Jet Set: Florence
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Florence, a dream of Italy
I present to you a great classic, the flamboyant Florence, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in Italy. In Italy, we are not afraid to confront the best... of art, food or wine. I guide you on the cobblestones of this world capital of Art. Yes, we are here in the land of the Medicis. Wake up in your Florentine home with a view of the river. Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Dante, we come across their masterpieces in spades, concentrated on a few square kilometers, in this little piece of Italy. We go from one bank of the Arno to the other, from private palaces to vegan ice cream parlors in the serpentine streets of the beautiful Italian city. Before ending the day sipping a Spritz or a glass of Chianti in aperitivo mode.
In the episode, Gill stands before Michelangelo’s David and tours a silk factory that still runs on machines designed by Leonardo da Vinci. This trip explores the same city, built around the Medici, Florentine craftsmanship, and the Arno. The link at the end opens the full trip, and you can change any part of it.
In the Footsteps of the Medici
Florence is the Tuscan city where the Medici family built its power, and their story is written into its streets and buildings. The itinerary makes it easy to take in. A private taxi meets you at Firenze-Peretola Airport and takes you to Continentale, your base for three nights, so you arrive without sorting out transit.
Day 2 is In the Footsteps of the Medici, a three-hour private tour with your own guide. It includes the Medici-Riccardi Palace, where you can see how a powerful family lived and ask your guide the questions a self-guided walk leaves unanswered. Because the tour is private, you set the pace and can stay longer wherever the history grabs you.
The Medici-Riccardi Palace courtyard, a stop on the Medici tour.
Craftsmanship in Florence
Day 3 turns from palaces to the people who still make things here. The Guided Tour on Florentine Craftsmanship runs three hours with a private guide and moves through San Frediano, Santa Croce, and Oltrarno, neighborhoods known for their artisans. It is a way to see Florence as a working city rather than only a museum, and to understand the trades and traditions behind the objects you will want to take home.
Oltrarno and the Arno
The Arno runs through the middle of Florence, and spending time on both sides of it is part of the trip. Oltrarno, the neighborhood across the river, is a good place to wander without a plan, with Santo Spirito as a natural spot to stop for a meal or a drink after your tour.
The Ponte Vecchio is the bridge that connects the two sides, and crossing it takes you over the river with the old city on either bank. Walk it once in daylight to look at the shops along the span, and again in the evening if you want a different view.
The Ponte Vecchio, Florence’s medieval bridge over the Arno.
Add the Episode’s Highlights
Gill’s Florence leg includes two moments you can layer onto the itinerary. Michelangelo’s David stands in the Accademia, and adding a visit puts one of the most recognized sculptures in the world on your list. If you want to go deeper into craftsmanship, add a visit to an 18th-century silk factory like the one in the episode, where machines designed by Leonardo da Vinci are still in use. Either one fits easily into the free time around your tours.
Open the trip below to see the full itinerary, then adjust the days, stops, and extras to fit the way you want to travel.
Florence, a dream of Italy
I present to you a great classic, the flamboyant Florence, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in Italy. In Italy, we are not afraid to confront the best... of art, food or wine. I guide you on the cobblestones of this world capital of Art. Yes, we are here in the land of the Medicis. Wake up in your Florentine home with a view of the river. Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Dante, we come across their masterpieces in spades, concentrated on a few square kilometers, in this little piece of Italy. We go from one bank of the Arno to the other, from private palaces to vegan ice cream parlors in the serpentine streets of the beautiful Italian city. Before ending the day sipping a Spritz or a glass of Chianti in aperitivo mode.
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