Art And Gastronomy Walk

Overview

Booking costs nothing up front. At the end, each guest hands the guide whatever they feel the walk deserved. It runs in English and Italian, and there is no hotel pickup: everyone meets at Piazza dell'Unità Italiana, in front of the central obelisk, where the guide waits with a pirate flag.

The walk is outdoors and follows a set route through the Medici heart of the city. It starts near the Medici Chapels and the San Lorenzo Market, then passes the Medici Riccardi Palace and the San Lorenzo church before reaching the Duomo and its baptistery. From there the group moves through Piazza della Repubblica and past the Orsanmichele church, continues to the Porcellino and Piazza della Signoria, and finishes by the Uffizi from the outside, at the Ponte Vecchio, and in Piazza Santa Croce. The listing names twelve stops in total, though only the first few are shown in detail.

Expect stories rather than museum visits. The focus is on the Medici family, Renaissance art and architecture, and local food traditions, told through anecdotes and lesser-known details. Reviewers described the guide as entertaining and informative, and several appreciated the overview of the historic area and the tips for visiting different places. Entry into monuments is not part of the walk.

Itinerary

1. Meet at Piazza dell'Unità ItalianaMeet the guide directly in front of the central obelisk in Piazza dell'Unità Italiana. The guide carries a pirate flag so the group is easy to spot.
2. Medici Chapels and San Lorenzo MarketThe walk begins by passing the Medici Chapels and the San Lorenzo Market.
3. Medici Riccardi Palace and San Lorenzo ChurchThe route continues past the Medici Riccardi Palace and the San Lorenzo church, with stories about the Medici family.
4. Duomo and BaptisteryThe group stops at Florence's cathedral and its baptistery, both viewed from the outside as the guide explains the architecture and history.
5. Repubblica Square and OrsanmicheleThe walk then passes through Piazza della Repubblica and by the Orsanmichele church.
6. Porcellino and Signoria SquareNext come the Porcellino and Piazza della Signoria.
7. Uffizi exterior and Ponte VecchioThe tour views the Uffizi from the outside and reaches the Ponte Vecchio. Gallery entry is not included.
8. Santa Croce SquareThe walk ends in Piazza Santa Croce, after roughly 2 hours and 15 minutes on foot through the historic center.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you get the most out of this walk, based on the listing and on what past participants have said.

• Pay the guide at the end. Booking is free, but guests pay the guide what they think the walk was worth at the end. Plan for that payment when the tour finishes.
• Expect a large group. One traveller said this was the largest walking tour group they had ever joined and that the size detracted a bit from the experience.
• Listen out for the guide. One reviewer mentioned receiving earbuds so they could hear the guide, and found them much needed and appreciated. If hearing aids of this kind are handed out, take a pair, though the listing does not state that they are always provided.
• Wear comfortable shoes. The tour lasts 2 hours and 15 minutes and is entirely on foot through the historic center. Comfortable walking shoes are a practical must.
• Ask for local tips. One reviewer said the guide gave a lot of good tips for visiting different places around the city. Take notes or ask questions, since the guide's advice can shape the rest of your visit.
• Find the pirate flag. The meeting point is in front of the central obelisk in Piazza dell'Unità Italiana. The guide carries a pirate flag, which makes the group easy to identify even in a busy square.

Common issues. The honest downside mentioned by a reviewer is group size: one called it the largest walking tour group they had ever been in and said it detracted from the experience, though the earbuds they received helped with hearing the guide. One participant also noted unusually large crowds on the day of their walk because of a running rave, though the guide kept the group together and made time to talk to everyone. The tour is outdoors only, so weather matters, and no monument entries are included. There is no pickup service, so arriving at the meeting point on time is on you.

How The Free Walks Work In Florence