Walk the Renaissance where it actually happened, in workshops, squares, and quiet corners. See what the marble and statues are saying, and leave with stories you'll remember.
Admissions not included.
Your purchase is for 30-day access to our self-guided cell-phone tour. Tickets or entry fees
for museums, historic sites, and other attractions are sold separately.
Florence comes alive when you know what to look for. We show you practical cues: how the dome stands, what the marble patterns mean, and how a statue argues for power in public. Then we connect the names on the tombs to the work those people did for this city. The route is short, the pacing easy, and the guidance practical: look here, notice this, now you will see it everywhere. By the end, you will understand how people here worked, worshiped, and lived in the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries, and you will have a few great stories to tell.
Highlights
Florence Cathedral (Santa Maria del Fiore) — Brunelleschi’s double-shell dome and herringbone brickwork span an unprecedented space; learn how it rose without massive wooden centering.
Baptistery of San Giovanni — glittering mosaics and Ghiberti’s bronze doors; hear how a 1401 contest helped ignite Renaissance ambitions.
Giotto’s Campanile — marble-inlaid tower with reliefs of human endeavor; discover the story it tells in stone before you look up its perfect lines.
Museo dell’Opera del Duomo — home to the original Gates of Paradise and Michelangelo’s Bandini Pietà; stand inches from masterpieces rescued from weather and time.
Santa Croce Basilica — tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli and more; see how a Franciscan church became Italy’s ‘Temple of Glories.’
Pazzi Chapel — Brunelleschi’s calm geometry in pietra serena; feel why proportion and light make this space whisper instead of shout.
Santa Maria Novella — Gothic nave and landmark fresco cycles; find the Masaccio ‘Trinity’ that taught painters how to shape space.
San Lorenzo Basilica — Brunelleschi’s parish for the Medici with Donatello pulpits; walk the everyday church that nurtured a dynasty.
Medici Chapels — Michelangelo’s New Sacristy and the opulent Chapel of the Princes; decode the symbols he carved into night and day.
Badia Fiorentina — medieval abbey with soaring tower and monastic roots; hear how prayer, learning, and politics intertwined here.
Orsanmichele — grain market turned guild church with tabernacles by Donatello and Ghiberti; discover how commerce commissioned faith in stone.
Ospedale degli Innocenti — Brunelleschi’s humanist hospital with blue della Robbia roundels; meet the real lives served behind the elegant arcade.
All this, plus additional "hidden gems," expertly brought to life through our virtual guides....with rich, vivid history, local stories, and unmatched knowledge you will not find elsewhere. Even better, no tipping required!
Tour area: Florence – Cathedrals, Tombs & Renaissance Glory
Distance: ~2.2 miles (3.5 km) • Time: 2.5 hours • Stops: 12+ • Terrain: Mostly flat, cobblestones, some church steps
Shaded area = approximate tour area
What you’ll experience
GPS location tracking — see your current location on the map.
Virtual Tour Guides — Detailed narration at each stop & answers to common questions.
Vast local knowledge — history, legends, and insider spots.
Local weather updates — stay prepared as you explore outdoors.
A “Free Roaming” adventure — start anywhere, wander at your pace.
What exactly unlocks when I buy?
You’ll get the full tour map with hot-air balloon markers (our map pins), our suggested walking path for orientation, detailed stories and site info, narration, and tons of local tips. Your purchase gives you unlimited access for 30 days via a private link. It runs right in your mobile browser — no installs, no storage — just open and go.
How do I start the tour?
Open your private tour link on your phone and tap the compass icon on the map to show where you are. Simply walk to the nearest stop and tap its marker to start the story. Then just visit any other stops you like, in any order, at your own pace.
How does a SmartWalkTour differ from a traditional tour?
It’s your pace, your path. No buses or group schedules. No tour guide tipping. Explore freely with on-map markers, narration, and an optional suggested path for big-picture orientation. Pause for a café, browse a shop, and pick up where you left off anytime — your guide is always in your pocket.
Screenshots from an actual tour. (Key West example)
Swipe or scroll to see more →
Multiple tour stopping points. Start at any one, then tap the hot air balloon for detailed tour guide information.Virtual tour guides share rich stories at every stop, with Q&A and helpful links.Always know the local weather and plan your walk comfortably.Discover more tours nearby—walkable options to keep exploring.Four map styles, live GPS, and a suggested path you can toggle on/off.Helpful information is built in, plus links for even more detail.In app tips, FAQs, Local festivals and events. Maps show a wealth of detail, with public restroom locations.Direct links to attractions for hours, tickets, and more.
