The Best of Florence + Accademia Gallery

Your morning or afternoon tour starts with the Italian Gothic-style church of the Dominicans Santa Maria Novella . Besides the Basilica the square houses other important buildings among them the long portico of the Hospital of San Paolo . Other highlights of the tour are Palazzo Strozzi , a splendid example of civil architecture inspired by the Palazzo Medici and Piazza della Repubblica , the ancient center of the Roman town . It became later the Jewish Ghetto and, in the 19th Century, on the occasion of Florence capital of Italy, turned into an elegant area. We lead then to Piazza del Duomo , with the grandiose Dome by Brunelleschi, Giotto's Belltower and the Baptistery with the famous bronze doors. Then the tour continues with with an exclusive private guided visit of the GALLERIA DELL'ACCADEMIA . The first room contains the original plaster model by Giambologna for the marble sculptures of the Rape of the Sabines (Loggia dei Lanzi) and 15th-16th century works from the Mannerist school . These are followed by the Slaves (originally for the tomb of Julius II), the S. Matthew and the Pietà from Palestrina one of four compositions of the same subject who act as a guard of honour to Michelangelo 's DAVID in the beautifully lit Tribune situated at the far end of this spectacular gallery. Reserve a ticket in advance with us and have a substantially shorter wait!