Private Piazza della Signoria and Skip-the-Line Palazzo Vecchio Tour

Choose a morning or afternoon departure on booking. Then, make your own way to the Piazza della Signoria in central Florence, and meet your guide.

After introductions, stroll around the magnificent square, the center of Florence’s political life since the 14th century. Listen as your guide spotlights the main sights, and admire the statue of David by Michelangelo — a copy of the original that is now housed inside Florence’s Accademia Gallery.

Then, see the sculptures in the Loggia dei Lanzi, the square's open-air gallery, viewing works like Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Cellini and The Rape of the Sabine Women by Giambologna.

Next, admire the castle-like exterior and Arnolfo’s Tower of the 13th-century Palazzo Vecchio, the square’s main building. The city hall and seat of civic power in Florence for seven centuries, the palace was used as a residence by Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici from 1540 on, before the famous ruling family relocated to the city’s Palazzo Pitti.

Bypass the main entrance lines using your skip-the-line ticket, and take a tour with your guide. Learn how the building was originally designed by Arnolfo di Cambio, and how Cosimo I appointed Giorgio Vasari to transform what had been a political hub into a grand palace.

Admire the elegant courtyards, and walk through the magnificently decorated rooms. Marvel at the imposing Hall of the Five Hundred (Salone del Cinquecento), with its vast painted panels glorifying the Medici. Then, explore the Monumental Quarters (Quartieri Monumentali), a string of salons adorned with frescoes by artists such as Ghirlandaio, Bronzino, and Vasari; and sculptures by Michelangelo and Donatello.

Your tour then finishes near the start point.