We don't have to tell you Siena's beauty is legendary - you already know. Unfortunately, so does everyone else, which is why this drop-dead gorgeous city is often swamped with gawking tourists. Get the inside scoop on this Tuscan gem by taking a private Siena tour with a local guide.

Siena's city centre was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995, so lace up your walking shoes and get intentionally lost down narrow alleyways in search of the perfect espresso. Get your daily exercise following your guide to the top of the Torre del Mangia, then camp out in the Piazza del Campo, site of the famous Palio bareback horse race.

The Duomo was intended to be the world's largest cathedral, but midway through the money dried up. Ask your guide to point out the different architectural layers. If all that sightseeing made you hungry, ask your guide for the best place to chow down on Cina Senese, local roast Tuscan pig, paired with the famed Brunello wine.

Siena

Florence's Queen: the Duomo Complex - Private Walking Tour

This tour focuses on the most important religious building in town - the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore - and on the different components that form the so-called "Duomo Complex".
We will start our visit from the stylish Baptistery - the construction in town that since the XII century has preserved its original appearance. Its interior is exquisitely decorated with lavish mosaics, that represent the most magnificent medieval artwork available downtown.
We will then visit the imposing cathedral, whose outstanding dome was completely frescoed in the 1500's with the largest painted surface ever created on planet Earth.
Through the Duomo we can access the ancient crypt of Santa Reparata - the previous cathedral of Florence still partially visible underground - and you will be able to see the multi-layered foundations of the city.
Our tour will end inside the recently refurbished cathedral museum, which is considered the most important religious artwork collection in the world.

- Skip the line tickets to Duomo complex (non refundable)

Discover the finest religious building in town

Private Tour of Florence Religious Center with Duomo cathedral, Baptistery and Opera museum

This is a private half-day tour of 2. 5 hours with a Florentine official tourist guide who will explain to you the history and point out the main artistic details of the 4th largest Church in the world called Santa Maria del Fiore.

The tour includes a 3-day combo ticket (GHIBERTI PASS) which will allows you to enter the Cathedral with a faster entrance and admire the Last Judgement fresco by Vasari and the crypt with the original mosaic floor of the Roman times.

You will visit inside the Baptistery with its Byzantine-style mosaics of the inner dome and its marble inlaid floor of the XIII century. Inside the Opera del Duomo museum, you will find the reconstruction in scale 1:1 of the former facade, the breathtaking Pietà Bandini by Michelangelo, and the touching Mary Magdalene by Donatello.

At the end of the tour, in your free time after a lunch break, you can climb the dome or the bell tower, ONLY if you send me a request to get the pass to climb and pay for the price difference.

Rental of whispers to hear the guide explanation who will be using a microphone 

Discover the majestic project of the Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore, visiting its museum, baptistery and the crypte

This is one of my favourite places in town; it's where the Renaissance began! Unlike your average visit, this itinerary I created for you is filled with intriguing tales of Florence's history, from its Republican Golden Age to the power of Medici tyranny, all weaved with the beauty of the architecture!

Come and discover the San Lorenzo Basilica complex. Enjoy an exclusive tour of the Basilica with its Old Sacristy, designed by Brunelleschi. Then step inside the Medici Chapels and the New Sacristy, a captivating space where Michelangelo fused sculpture and architecture.

Let me tell you all about the principles and origins of Renaissance architecture and its development, from the rediscovery of the ancient world to the revolutionary designs that shook Renaissance harmony.

Discover how a treatise of a pagan ancient Roman architect became the inspiration for church architecture. Hear the tale of how Michelangelo's incredible talent saved his neck and why he later fled from Florence never to come back alive!

The dome of the Medici Chapels at San Lorenzo.

Dome of the Chapel of Princes, a chapel designed as a mausoleum for the Medici Grand dukes.

Detail of the New Sacristy, burial chapel of the Medici designed by Michelangelo.

View of the New Sacristy, burial chapel of the Medici designed by Michelangelo.

The Basilica of San Lorenzo with its unfinished facade. Discover how the commission for the facade was given to Michelangelo and why it was never carried out.

Cloister of San Lorenzo with a view of Brunelleschi's dome at Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral.

Interior of San Lorenzo with architecture by Filippo Brunelleschi. During the tour discover the principles of true Renaissance architecture.

Interior of San Lorenzo with architecture by Filippo Brunelleschi.

View of the Old Sacristy at San Lorenzo. The chapel was built by Filippo Brunelleschi for the Medici Family.

Dome of the New Sacristy designed by Michelangelo.

Architecture of Brunelleschi and Michelangelo

Marvels at San Lorenzo 2-hour Tour

Florence Seen From Above. The astonishing San Miniato Church and The Rose Garden Tour

The Church of San Miniato in Florence is one of the Churches in the city that I like most.
With its pure Romanesque architecture, the church is fully immersed into a mystical atmosphere due to its special position in the city and its one-thousand-year history. Actually built in 1018, the church is located above Piazzale Michelangelo, the highest point of the city, and it offers a wonderful view of the historic centre.

Right below the church area we will visit a little-known yet fascinating garden, The Rose Garden. This garden has more than 200 unique rose species, all blooming in the spring. The garden is enhanced with modern statues by Folon, placed here as an invitation for the visitor to relax and enjoy them.

Do not miss this tour, it is something you will never forget!

The astonishing romanesque architecture of S.Miniato

San Miniato Church immersed into Tuscany hills

View on Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo

By Piazzale Michelangelo. The Church atmosphere, the relaxing Rose Garden and an astonishing view of Florence will capture you!

Discover the secrets of our beautiful Dome.
With me, you have the occasion to arrive at the top point of view of Florence!

The way up (and down) is basically tight corridors used by the workmen who built the cathedral for maintenance, they were never thought of as being open to the public. They are narrow, the steps can be steep and the entire climb is 463 steps. When you reach the base of the drum right below the cupola's frescoes, you actually come out onto a walkway.

** Visitors are required to climb 463 steps. No lift (elevator) available.
The Dome tour is not recommended for persons that are claustrophobic.

Attention: Greenpass required for all member of group.

Original structure between the two domes.

Climb the Dome

Brunelleschi's Dome climbing

A fascinating building site that lasted for over a millennium, the Duomo complex is the religious heart of the city, the center of its civic pride, the testimony of Florentine genius and the wealth of Florence in the Renaissance. Instrumentalized by politicians for centuries, managing the wealth poured into the building and embellishment of the Cathedral was as lucrative as managing hedge funds today. We discover how Brunelleschi built his famous dome, visit the interior of the Cathedral and the Baptistery, discuss the Bell Tower and other surrounding buildings, admire the original Gates of Paradise in the Museum of the Cathedral, as well as Michelangelo's statue of Pietà, the Byzantine mosaics of the Baptistery, the Altar of St. John the Baptist and several statues by Donatello. After the tour, you will be able to climb the Dome of Florence with skip-the-line access.
On request, the guide will also organize a special private opening to walk the terraces of the Cathedral (please book well ahead).

Visit the Cathedral, the Baptistery and the Bell Tower - Skip the line access to the Dome of Florence

The Duomo Grand Tour - Half Day

Palazzo Pitti in Tuscany, splendid and imposing

This tour will introduce you to the history of one of the most famous Medici residences. In this historic palace the Dukes of Tuscany lived from Cosimo first to the last princess Maria Luisa of the Medici family.
In the Kingdom of Italy, the first king of Italy, Emanuele di Savoia and Queen Margherita also lived here.
The palace is connected by a private corridor to the Palazzo Vecchio. Here you can see the private collection of paintings by the Medici family and the splendid halls frescoed by the greatest Renaissance painters. Became Museum during the Napoleon government.
During the unification of Italy, it was the royal palace for the House of Savoy in the five-year period in which Florence was the capital of the Kingdom of Italy (1865-70). In 1919 Vittorio Emanuele III donated it to the state: since then it has been a Italian state museum joined to Uffizi. Paintings are a private collection of the mentioned
periods. It is an overwhelming collection. We will be able to see selected works.

Medici's residence, the Royal Palace, Palatine Gallery - Walking Tour

Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens Grand Tour

The largest palace in Florence inhabited by five dynasties of monarchs and the gardens that inspired Versailles: you could easily spend a week exploring the treasures of the Pitti Palace! We visit the Palatine Gallery and the apartments, talking about the drama of the family who built the palace - the Pitti - and of the family who subsequently owned it - the Medici. The Lorraine inherited after the Medici and later the palace became home to the first king of Italy Vittorio Emmanuele II. We will see how this rich history translates into the interiors and collections of the palace. Inside, we visit four museums: the main picture gallery with the works by Raphael, Botticelli, Caravaggio and many others; the richly frescoed Summer Apartments with the remains of the Medici jewels; the Costume Gallery; and selected pieces from the gallery of Modern Art (19th C paintings). In the afternoon, we stroll through the Boboli and Bardini gardens, ending the day with a spectacular view of Florence.

Full Day Tour tour with skip-the-line tickets

The guided tour of a Cathedral complex, knowing more about the Cradle of renaissance and learn the secrets of the world famous Duomo. The cathedral complex is a exceptional concentration of masterpieces of architecture, sculpture and applied arts. The baptistry is an exceptional harmonious octagonal form, the most ancient part of the Duomo complex. Masterpiece of Romanesque architecture, interior is a breathtaking voulted structure with it's dome entirely covered with Byzantine mosaics. We'll enter in the Cathedral, to admire titanc columns and cross vaulted ceiling. The incredible, daring architecture is completed by the impressive fresco paintings under the Dome representing The Final judgment. We will enter into the Museo dell'Opera's. Newly renovated 6, 000 sq. mt. I adore it. I have followed many lectures from the scolars. No intention to hold a lecture, but ready to answer on any question. I will listen to your suggestions and requests, matching your timing and interests. For climbing must check avail.

Dante Allighieri fresco painting in the Cathedral of Florence

Monteriggioni tours

Explore with 9 tours and 8 guides.

Giacomo B.

$ 480 (USD)

Barbara L.

$ 284 (USD)

Loredana A.

$ 314 (USD)

Daniela C.

$ 171 (USD)

Eleonora C.

$ 228 (USD)

Anna

$ 682 (USD)

Simonida M.

$ 286 (USD)

Anna

$ 928 (USD)

Sinisa M.

$ 281 (USD)

Meet your local guides in Monteriggioni

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