Tour Details
- Duration
- 2.5 hours
- Product Type
- Tour
- Venues
- Palazzo Vecchio
Photos & Highlights
- Learn the history of Florence's political intrigues and dramas from Machiavelli to the Medici
- Led by a historian
Select a date
Tour Description
Towering over Piazza della Signoria, where it was built in 1299, Palazzo Vecchio is the center of the civic power of Florence, and for over seven centuries it has been one of the most recognizable symbols of the city. Once the Republic’s headquarters, it became the center of the Medici’s rise to power, and the site for Savonarola’s apocalyptic preaching and “bonfire of the vanities” in the fifteenth century.
On this 2.5-hour Palazzo Vecchio tour, led by a historian, you will explore Palazzo Vecchio and its layered history, discover the Medici’s influence, and encounter Renaissance figures like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Machiavelli, gaining insight into the politics and intrigues that shaped the Italian Renaissance.
Experts
The tour begins in front of the palace, in Piazza della Signoria, with a brief introduction to the Florentine Republic’s history. Inside Palazzo Vecchio, you’ll explore the Hall of the Five Hundred - Salone dei Cinquecento, a grand room full of history and secrets. The walls are painted by Giorgio Vasari and celebrate the victories of Cosimo I Medici over the rival cities of Siena and Pisa. According to some controversial research, the Vasari wall would conceal the remains of a long-lost unfinished fresco by the end of Leonardo Da Vinci.
Next, you will visit Cosimo’s private rooms and the apartments of the powerful and influential Eleonora da Toledo, Grand Duchess of Tuscany, where you will gain insight into female power in Florentine politics. By the end of the tour, you’ll have a deeper understanding of Florence’s rise as a center of art and culture, and of the Medici’s influence on history.
- You are fascinated by the history of the Medici family, or you know very little about them, and you want to delve deeply into their legacy and secrets.
- You wondered about the history and purpose of Palazzo Vecchio as you passed by it or saw it in every photo of Florence.
- You want the help of a historian to understand the intricate role that power played in the Renaissance.
- Palazzo Vecchio
Tickets
Your tickets will be pre-purchased, allowing you to skip the ticket office line and proceed directly to security when you arrive at the museum. You may still have to wait in a security line, or before your ticket is scanned.
Additional Trip-Planning Resources
- For more information on planning your travels to Florence, take a read through our Context Stories.
- If you are looking to learn more about Florence prior to a visit, check out our online lectures.
Where do we meet? Where does the tour end? We meet at Piazza della Signoria and end at Palazzo Vecchio. Your confirmation email will have the exact meeting point details along with a map.
Is the Uffizi Gallery included on this tour? This tour focuses exclusively on Palazzo Vecchio. If you’re interested in the Uffizi Gallery, we highly recommend you book our Uffizi Gallery Tour: Crash Course.
Can we bring kids on the tour? Families are welcome on this tour, but please keep in mind that the tour is not specifically designed for children. Younger kids might not engage with all of the topics of this tour.
Should we skip this tour if we've already taken other Medici-focused tours? Will there be an overlap? No, there is no overlap with other Medici-focused tours. While there is some minor content similarity, this tour offers unique insights on Palazzo Vecchio and can be enjoyed alongside other tours, like, for example, our Medici History Tour. The Medici ruled Florence for centuries, providing endless fascinating stories and details to explore, so each tour adds a new layer to their history.
We understand that some of our valued guests may have mobility concerns, and we want to ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable experience throughout your tour. If there are any accessibility concerns that your tour guide will need to be aware of, please let our team know at the time of booking.
Is this tour wheelchair-friendly? Yes, this tour is suitable for those with mobility issues, as the first two floors of Palazzo Vecchio are fully wheelchair accessible. The amount of walking is moderate, and while seating is limited, there is an opportunity to sit in the Salone dei Cinquecento at the beginning of the tour.
Where You'll Start
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72 Reviews
Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
What a fantastic tour! Dates of events, stories of political intrigue animating the rise and fall of the Medici and the Florentine Republic, techniques of lost wax bronze casting and fresco painting…. All of this and much more effortlessly conveyed by Siro, our guide. This is our fourth time with Context and it never disappoints.
Paul jeffrey
Sep 12, 2023
She was great
Alan
Jul 17, 2023
This was a wonderful, interesting tour! Olivia was very pleasant, knowledgeable, kind and relaxed. She spent a good amount of time outside explaning Piazza Signoria and did an excellent job inside Palazzo Vecchio. We learned a lot about the Medici's important role in Florence and the Palazoo was beautiful! It was great to have a tour that wasn't totally art focused, but also included information about history. The only suggestion for this tour (or any others) is perhaps a printed timeline of some notable periods in Florentine history to help us relate the time periods to what the guide is discussing and keep track of it well. Also, because we traveled at a busy time of year the person who dropped off the headsets was very busy and arrived late (about 15 minutes) to meet us and Olivia. Please work on that aspect so every guest can make the most of their time in Florence. Our family said Olivia was their favorite tour guide of our entire 8 day trip, so BRAVO to her.
Ann-marie
Jul 4, 2023
