WALKING TOUR:
The Golden Age of Florence
This itinerary focuses on Medieval and Renaissance times, when Florence became a financial powerhouse and its merchant class reached a peak of wealth and influence. Spurred by the patronage of individuals and corporations, the arts flourished. Florence became an architectural wonder and a cultural capital whose influence over the rest of Italy and Europe would be felt for centuries.
Among the possible highlights of this tour are:
Palazzo Davanzati and Palazzo Strozzi, pristine examples of Medieval and Renaissance palazzo, the residence of wealthy Florentine magnates who controlled the economy and politics of the city
The church of Santa Croce, masterpiece of Florentine Gothic architecture, populated with the tombs of famous Florentines including Michelangelo and Galileo, as well as the adjacent Pazzi Chapel, whose understated elegance captures the essence of the Renaissance
The Brancacci Chapel, where Masaccio’s frescoes, filled with realism and perspective, started the Renaissance in the visual arts
Donatello’s David in the Bargello museum, the first nude created since antiquity, and its companion David by Verrocchio, two sculptures which embody the Renaissance in figurative arts
The Accademia gallery, where Michelangelo’s David and the unfinished Prigioni reside