Walk where the Medici shaped Florence. Palaces, chapels, gardens, and the raised passage over the streets show how power moved here. Clear pointers, short distances, and 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’s power story is easiest to see on the street. You’ll learn how to read a palace front, why a raised passage let rulers move above the crowds, and how gardens were staged to impress. You’ll spot the details that signaled wealth and control, from heavy stone at street level to planned courtyards and long view lines in the hills. Rival houses turned architecture into competition, merchants funded art for status, and science stood beside government by the river. Expect short walks, plain-English notes, and photo-friendly pauses. You finish with a clear understanding of how people here exercised power in the fifteenth to seventeenth centuries. It’s one of the smartest ways to see Florence at your own pace.
Highlights
Palazzo Vecchio — fortress-like town hall with chambers of power; hear whispers of plots and rulers who shaped Florence from its heart.
Uffizi Gallery Exterior — Vasari’s ordered arcade for magistrates; learn how offices evolved into the world’s first public museum.
Vasari Corridor — the Medici’s secret passage above the streets; find out how it let them walk unseen from palace to palace.
Bargello Museum — medieval barracks turned sculpture treasury; meet Donatello’s bronze David and stories carved in marble.
Palazzo Medici Riccardi — the dynasty’s first residence; step into the setting where Renaissance power architecture began.
Cappella dei Magi — frescoed cavalcade of princes and wise men; discover how art celebrated both piety and Medici prestige.
Palazzo Pitti — vast stone façade for Medici grandeur; peek into how a rival family palace became their royal seat.
Boboli Gardens — terraced greens of fountains and grottos; see how nature was staged to impress guests and citizens alike.
Giardino Bardini — hillside views of domes and towers; wander where Florence is framed like a Renaissance painting.
Palazzo Strozzi — rival merchants’ colossal palace; hear how competition in stone rivaled Medici ambitions.
Museo Galileo (exterior) — riverside tribute to science; glimpse instruments and maps that charted new worlds.
Santa Trinita Church — Gothic nave with Sassetti frescoes; uncover how faith, art, and patronage intertwined here.
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 – Medici Palaces, Secrets & Splendor
Distance: ~2.4 miles (3.9 km) • Time: 2.5 hours • Stops: 12+ • Terrain: Mostly flat, cobblestones, some gardens
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.
