AudioZoom into Florence: An Introduction to the Historical City Center

(8 reviews)

Florence audio tour: AudioZoom into Florence: An Introduction to the Historical City Center

This is a 1.6mi walking tour

It takes an average of 60 mins to complete.

Florence

Italy

$5.99

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About the Tour

Florence is indeed a city where history, art, and culture come to life on every corner, attracting curious travellers from all over the world. This walking tour is designed to delight everyone from history enthusiasts to art lovers and cultural aficionados by bringing the interesting stories behind the city’s iconic monuments to life.

The tour starts in Piazza San Lorenzo, in the shadow of Basilica di San Lorenzo. Here, you’ll discover the story of the powerful Medici family, who shaped Florence’s destiny, and have an opportunity to admire the grand mausoleum created by the genius Michelangelo, the great Italian master, for the Medicis. As you make your way through the city, you’ll be immersed in the elegance of Renaissance architecture.

As we continue, you’ll walk through Piazza Duomo, where the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Florence Cathedral, dominates the skyline with its breathtaking dome, engineered by architect Brunelleschi. I’ll show you its impressive bell tower, crafted by none other than Giotto, an Italian painter and architect! You’ll visit Palazzo Vecchio (the Old Palace) in Piazza della Signoria, Florence’s political heart since medieval times before crossing the river Arno to the Santo Spirito neighbourhood.

The tour ends up back across the river in Piazza della Repubblica, once the heart of ancient Florentia’s Roman forum and now an elegant and lively square home to historic cafés and modern-day charm.

On this hour-long tour, you’ll also:

Pay a visit to the House of Dante, where the great poet of The Divine Comedy once lived
Stroll across Ponte Vecchio, home to Florence’s finest jewellers
Discover local cuisine in Mercato del Porcellino (Porcellino Market), and find the perfect souvenirs
Marvel at the grand Pitti Palace, the Medici family’s former residence, and explore the vast Boboli Gardens
Admire Palazzo Strozzi, a Renaissance gem built to rival the Medici palaces, now a vibrant center for contemporary art exhibitions

Join us on this lively stroll where everything is explained in a light and accessible manner because we believe that art and culture are twice as beautiful when shared in a simple and playful way.

Tour Producer

eArs

5 tours

eArs is a company that specialises in engaging audio narratives.
With our CityZooms you can discover the city's history, curiosities and attractions in a light, fun and accessible way for everyone.

Preview Location

Location 4

Piazza Duomo (Cathedral Square)

Stop in front of the Cathedral.

Florence's Cathedral Square might have a somewhat misleading name!

The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is undoubtedly one of the city's masterpieces, but Cathedral Square is also home to two other splendid examples of medieval and Renai... Stop in front of the Cathedral.

Florence's Cathedral Square might have a somewhat misleading name!

The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is undoubtedly one of the city's masterpieces, but Cathedral Square is also home to two other splendid examples of medieval and Renaissance art: the Baptistery, the octagonal building opposite the cathedral's façade, and Giotto's bell tower, which stands to the right of the cathedral, separate from the main structure. The three buildings share the white and polychrome marble cladding that creates a sense of unity between them.

You might be surprised to learn that the Cathedral's beautiful façade, with its Gothic spires and arches, is not ancient at all—it was only completed in the 1800s, although it was designed in a style inspired by medieval churches. In contrast, the dome dates back to the 1400s and was created by the brilliant architect Filippo Brunelleschi, one of the pioneers of the Italian Renaissance. Inside the church, the space beneath the dome is adorned with an impressive fresco of the Last Judgement.

Next to the Cathedral stands Giotto's Bell Tower, nearly 85 meters high, commissioned in the 14th century by perhaps the most renowned and significant Italian artist of the time. It is a true gem of Gothic architecture.

Finally, there's the Baptistery of San Giovanni, one of the oldest buildings in Florence, renowned for its ornate doors. The most famous of these is the east door, known as the Gates of Paradise, created by Lorenzo Ghiberti. You'll recognize it immediately by its splendid square gilded panels depicting scenes from the Bible. These panels were made using a special bas-relief technique called “stiacciato”, which means “flattened” in Florentine. The figures rise from the background with minimal relief, sometimes only a few millimeters!

If you’d like to visit the Cathedral, feel free to take your time. Otherwise, let’s continue our tour.

Keep the Cathedral’s façade on your left and proceed straight towards Via dei Calzaiuoli. Read More

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How VoiceMap Works

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Follow a route with turn-by-turn-directions

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a fixed starting point. That lets us give turn-by-turn directions and use context to tell a better story.

Resume playback to go at your own pace

If you'd like to stop for a drink or go into a museum, end your tour then use the Resume feature to pick up exactly where you left off.

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Major Landmarks

Basilica di San Lorenzo
Piazza del Duomo
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
House of Dante
Piazza della Signoria
Loggia dei Lanzi
Fontana del Porcellino
Mercato del Porcellino
Ponte Vecchio
Strozzi Palace
Palazzo Vecchio
Piazza Santo Spirito
Ponte Santa Trinita
Piazza Santa Trinita
Piazza Pitti Palace
Piazza della Repubblica

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
Piazza di San Lorenzo, 9, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy
Total distance

3km
Final location
Piazza della Repubblica, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy
Distance back to start location

371.43m

Directions to Starting Point

The tour starts right in front of the San Lorenzo Church in the square which carries the same name: Piazza San Lorenzo.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

This tour covers many monuments and museums that we highly recommend visiting. If you'd like to take the opportunity, feel free to pause the tour at any time and resume it whenever you’re ready!

Best time of day

If you intend to visit some of the museums and churches we will see in the tour, it is better to start in the morning: in this way you will have plenty of time to stop by the places you intend to visit.

In summer, we strongly suggest to avoid taking the tour after lunch hour (from 1:00 P.M. to 5.30 PM) as the city tend to be one of the hottest in Italy during summertime. So it is better to take the tour in the morning or after 5.30 PM).

Florence can be romantic and evocative at sunset, but the majority of the places of the tour won't be open. However you can see them by the outside while enjoying the view on the Arno river.

Precautions

Florence is hot in summer and cold in winter.
If you’re visiting in summer, consider bringing a hat and sunscreen, and be mindful when entering bars and public places due to the strong air conditioning.
In winter, make sure to wear warm clothing and coats, and always keep an umbrella handy—you never know when it might rain!

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“This app has become my go-to app for audio tours. I pretty much use it for every trip and it works wonderfully. I highly recommend VoiceMap for travelers to truly experience cities.”

App Store Review

“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”