Florence On Your Own

Indulge in time entirely on your own in resplendent Florence, allowing for ample exploration at your pace. Enjoy a picturesque drive of approximately two hours through Tuscany’s legendary landscapes, and once in Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance, you’ll have approximately six hours of complete freedom in the UNESCO World Heritage site historic center. Perhaps visit the extraordinary Duomo, nickname for the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, whose soaring cupola by Brunelleschi was a groundbreaking feat of engineering, and serene Basilica di Santa Croce, where Donatello’s Annunciation is housed. Wander through the Galleria dell’Accademia and see Michelangelo’s dazzling David or examine priceless works of art in the Gallerie degli Uffizi and the Palazzo Pitti, once owned by the Medicis. Soak up the romance of the city on the shop-lined Ponte Vecchio and the marvelous Boboli Gardens. Browse glittering boutiques from Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Prada and Versace, among others, along Via dei Tornabuoni and Via della Vigna Nuova. As you meander the compact labyrinth of alleys and piazzas, follow in the footsteps of Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Dante and Machiavelli, just a few of the epochal Italians whose impact continues to reverberate through the centuries.

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
• Dress appropriately if you wish to visit a religious venue; shoulders and knees must be covered.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.