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Florence and Tuscany Walking Tours. Discover the History Behind the Sights.

Florence and Tuscany Walking Tours. Discover the History Behind the Sights.

By: Great City Walking Tours
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Walking tours of Tuscany’s great cities and towns, including Florence, Siena, Cortona, Lucca and Perugia in Tuscany and Umbria. Our tours guide you around your chosen destination's most interesting tourist sights, tell you about the history and stories behind each location. Follow our directions between each stop on your circular tour. Get tips on where to eat and drink as you enjoy your holiday!


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Episodes
  • Pistoia walking tour guide, discover the sights and history, find the best coffee and restaurants

    Pistoia walking tour guide, discover the sights and history, find the best coffee and restaurants
    Feb 17 2026
    In this episode, we leave the crowds of Florence behind and head 30 kilometers northwest to the medieval city of Pistoia. Often overlooked by tourists, Pistoia offers an authentic Tuscan experience, packed with "zebra-striped" Romanesque architecture, underground history, and a vibrant aperitivo culture. Join us on a 3-to-4-hour circular walking tour through this well-kept secret.In This Episode, We Cover:• Piazza del Duomo: We start at the heart of the city, exploring one of Italy's most harmonious squares. ◦ The Cathedral of San Zeno: Home to the incredible silver Altar of St. James, a masterpiece that took 150 years to complete. ◦ The Bell Tower: A climb of 200 steps offers panoramic views of the Tuscan hills. ◦ The Baptistery: A stunning octagonal structure in green and white marble.• Art & History: ◦ Ospedale del Ceppo: Famous for its colorful terracotta frieze by Giovanni della Robbia depicting the "Seven Works of Mercy". We also descend into Pistoia Sotterranea to see the city's foundations and an ancient riverbed. ◦ San Giovanni Fuorcivitas: A church characterized by its striped marble north wall and the moving "Visitation" sculpture by Luca della Robbia. ◦ Sant'Andrea: Visiting Pistoia’s greatest artistic treasure, the intricately carved Pulpit by Giovanni Pisano (1301).• Local Life: ◦ Piazza della Sala: Known as "The Living Room," this square transforms from a morning vegetable market to a bustling evening spot for drinks. Look for the "Pozzo del Leoncino," the well guarded by a stone lion. ◦ Basilica of Our Lady of Humility: We end the tour beneath the massive dome designed by Giorgio Vasari—the third-largest in Italy.Travel Tips Mentioned:• Footwear: Wear comfortable shoes! The medieval center is paved with "pietra serena" stones which can be slippery and hard on the feet.• Timing: Avoid Monday mornings when many museums and churches have limited hours.• Must-Try Snack: Look for Confetti di Pistoia in the market area—sugar-coated aniseed sweets that look like little hedgehogs.• Famous Residents: Pistoia was the birthplace of Pope Clement IX (Giulio Rospigliosi), a patron of the arts and playwright who reigned from 1667 to 1669.Map of the Route:• Start: Piazza del Duomo• Stop 2: Ospedale del Ceppo (Via Filippo Pacini)• Stop 3: San Giovanni Fuorcivitas (Via de' Rossi)• Stop 4: Piazza della Sala (Via Francesco Crispi)• Stop 5: Sant'Andrea (Via Sant'Andrea)• Stop 6: Basilica of Our Lady of Humility (Via della Madonna)• End: Return to Piazza del Duomo--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sources & Links:• Pistoia City Guide (Wikipedia) ◦ Overview of the city's history, geography, and main sights. ◦ Link to Source• Pistoia Cathedral (Wikipedia) ◦ Deep dive into the Cathedral of San Zeno and its interior art. ◦ Link to Source• Pistoia Travel Guide (Wikivoyage) ◦ Practical travel information including transport, dining, and accommodation. ◦ Link to Source• Pope Clement IX (Wikipedia) ◦ Biography of Giulio Rospigliosi, Pistoia's famous pontiff. ◦ Link to SourceNote: this podcast was produced using AI.Copyrighted 2026. Licenced for use under Creative Commons Share Alike Attribution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    39 mins
  • Siena walking tour guide. Discover the sights and history, find the best coffee and restaurants.

    Siena walking tour guide. Discover the sights and history, find the best coffee and restaurants.
    Feb 15 2026

    Episode Overview Join us for a circular walking tour through the heart of Siena, a UNESCO World Heritage site celebrated for its medieval cityscape. This episode guides you through the "Big 10" sights of the city, starting and ending at the iconic Piazza del Campo.

    Spanning approximately 2.5 km (1.5 miles), this route is designed to take between 4 to 6 hours, allowing time for museum visits. From the seat of medieval government to the spectacular "zebra-striped" Cathedral, this tour covers the essential history, art, and architecture of one of Tuscany's most treasured cities.


    Tour Highlights

    • Piazza del Campo: We begin at the shell-shaped brick square that serves as the heart of the city and the venue for the famous Palio horse race.

    • Palazzo Pubblico & Museo Civico: A look at the seat of Siena's government, home to Ambrogio Lorenzetti's masterpiece frescoes, The Allegory of Good and Bad Government.

    • Torre del Mangia: The 87-meter tower offering panoramic views of Tuscany; built to equal the height of the Cathedral to symbolize the balance of church and state powers.

    • Fonte Gaia: A visit to the "Fountain of Joy" features 19th-century copies of Jacopo della Quercia’s Renaissance sculptures.

    • Duomo di Siena (Cathedral): A tour of the spectacular Romanesque-Gothic cathedral, famous for its black and white marble facade and intricate etched floor panels.

    • Piccolomini Library: Located inside the Duomo, this library houses Pope Pius II's book collection and features vibrant 16th-century frescoes by Pinturicchio.

    • Museo dell’Opera & Il Facciatone: We explore the original facade statues and climb the "Great Wall"—the remains of an abandoned cathedral expansion that offers a stunning profile view of the Duomo.

    • Battistero di San Giovanni: A visit to the Baptistery behind the Cathedral to view the baptismal font featuring works by Donatello and Ghiberti.

    • Santa Maria della Scala: Originally a hospital for pilgrims and orphans, this massive complex is now a museum featuring the "Pilgrim's Hall".

    Sources

    • Siena - Wikipedia

    ◦ Link to Source

    • Siena - Wikivoyage

    ◦ Link to Source


    Note: This podcast was generated using AI.

    Copyrighted 2026. Licenced for use under Creative Commons Share Alike Attribution.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    39 mins
  • Florence walking tour guide, discover the sights and history, find the best coffee and restaurants

    Florence walking tour guide, discover the sights and history, find the best coffee and restaurants
    Feb 14 2026
    We journey to the heart of Tuscany to explore Florence (Firenze), Italy. We begin by tracing the city's rise from a Roman garrison to the banking capital of the medieval world and the "Cradle of the Renaissance." Following the history, we provide two day long step-by-step walking guides covering the city's most famous monuments and the artisan districts across the river. Finally, we venture beyond the historic core to discover panoramic viewpoints and hillside villas.Part 1: A History of Ambition and Art• Origins: Founded in 59 BC as Florentia ("The Flourishing Town") for Roman veteran soldiers.• The Engine of Europe: How the Florentine gold florin became the standard currency of Europe, financing kings and the papacy, and helping lift Europe out of the "Dark Ages".• The Medici Dynasty: The rise of the Medici family, who produced Popes and Queens of France (Catherine de' Medici), and acted as the greatest patrons of art in European history.• Cultural Revolution: How Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio turned the Tuscan dialect into the standard Italian language, and how Brunelleschi and Alberti revolutionized architecture.• Turbulence: The brief, dramatic theocratic rule of Girolamo Savonarola and the Bonfire of the Vanities.Part 2: Day 1 Walking Tour – The Religious & Political Heart• Start: Piazza del Duomo. Marvel at the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Brunelleschi’s massive brick dome, and the "Gates of Paradise" at the Baptistery.• Stop 2: Galleria dell'Accademia. A short walk north to see Michelangelo’s original David (Tip: Book weeks in advance!).• Stop 3: San Lorenzo District. Visit the Medici Chapels and grab lunch inside the bustling Mercato Centrale.• Stop 4: Piazza della Signoria. The political center featuring the fortress-like Palazzo Vecchio and the open-air sculpture gallery, Loggia dei Lanzi.• End: The Uffizi Gallery. Finish the day at one of the world's most famous museums, home to Botticelli’s Birth of Venus.Part 3: Day 2 Walking Tour – The Arno & The Oltrarno• Start: Piazza della Repubblica. Begin at this 19th-century square and head down the luxury shopping street, Via de' Tornabuoni.• Stop 2: Santa Maria Novella & Ponte Santa Trinita. Visit the basilica near the train station, then cross the bridge for the best photo ops of the Ponte Vecchio.• Stop 3: The Oltrarno & Palazzo Pitti. Explore the "cool" artisan workshops around Piazza Santo Spirito and visit the massive Pitti Palace and its Boboli Gardens.• Stop 4: Ponte Vecchio. Walk back across the famous "Old Bridge," the only one in Florence to survive WWII, lined with jewelry shops.• End: Basilica di Santa Croce. Walk along the river to the burial place of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli.Part 4: Beyond the City Centre• Piazzale Michelangelo: The classic panoramic viewpoint offering the most famous sunset views over the city, a 20-30 minute uphill walk from the river.• San Miniato al Monte: A beautiful Romanesque church located just above Piazzale Michelangelo, often quieter than the square below.• Fiesole: A hilltop town 20 minutes by bus, offering Roman ruins, an amphitheater, and a cool escape from the city heat.• Stibbert Museum: A hidden gem in the northern outskirts housing a world-renowned collection of armor and weaponry.• Medici Villas: Visit the suburban estates like Petraia or Castello to see how the Medici lived in the countryside.Practical Tips Mentioned• Traffic: Do not drive into the historic center (ZTL); it is strictly prohibited for non-residents and heavily fined.• Tickets: Pre-booking is essential for the Uffizi and Accademia.• Food: Try Bistecca alla fiorentina (T-bone steak) or Lampredotto (tripe sandwich).Sources Used in this Episode• "Florence - Wikipedia" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence• "Florence - Wikivoyage" https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/FlorenceNote: This podcast and these show notes were generated using Artificial Intelligence.Copyrighted 2026. Licenced for use under Creative Commons Share Alike Attribution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    23 mins
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