Florence Uffizi & Accademia Art Historian Guided Tour - Priority Entry, David & Gelato Tasting

Enter the Uffizi Gallery with priority entry and an art historian

Meet in front of the statue of Leonardo da Vinci in the Uffizi courtyard and enter the gallery with priority entry (about 1 hour 30 minutes). The Uffizi was designed by Giorgio Vasari in the 16th century for Cosimo I de' Medici and is now the leading museum of Renaissance painting. Unravel the Neoplatonic symbolism hidden in Botticelli's "The Birth of Venus" and see how art changed from the rigid medieval style to Leonardo's psychological depth and Michelangelo's realistic depiction of the human body.

Pass Piazza della Signoria and taste gelato

Leave the gallery and pass Piazza della Signoria, Florence's political center where Palazzo Vecchio stands, then walk around Orsanmichele, whose exterior is decorated with statues of the patron saints of the medieval guilds, and the Duomo area. Along the way, taste artisan-made gelato (cup) and hear the story of gelato and Bernardo Buontalenti, the Medici family's architect.

See the "Prisoners" series at the Accademia Gallery

Enter the Accademia Gallery with priority entry and first see Michelangelo's unfinished sculptures, the "Prisoners" (Prigioni). The figures seem to be struggling to emerge from the blocks of marble, offering a glimpse into Michelangelo's working process.

Stand beneath Michelangelo's "David"

Finally, stand in front of the marble sculpture "David", which is over 5 m tall. Your guide points out details many people miss, such as the veins on the hand, the furrowed brow and the determined gaze, and explains why this sculpture was like a declaration of the Florentine Republic. The tour ends at the Accademia Gallery.

* The small-group tour takes about 3 hours 30 minutes, and the private tour takes about 4 hours.
* The walk between the Uffizi and the Accademia takes about 30 minutes.