Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip

A Cultural Break in Florence On the Banks of the Arno

Italy - Florence

Starting from between £1290 to £1695 per person for 4 days depending on the season of travel, advance booking time and the accommodation and activities chosen

Itinerary Highlights

  • Discover a treasure trove of art, culture and hidden gems in Tuscany’s iconic capital
  • Skip the queues with priority passes and tour the legendary Uffizi Gallery and Grande Museo del Duomo
  • Explore artisan workshops, boutiques and historic sites in Oltrarno, Florence’s trendy left bank neighbourhood, with a local guide
Cultural breaks don’t get much better than Florence. With cobbled streets akin to an open-air museum, punctuated at every turn by grand palazzi (palaces), Renaissance-style buildings and fresco-decorated churches, the Tuscan capital ticks all the right boxes.

This four-day culture-filled trip kicks off with a private tour of the impressive Convent and Museum of San Marco. Then, marvel at world-famous artwork on private tours of the renowned Uffizi Gallery and the Grande Museo del Duomo, including entrance to some of the cathedral’s most important monuments. Keen to discover more? Your short break also includes a local-led tour of the charming left bank neighbourhood, Oltrarno, a quirky quarter separated from central Florence by the Arno River. With so many hidden gems throughout the city, our local Concierge can offer restaurant recommendations and insider tips throughout your stay.
Boboli Gardens - Florence - Italy © TT/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Boboli Gardens - Florence - Italy © TT/Getty Images/iStockphoto
La cathédrale Santa Maria del Fiore - Florence - Italie © Faustine Poidevin
La cathédrale Santa Maria del Fiore - Florence - Italie © Faustine Poidevin
Statues in the Galleria dell'Accademia - Florence - Italy © Faustine Poidevin
Statues in the Galleria dell'Accademia - Florence - Italy © Faustine Poidevin
Statues in the Galleria dell'Accademia - Florence - Italy © Faustine Poidevin
Statues in the Galleria dell'Accademia - Florence - Italy © Faustine Poidevin
La Ménagère - Florence - Italy © Faustine Poidevin
La Ménagère - Florence - Italy © Faustine Poidevin
Architecture - Italy © Stefano Cellai/stock.adobe.com
Architecture - Italy © Stefano Cellai/stock.adobe.com
Florence - Italy © Faustine Poidevin
Florence - Italy © Faustine Poidevin

Itinerary

100% customisable for you

Your cultural break in Florence begins today with a flight to Pisa, lasting just over two hours. Upon arrival, a private transfer will be waiting to take you to your hotel in Florence, around an hour and a half away.

Unpack and settle in before the first private tour of your trip: the Convent and Museum of San Marco. This beautiful building was built by Michelozzo in the 15th century and today houses the largest collection of works by the monk Fra Angelico, one of the leading painters of the Early Renaissance. Marvel at the intricate frescoes that adorn the monks’ cells as you learn about the convent’s fascinating history.

Eager for more intel? We can also arrange a tour with an art historian that traces the history of ancient books with a visit to the Michelozzo and Laurenziana libraries, as well as a local workshop for restoring old books.

Rise and shine this morning – there’s more culture on the cards today. First up is priority access to the world-renowned Uffizi Gallery, renowned for the breadth and quality of its Italian art collections. Marvel at masterpieces, including celebrated works by Sandro Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo (to name but a few), as you delve into the artworks’ history with an expert guide.

Next, enjoy skip-the-queue tickets for the Grande Museo del Duomo, which provides access to the various sites of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, including the church, bell tower, baptistery and Opera del Duomo Museum. Admire everything from Michelangelo's The Deposition to Donatello's striking Penitent Magdalene and the bronze panels of Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise.

In between sightseeing, tuck into delicious Tuscan cuisine, be it ribollita (a hearty bread soup), bistecca alla Fiorentina (Florentine steak) or schiacciata (filled flatbread), washed down with a glass or two of local wine.

Today, head across the iconic Ponte Vecchio to Florence’s hip left bank, Oltrarno (meaning ‘beyond the Arno’). You’ll explore this quirky neighbourhood with an expert local guide, visiting its bohemian botteghe (workshops), independent boutiques and authentic restaurants. Maintaining a traditional yet trendy feel, this is the perfect place to experience daily Florentine life. During the tour, stop off at the Basilica di Santo Spirito, the opulent Palazzo Pitti, Piazzale Michelangelo and the Brancacci Chapel. Your guide will regale you with stories of Oltrarno’s past throughout, and there will, of course, be a gelato break along the way.

For your final evening, you can either head back into the historic centre or try one of Oltrarno’s stellar food establishments – your clued-up Concierge is always on hand to recommend their favourite spots.

Sadly, your cultural break in Florence comes to a close today. Before you leave, however, there’s time for one last stroll around this enchanting city. Pick up last-minute souvenirs and sample any final Florentine dishes, such as pappardelle al cinghiale (wild boar pasta) and pappa al pomodoro (Tuscan bread soup). Then, you’ll be privately transferred back to Pisa for your flight home which takes just over two hours.

Suggestions

Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included

COOKING AT RICCARDO BARTHEL'S HOUSE

Showcasing quintessential Italian interior design, designer Riccardo Barthel's house alone would be worth the trip. You’ll be treated to more than just aesthetics, however. During a five-hour cooking class, you’ll be given a tasty introduction to Tuscan and Italian cuisine. From sourcing produce at the market to plating up with style, you’ll learn the fundamentals of one of Europe's finest culinary traditions, followed (of course) by a Tuscan feast.


WANDER SAN LORENZO MARKET

The main market is not only full of the very best of Italian agriculture and handicrafts, but is also a real architectural success thanks to Giuseppe Mengoni, who designed the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan. And much of the produce is cooked on site for the local area. Explore the covered market with a local guide, who’ll introduce you to the traders and show you the best stalls. The two-hour tour includes a tasting of cold meats, cheese, wine and truffles.

Why visit Italy with Original Travel ?

Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.

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A few of the benefits of travelling with us to Italy

  • Our local Concierges
  • The Original Travel app
  • Airport lounge access
  • Destination Dossier
  • 24-hour helpline
  • Expert guides
  • 100% carbon absorption

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Estimated Price

Dependent on the season of travel, advance booking time and the accommodation and activities chosen

The prices shown here are merely a guide, as all of our trips are entirely tailor-made. Tailor-made travel involves multiple moving parts, and prices can vary hugely depending on the season of travel, the lead time before the proposed travel date (last minute deals are pretty much a myth), availability, your choice of accommodation and any additional activities you want to include. That means the only exact price will be the one we quote you, which we can adapt to suit your budget. The estimated starting cost for this trip is between £1,290 and £1,695 per person. The average starting price for this trip is £1,520 per person.

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