Three Hundred Years of Art, Power, and Politics: A Tour of Medici Florence

What would Florence be without the Medici? As politicians, diplomats, bankers and art collectors, they shaped the city’s history for three centuries, becoming one of the most powerful families in Europe. On this walking tour through the city centre, I’ll share their story and reveal how far their influence reached.

Starting in front of Basilica di San Lorenzo, the family mausoleum, I’ll introduce you to this great family, which included two popes, two French queens, and a whole line of Dukes of Tuscany. You’ll see Riccardi Medici Palace, created by Cosimo the Elder, so he could be near the city’s citizens without showing off his great wealth. In front of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, I’ll tell you about the Pazzi conspiracy, a failed coup against the Medicis by the Pazzi family, who were backed by Pope Sixtus IV. You’ll also hear about other family members too, including Lorenzo the Magnificent and Cosimo the First as you make your way to Palazzo Vecchio (the Government Palace) in Piazza della Signoria. From palace to palace and from church to church, you’ll follow in their footsteps to understand their significance in Florence, and how the city quickly became divided between followers and opponents of the Medici. You’ll also learn about the powerful Medici women as you make your way to Pitti Palace, where our tour ends.

On this 45-minute Florence tour, you’ll have a chance to:

• See three centuries of history through the different architectural styles of the three Medici palaces
• Discover the history of the family’s most influential members including Anna Maria Louisa, the last Medici
• Find out more about the plots against them and how they took revenge
• Be fascinated by their love affairs including Ferdinando the First de’ Medici’s affair with Bianca Cappello, the daughter of a nobleman
• Find out how Eleonora di Toledo, Cosimo the First’s wife, influenced Florence’s artistic scene
• Cross over Ponte Vecchio which was transformed from a fish and meat market into a crafts market, thanks to Ferdinando the First de’ Medici
• Hear how the Uffizi Gallery, one of Florence’s best-known museums, got its start as the Medici’s offices and private gallery

At the end of this tour, you’ll know everything about this incredible family and understand how they shaped the city.