Guided Tour: In the Footsteps of the Medici
An entirely outdoor itinerary, designed just for you. The tour with your AGT guide begins in the San Lorenzo district, a symbol of the Medici family. In this area of the historic center, where the Medici had long resided, the majestic family palace was built, designed by Michelozzo for Cosimo the Elder.
With its characteristic rustic ashlar and use of classical architectural elements, Palazzo Medici became the prototype of Renaissance bourgeois architecture, imitated by many other noble Florentine palaces.
The ancient Basilica of San Lorenzo, once the first cathedral of Florence, was rebuilt in the 15th century at the behest of the Medici, based on a design by Filippo Brunelleschi. It became the family church of the Medici dynasty and still houses their tombs and grand ducal mausoleums, adorned with precious marbles and sculptures. Among its masterpieces are works by Donatello, Brunelleschi, and Michelangelo.
After visiting the “Medicean quarter,” you will reach Palazzo Vecchio in Piazza della Signoria with your AGT guide. This historic seat of city government became a Medici residence in the mid-16th century. Today, it remains a symbol of Florentine politics, housing both the Museum and the central offices of the Municipality of Florence.
Crossing the Arno via the famous Ponte Vecchio, the tour concludes at Palazzo Pitti, the luxurious residence of the Medici for about two centuries, until the end of the dynasty with the death of Grand Duke Gian Gastone de’ Medici.
