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Private Guided Tour of Florence Basilicas and Their Cloisters

Firenze, Italy

From $112.26

Price varies by group size

Select Date and Travelers

Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance.
Florence Tours
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Audio Guides
Kid-Friendly
Likely To Sell Out
Unique Experiences
  • 3 hours (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

Get an in-depth look at three beautiful churches as well as their ancient cloisters on this private tour in Florence. Visit the churches of San Lorenzo, Santa Croce, and Santa Maria Novella before sitting down to a simple Tuscan lunch (if upgrade selected).
  • Private tour of three churches and cloisters in Florence
  • See tombs of famous Florentines in the Basilica of Santa Croce
  • Visit the Brunelleschi-designed cloister next to the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella
  • Enjoy lunch at a typical Tuscan trattoria (if option selected)

What's Included

  • Local professional Guide at your side
  • Earphones for groups of more than 7 participants
  • Santa Croce Basilica (to be paid on the spot): Adult: € 8,00; Ages 11-16: € 6,00; 10 and under are free
  • Santa Maria Novella Basilica: Adult: € 7,50; Ages 11-16: € 5,00; 10 and under are free
  • San Lorenzo Basilica: Full price ticket: € 6,00. Free admission for: children younger than 11 years old
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Everything not mentioned as Included

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

  • Basilica of Santa Maria Novella
    P.za di Santa Maria Novella, 18, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy

    Starting Time: at 10:00 am Meeting with the guide at the entrance of Santa Maria Novella

Start time

10:00 AM

End point

  • Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence
    Piazza di Santa Croce, 16, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy

What To Expect

Meet your guide outside the Basilica of Santa Croce, the first stop on the tour.

Learn about the church's Gothic architectural details, including the multi-colored marble facade, and admire artwork by Giotto, Donatello, Agnolo Gaddi, and more. Tombs and monuments to many of Florence's most beloved sons line the walls of the church. Look for names such as Galileo, Michelangelo, and Machiavelli.

Walk past the stone columns in the adjoining Brunelleschi Cloister before reaching the 14th-century so-called "Ancient Cloister." On the other side of this second cloister is the Pazzi Chapel, also designed by Brunelleschi.

Walk from the Basilica to the Piazza della Signoria in the heart of historic Florence. The square is surrounded by important buildings and monuments, including the palace in which the powerful Medici family once lived. Continue on to the Piazza del Duomo, the city's religious center, to see the cathedral, baptistery, and the bell tower designed by Giotto.

Next, visit the Basilica of San Lorenzo, the oldest church in the city and once the church of the Medici family. Inside, admire stunning works of art by Michelangelo, as well as artwork by Filippo Lippi, Donatello, Rosso Fiorentino, Bronzino, and Pontormo.

Enter the church's Cloister of the Canons, also designed by Brunelleschi, with an orange tree at its center that was an important symbol to the Medici family.

Continue next to the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, not far from the train station. Admire the green and white marble Renaissance facade designed by Leon Battista Alberti. See works of art inside the church that include frescoes by Filippino Lippi and Ghirlandaio, the 'Trinity' by Masaccio, and the 'Crucifix' by Giotto.

The tour ends at the next stop, the Green Cloister next to the church. The cloister takes its name from the murals by 15th-century artist Paolo Uccello, which are predominantly in a greenish color. After visiting these three churches and cloisters, sit down to a 2-course lunch in a typical Tuscan trattoria in the city center (if lunch option selected).

Please note: Lunch is not included for children under the age of 7.

Basilica of Santa Maria Novella

Meet your private guide and you will head towards the striking square where the Basilica di Santa Maria Novella stands with its splendid Renaissance façade by Leon Battista Alberti covered with white and green marble. Inside the Basilica, founded by the Dominican Fathers at the beginning of 1200, you will have the chance to see masterpieces such as the "Crucifix" by Giotto the "Trinity" by Masaccio and the spectacular frescoes by Filippino Lippi and Ghirlandaio and also hear the story of the "mendicant order" of friars who have always been present in this church. Your tour ends inside the elegant "Green Cloister" so named for its beautiful murals in green earth by Paolo Uccello.

1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included

Basilica di San Lorenzo

In the heart of the lively Medici quarter, bordering the Piazza del Duomo, you will find yourselves in front of the Basilica di San Lorenzo, Florence's the oldest church, consecrated in 393 by Sant'Ambrogio, rebuilt in the year 1000 and enlarged in 1400 by Brunelleschi at the behest of the Medici family who chose it as their parish church. Inside the Basilica is the “Old Sacristy”by Brunelleschi with the tombs of the founders of the Medici family and works by Donatello, Bronzino, Filippo Lippi, Rosso Fiorentino and Pontormo, to name but a few. Leaving the church, you will enter in the impressive “Cloister of the Canons” at the centre of which stands an imposing 16th-century orange tree which was dear to the Medici family and became a kind of symbol of their dynasty.

50 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • This tour does not operate on major holidays
  • Near public transportation
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Operated by CAF Tour and Travel

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
Reviews
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Showing 1-3 of 5 reviews
Incredible journey discovering these stunning churches, history and art as a family
AnnMarie_C, Mar 2023
We had a wonderful experience with our guide. With two children in our family, she navigated conversation for all ages and a variety of interests. An incredible subject matter expert, we spent a wonderful morning walking and discovering the history and art not just within the churches, but in-between to provide context. Highly recommend!
Really nice tour. Young gentleman...
Nicholas S, Oct 2017
Really nice tour. Young gentleman tour guide born and raised and educated right in Florence. Three really magnificent churches. To be honest we liked all three of these churches better than the Duomo. Our guide, Gabrielle knew about and told us so much about all of the works of art, paintings, sculptures, crosses in these churches. Simply amazing!
An absolutely amazing experience...
Amit_M, Mar 2017
An absolutely amazing experience made possible by Alessandra, our guide. She gave us an in-depth explanation of the art, buildings, and the history behind all that we saw. Couldn't recommend this highly enough.

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