City: Florence
Duration: 3.5 hours
Start Time: 9:00 AM
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There is so much to do in Florence but two attractions stand head and shoulders above the rest: the Florence Duomo and the Accademia Gallery, home to Michelangelo’s David. With so much demand, these sites can become crowded, particularly in the summer months.
We guarantee that you'll have the best experience possible on this, our most exclusive Florence tour. Combining careful timing, skip the line entry, and special access, we set you apart from the crowds. Along with an expert local guide, you’ll cross velvet ropes to get up close and personal with the two giants of Florence.
Your tour starts early with a reservation for first entrance at the Accademia Gallery. Arriving before the crowds, you’ll have a little more space to explore not just Michelangelo’s David, but also his unfinished Slaves and a number of other priceless works often overlooked by visitors. Traveling in a small group of just 15 people or fewer, and with headsets for every guest, your tour will be intimate and your guide easy to question.
After the Accademia, it’s through the Piazza del Duomo where you'll gaze upon the beautiful copper-plated doors of the Florence Baptistery. Enjoy a tour of the Baptistery as well as the Duomo Museum; soak up the atmosphere and familiarize yourself with the awe-inspiring sights within, before making your way to the ultimate highlight of this VIP experience.
The final leg of your visit will be inside the Duomo itself, where special access will give you more space than the average visitor. The floor of the Duomo has recently been roped off. While normal visitors circulate on paths around the walls of the cathedral, you’ll cross velvet ropes to wander the floor as you wish, getting closer to the details of the Duomo. You’ll also gain access to a special hidden room, where the Duomo stores original statues from its façade.
The cherry on your cake comes last as you ascend to the Duomo Terrace for incredible views and an up-close view of Brunelleschi’s enormous dome (the largest brick dome in the world). This is incredibly exclusive access (very few visitors even know this level exists!), with a maximum of two small tour groups visiting during your time. At this level, you’ll also have access to a special door from where you can climb to the top of the Florence Duomo without waiting in line for hours.
The views from the terrace are fantastic for examining Florence Duomo up close, but from the top of the dome, you’ll see not just Florence, but far into Tuscany. Give yourself some time to soak up the red roofs and rolling hills; it will be a long time before you see another view quite like this.