Duomo To Santa Croce Route Walk

Overview

This walk starts on Piazza Santa Maria Novella and covers many of the centre's best known sights, among them the Strozzi Palace, Piazza della Repubblica, the church of Orsanmichele, the Loggia dei Lanzi, the Ponte Vecchio and the Duomo complex. The guide also points out Brunelleschi's cupola, Giotto's bell tower, the cathedral and the baptistery, plus the Fontana del Porcellino and piazza Antinori.

The tour runs on a free-tour basis. Booking costs nothing, and at the end each guest pays the guide whatever they feel the walk was worth. There is no fixed fee and no extra cost during the tour itself.

It lasts two hours and 30 minutes and is led in English, Spanish or French. The operator, Another Florence, describes it as suitable for people with reduced mobility, for families with children, and for guests with pets. The route takes in the city's major squares and landmarks with a guide explaining the art and history along the way. The Uffizi is covered from the exterior only.

Itinerary

1. Meet at Piazza Santa Maria NovellaThe group gathers on Piazza Santa Maria Novella, the meeting point given on the listing.
2. The city-centre landmarksThe walk takes in sights named on the listing, including the Strozzi Palace, Piazza della Repubblica, piazza Antinori, the Chiesa di Orsanmichele and the Fontana del Porcellino. The listing does not give a fixed order for the stops.
3. The Duomo complexThe group sees Cattedrale Santa Maria del Fiore, Brunelleschi's cupola, Giotto's campanile and the baptistery.
4. Piazza della SignoriaThe route takes in Piazza della Signoria, with Palazzo Vecchio and the statues of the Loggia dei Lanzi.
5. Uffizi Gallery exteriorThe walk passes the Uffizi Gallery from the outside; the listing marks this stop as exterior only.
6. Ponte VecchioThe Ponte Vecchio is one of the stops named in the tour description.
7. Piazza Santa CrocePiazza Santa Croce is among the landmarks named on the listing.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points from the listing are worth knowing before you set off.

• Meeting point. There is no pickup included. Everyone meets on Piazza Santa Maria Novella, so allow time to find the square and locate the guide before the start.
• Paying the guide. Booking is free, and guests pay the guide at the end whatever they think the walk was worth. The listing states there is no additional cost during the tour.
• Pace and duration. The walk lasts two hours and 30 minutes and covers a lot of ground, from Santa Maria Novella through to Santa Croce. Wear comfortable shoes, since the whole tour is on foot.
• Language choice. The tour is offered in English, Spanish and French. Check on the booking page which language applies to your departure before you reserve.
• What you see. The stops are all squares, churches and landmark buildings named on the listing. The Uffizi is seen from the exterior, so plan separate tickets if you want to go inside.
• Families and pets. The listing states the tour is suitable for families with children and is pet-friendly. It is also described as suitable for people with reduced mobility.

Common issues. The listing states the tour only goes ahead if at least four booked guests show up, and that the operator will notify you as soon as possible if it is cancelled. That means a last-minute cancellation is possible if numbers are low, so keep an eye on your messages before the start. No entries are included, so anyone expecting to go inside the Uffizi will need separate tickets.

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