in front. The whole Piazza del Duomo is an impressive site; walking through the city with the narrow side streets and coming out into the piazza can be a shock for the first time just taking in the scale of the building.

2 - The Uffizi

The Uffizi was built by Cosimo de Medici I to serve as offices for the city officials. Slowly, the Medici’s many acquisitions of art started to decorate the halls. Some sections became more of a place to display art than a workplace. The last heiress of the Medici’s willed the Uffizi and its art to the people of Florence and ever since it has been one of the most visited museums in Italy. It is wise to purchase tickets in advance and to show up early in the day if you plan to visit the Uffizi, as lines are very long in the tourist seasons. Though if you are art lover, the wait is more than worth it! When thinking of Florence, one name repeatedly comes to mind: Medici. The Medici’s were arguably the most powerful family in Tuscany, in Italy from the thirteenth to the seventh centuries. The Medici’s expanded the territory of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany during their rule through military might, political influence, and simple timing as many smaller towns were ravaged by the Plague and suddenly found the advances of Florence more affable in their weakened state. The Medici’s many contributions to the city are still standing as a testament to their rule. One of the most notable of these landmarks is the Palazzo degli Uffizi, sitting serenely off of the Piazza della Signoria across from the Palazzo Vecchio.

3 - Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens

The Palazzo Pitti was originally built by one-time rivals to the Medici’s, but after their family lost much of their wealth the Medici’s bought the Palazzo Pitti and made it their own. Since then it has passed hands many times, a base of power for Napoleon and at one time serving as the home of the King of Italy. Today the Palazzo Pitti is a museum and has many different collections, not just of art but a silver, porcelain, and carriage museum as well. The Boboli Gardens that are behind the Pitti Palace were built for the wife of Cosimo I de Medici, Eleonora di Toledo. The gardens set the style for sixteenth century formal Italian gardens. There was no natural water source for the massive gardens, so a conduit was built to divert some water from the nearby Arno to irrigate the area. Statues seem to be everywhere you look in the gardens, and the grottoes are a peaceful and serene place to relax after a days sightseeing.

4 - Ponte Vecchio

The Ponte Vecchio is a medieval bridge that spans the Arno, connecting the two sides of Florence. It is the only bridge that survived the extensive bombing during World War II. Businesses line the bridge including jewelers, souvenirs, art dealers, gelato, and leatherworkers. The bridge is also well known for the Vasari Corridor, a private hallway built for the Medici’s that connects the Palazzo Vecchio to the Pitti Palace without having to walk the streets of Florence.

5 - Santa Croce

The Basilica of Santa Croce is the largest Franciscan church in the world. Construction on the church started in 1294 and was finished and consecrated by 1442. Santa Croce has sixteen chapels and is the burial place of many great Italians including Michaelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Guglielmo Marconi, Enrico Fermi, and many others. The housing that was at one time used for the Franciscan Friars is now used as a leather school and visitors can watch the artisans as they work their craft.

6 - Bargello

The Bargello was built in the thirteenth century and was originally a city official building, and is the oldest public building in Florence. Also known as the Palazzo del Popolo, or Palace of the People, it was first used a barracks and office building for the Capitano del Popolo. Later it was also used as the office of the Podesta, the highest member of the Florentine city council. In the sixteenth century the office of Podesta was removed by the Medici’s and the chief of police of Florence (or the Bargello) was moved to the building and it was used as a prison, giving the building its modern name. The building was still used in this manner until 1859 when it was made into a national museum. It now houses an impressive collection of Gothic and Renaissance sculpture that makes the Bargello a definite stop for any art lover.

7 - San Lorenzo Street Market

The San Lorenzo Street Market is a great place to go shopping for souvenirs, gifts or clothes. You can find just about anything you would want to bring home from your trip to Tuscany. There are plenty of great deals on leather, wine, purses, wallets, cheeses (vacuum packed available), dried meats, mushrooms, fresh olive oil, marinated olives, and just about anything else you could want. The market is located outside of the San Lorenzo church on three of the surrounding streets and is held each day from 9:00 to 19:30 (9:00am to 7:30pm).

8 - Piazza della Signoria

The Piazza della Signoria is one of the major piazza’s in Florence and contains several different must-sees. The piazza is named after the Palazzo della Signoria, originally built to be offices for government officials that was later taken over by the Medici’s, who moved the government offices to the Uffizi. The home of the Medici’s was later moved to the Pitti Palace, renaming the Palazzo della Signoria the Palazzo Vecchio or the “Old Palace”. The Piazza itself has many statues, originals and replicas alike. David, the Fountain of Neptune, Hercules and Cacus, a bronze statue of Cosimo I and many others are scattered throughout the piazza as well as the open-air sculpture museum of the Loggia dei Lanzi.

9 - Giotto’s Campanile

The bell tower of the famous Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, commonly refered to as the Duomo of Florence, is hard to miss in the city. Towering over the buildings with its multicolored facade, it is truly a site to see. For a small fee, you can climb the tower to get an amazing view of the city and the Duomo itself. The tower is named for the first architect of the Duomo, Giotto di Bondone, though the tower was not completed exactly to his original design. The tower can be quite a climb, but is definitely worth it!

10 - Piazzale Michelangelo

The Piazzale Michelangelo is a relatively modern addition to the ancient city. It was completed in 1869 and is a tribute to Michelangelo himself, with several replicas of his works in bronze throughout the plaza. The piazzale is a popular tourist destination because of the amazing panoramic views of the city from on top of its hill.