Select a morning or afternoon tour when you book. Then, meet your guide outside Florence’s Pitti Palace (Palazzo Pitti), the magnificent Renaissance palace to the south of the Arno River.
Take in the restrained exterior of the building as your guide sheds light on its history. Purchased by Florence's ruling Medici family in 1549, the palace soon became their principal residence, and a display of their wealth and power.
Show your pre-booked ticket for fast-track access, and then follow your guide to the Palatine Gallery, the palace’s largest collection of art. Home to about 500 works by greats such as Titian, Caravaggio, and Rubens, all formerly owned by the Medicis, the gallery runs through a string of 28 sumptuous chambers, salons and public audience halls.
Admire the lavishly decorated rooms as you explore, and view the highlights of the mainly Renaissance and 16th-century artworks as your guide puts each one in context. Study masterpieces like the 'Veiled Lady' by Raphael, the 'Madonna and Child' by Filippino Lippi, Caravaggio’s 'Sleeping Cupid,' and more by masters such as Botticelli, Rubens, and Van Dyck.
As you view the art, soak in the lavish baroque decoration of the rooms, including chambers bearing frescoes painted by Pietro da Cortona in the mid-1600s. Marvel at Cortona’s works, and learn how they were created to celebrate the Medici lineage, and completed by the artist's pupil and collaborator, Ciro Ferri, during the 1660s.
Your tour comes to an end near the start point when your guide says goodbye.