Solo Travelers Italy-- Meet Your Friend in Florence! Meet one-on-one with me for an hour and a half, and get my insider advice on making the most out of your stay For the first 45 minutes we will go to the best coffee place near where you are staying, and I will orient you with maps and share dining and sightseeing information, as well as tips about how
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Renaissance Intro Tour
An Orientation and Introduction to Fabulous Florence Learn how and why the Renaissance began in Florence This three-hour walking tour encompasses the origins of Florence, and how and why the Renaissance began in this fascinating city. See remnants of the Roman origins of the city, and learn about the artists of the early 1400s who achieved astonishing breakthroughs
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The Renaissance Continues— Gorgeous Hotels in Florence’s Center
Florence has been known for beautiful design since the program to beautify the city began the 14th century, and lately, hotel designers in the city seem to be vying for the most elegant modern design with touches alluding to the city's history. As you'll see from my sampling below, this city of world-class art also boasts world-class artfully designed
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Morning Market Tour
Visit the Most Local and Unchanged Market in the City Explore the intersection of food and culture with this two-hour morning market tour. We will start by doing what the locals do: head to a charming neighborhood bar for coffee. As we walk to the market I will share history of the city and of its early markets from centuries ago. Arriving at the most local and
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An Australian Opens a Bistrot in Florence
I am pleased to add this interview to my Taking the Plunge series Here is Chloé Guest who opened a bistrot/microbakery in Florence in 2019 Where do you come from and when did you first have a connection with Italy in your life? I was born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. My aunt married an Italian-Australian farmer, who raised sugar cane and cattle. His mother, a
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Dante — A Literary Walking Tour
Dive into Dante's Florence Dante was a genius poet, the father of the modern Italian language, and the most important literary figure in all of Italy’s long history. Explore with me Dante's neighborhood, see where he lived, was baptized, and fell in love. I’ll show you the Palazzo of the Wool Guild that contains a Dante Library where his masterpieces are studied, and
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Treasures of the Palatine Gallery
See the Private Collection of Paintings Owned by the Grand Dukes Explore the former home of the grand dukes of Tuscany on this two-hour tour of the Palatine Gallery in the impressive Pitti Palace Here you will see the private collection of paintings owned by the grand dukes, displayed in what were their official staterooms which were frescoed by the Baroque artist
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Magnificence of Michelangelo
Up Close With One of the Greatest Artists of All Time This three-hour tour will take you to some of his most striking works by Michelangelo that exist in the city of Florence We start with a walk in the historic center to see the sculpture that inspired Michelangelo’s David, and to view the copy of the David in the city’s main piazza, where you will learn how this
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Christmas Festivals in Florence
As someone who grew up without religion in a California beach town, I was intrigued when I moved to Italy by the length of the Christmas season and I was confused by some of the festivals. I learned that the season starts on December 8, with the Festival of the Immaculate Conception, and ends on January 6 with Epiphany. I assumed the conception being referred to was the one
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Olfactory Experience and Perfume Workshop
Olfactory Experience and Perfume Workshop Florence PerfumeDuration: three hours Florence is not only the birthplace of the Renaissance, it is also the birthplace of European perfume and the city contains some exquisite perfumeries. In this tour you will meet the masters who make bespoke perfumes and visit their gorgeous shops. We will first walk through city stopping
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The Best Local Piazza in Florence (And it’s Organic Market)
Piazza Santo Spirito: Come here to hang out in the best local piazza in Florence. This piazza is in the Oltrarno which means “across the Arno” (the other side of the river from civic and religious centers where the cathedral and town hall are.) If you feel overwhelmed by the crowds on the main side of the river, come over to the Oltrarno and hang out in Piazza Santo
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Mystical Solstice Event in Florence
"The information was lost, we didn't know..." The monk tells me from behind the counter of the monastic shop. "No one had noticed the solstice sun illuminating the zodiac?" "No, we didn't notice." The monk smiles. "It was figured out by Simone Bartolini." Simone Bartolini is an astronomer and cartographer who recently (around 2011) figured out that the marble zodiac on the
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