Private Tours in Florence, Italy

• Tour 1 - Florence on Foot
• Tour 2 - Michelangelo's David in Florence
• Tour 3 - Glories of the Uffizi
• Tour 4 - Highlights of Pisa
• Tour 5 - Lucca and Pisa
• Tour 6 - San Gimignano and Volterra
• Tour 7 - Chianti Wine Region

What sets us apart

• Private tours from 1 to 8+ people
• English speaking Licensed Guides / Driver-Guides as noted
• P/U & Drop at your hotel
• Air conditioned transportation
• Prices per group, not per person
• More than 8 people? E-mail us: info@privateguidesineurope.com

Tour 1- Florence on Foot - 3 Hour

Your private Licensed Guide will meet you at your hotel or another agreed upon location and you will discover the beauty and history of Florence on foot. Visit the Cathedral complex in the heart of Florence which includes the gothic Duomo (with dome designed by Brunellesci - a real marvel), Giotto's bell tower and the Baptistery, with its bronze doors commonly referred to as the Gates of Paradise. Next head over to the Piazza della Signoria to see a copy of Michelangelo’s David in the outdoor setting for which it was originally designed.  You'll also see the 14th-century Loggia, housing famous sculptures in the open air and the grand Palazzo Vecchio, Florence’s most famous and once home to the Medici family. Stroll down to the Ponte Vecchio, built in 1220.   This bridge crossing the Arno River is lined with shops that traditionally sell gold and silver. At the end of the walking tour your licensed guide will accompany you back to your hotel, or advise you of a hidden gem of a restaurant away from the tourist throng where you can relax knowing exactly what you want to return to for deeper exploration.

Tour 2- Michelangelo's David in Florence - 3 Hour

Your private Licensed Guide will meet you at your hotel or another agreed upon location and you will discover the city of Michelangelo on foot. You'll go to the Accademia where your reservation will let you "skip the line". Your private licensed guide will show you Michelangelo’s David - one of the great symbols of the Renaissance, proceeded by his unfinished Prisoners breaking their way out of the rough marble blocks. Marvel at the beauty and skill as you learn the history of Florence. Then you'll visit the Cathedral complex in the heart of Florence which includes the gothic Duomo (with dome designed by Brunellesci - a real marvel), Giotto's bell tower and the Baptistery, with its bronze doors commonly referred to as the Gates of Paradise. Next head over to the Piazza della Signoria to see a copy of Michelangelo’s David in the outdoor setting for which it was originally designed.  You'll also see the 14th-century Loggia, housing famous sculptures in the open air and the grand Palazzo Vecchio, Florence’s most famous and once home to the Medici family. Stroll down to the Ponte Vecchio, built in 1220.   This bridge crossing the Arno River is lined with shops that traditionally sell gold and silver. At the end of the walking tour your licensed guide will accompany you back to your hotel, or advise you of a hidden gem of a restaurant away from the tourist throng where you can relax knowing exactly what you want to return to for deeper exploration.

Tour 3- Glories of the Uffizi Gallery - 3 Hour

Your private Licensed Guide will meet you at your hotel or another agreed upon location and you will discover the city of Renaissance Art on foot. You'll go to the Uffizi (the offices) where your reservation will let you "skip the line". Your private licensed guide will show you the best collection of Renaissance artwork anywhere. As in depth as you want it to be, your guide will explain the highlights, and give you a new appreciation for these masterpieces. Just outside in the Piazza della Signoria you'll see a copy of Michelangelo’s David in the outdoor setting for which it was originally designed.  You'll also see the 14th-century Loggia, housing famous sculptures in the open air. Stroll down to the Ponte Vecchio, built in 1220. This bridge crossing the Arno River is lined with shops that traditionally sell gold and silver. Then you'll visit the Cathedral complex in the heart of Florence which includes the gothic Duomo, Giotto's bell tower and the Baptistery, with its bronze doors commonly referred to as the Gates of Paradise. At the end of the walking tour your licensed guide will accompany you back to your hotel, or advise you of a hidden gem of a restaurant away from the tourist throng where you can relax knowing exactly what you want to return to for deeper exploration.

Entrance Fees: Adults: 26 EURO per person, Children 6 and up: 22 Euro, Children under 6: 14 Euro

Tour 4- Highlights of Pisa - 4 Hour

Your driver-guide will meet you at your hotel in Florence, and your exploration begins immediately with a drive through the lovely Tuscan countryside to Pisa (about 1 hour 15 min). When you arrive in Pisa you'll have about an hour and a half to explore the Piazza dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles), one of the finest architectural ensembles in the world. You'll see the Leaning Tower of Pisa (built in 1173), the Medieval Cathedral, begun in 1064 by the architect Busketo, and the baptistery dedicated to St. John begun in the 1153 - the largest baptistery in Italy. After this visit to one of the highlights of your time in Italy your driver-guide will return you to your Florence hotel.

6 to 7 persons - 395 Euro

Tour 5- Lucca and Pisa - 8 Hour

Your driver-guide will meet you at your hotel in Florence and drive you through the lovely Tuscan countryside to Lucca. Lucca is a walled Tuscan town with lots of charm and lovely narrow, medieval streets. The city has some wonderful examples of Roman, medieval and Renaissance architecture and some grand churches. While in Lucca, you'll have time for lunch (not included) and you may walk the Renaissance walls and ramparts that are today beautiful public walkway popular with tourists and locals alike. You may also visit one of Lucca’s grand villas or the birthplace museum of Giacomo Puccini. Later that afternoon you'll drive 30 minutes to Pisa and visit the Piazza dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles), one of the finest architectural ensembles in the world, including the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Total time in Pisa is approximately 1.5 hours before the return drive (1 hour) to your hotel in Florence. This is a wonderful break from Florence that will put a new slant on your understanding of Italy.

Entry Fees not included for Pisa: Tower Entry - 18 Euro p.p., Cathedral - 3 EURO p.p., Baptistery - 6 EURO p.p.

Advance booking to climb the Tower may be requested for an additional 2 Euro each (20 Euro pp).

Tour 6- San Gimignano and Volterra - 8 Hour

Your driver-guide will meet you at your hotel in Florence and your exploration begins with a one hour drive through the lovely Tuscan countryside to San Gimignano. San Gimignano is the poster child for Tuscany and the epitome of a medieval Italian hilltop town. It gets the nickname "Medieval Manhattan" from the skyline made up of 14 stone towers. In the 13th century the town had 72 towers and was home to many families whose fortunes grew from the fabric trade. The height of a family's tower was the sign of their wealth, and also served as a way to display their fabrics when unfurled from the top. Upon the approach to San Gimignano your driver will stop to provide you with a panoramic view of the medieval town, perfect for photographs. Your driver-guide will bring you to the city center where you'll have approximately 3 hours to explore this Tuscan gem on foot. Enjoy a lunch break (not included) in one of San Gimignano’s beautiful piazzas. San Gimignano offers great shopping for high quality ceramics and leather. Next you'll drive to Volterra where you have an additional 2 hours to explore. In ancient times the walled city of Volterra was one of the major Etruscan centers and still holds some unique traces of that civilization today. Then stroll the streets and browse in the shops for alabaster, which has been mined in Volterra since Etruscan times. You'll return to your hotel in Florence later in the afternoon.

Tour 7- Chianti Wine Region - 8 Hour

Your driver-guide will meet you at your hotel in Florence and your exploration begins with a 1 hour drive through the rolling hills of Tuscany and into Italy’s most famous wine-producing area, known as Chianti.  You driver-guide will offer you a variety of choices, so weather you prefer ancient villages or medieval castles converted to wineries, you'll experience the best tasting and visiting opportunities.
During your tour, you will be able to stop and visit 2 or 3 medieval wine producing villages, such as Greve in Chianti, Castellina in Chianti, Radda in Chianti or Panzano where you are encouraged to visit the local enoteche (wine shops) offering free regional wine tasting.  Of course time is available for a leisurely lunch (not included) and shopping. Another option is to let us arrange a visit to one of the wine estates for a tour with a wine tasting.  Possibilities include Castello di Verrazzano (Greve in Chianti); Antinori Winery (Badia a Passignano); Cennatoio (Panzano); Fontodi (Panzano); Castello di Vignamaggio (Greve in Chianti).  Choosing this option puts a stricter time frame to your itinerary, because the wine estates require reservations for a set time.  Most of the wine estates offer tours in English, but they may not be private.  Visits to an estate range from 1.5 to 3 hours and some include lunch.  Prices range from 15 to 50 Euro additional per person for these tours, tasting's and lunches.  At the end of this particular excursion your driver-guide will accompany you once again to your hotel.