Frescoes in Florence Tour

Join us in the beautiful city of Florence for a journey through the city’s most captivating Renaissance treasures. Over five days, we explore a series of remarkable museums, chapels and palazzi, each offering its own unique insight into Florence’s artistic golden age. From the peaceful cloisters of the Museo di San Marco to the splendour of the Medici world, and from rare, privately accessed historic interiors to some of the most celebrated fresco cycles in Italy, this is a chance to experience Florence in a truly special way.

ITINERARY

Day 1: Pisa to Florence
Fly from London Gatwick to Pisa. On arrival transfer to Florence for check-in to our hotel. This evening there will be a welcome drink and dinner at the hotel. 

Day 2: Museo di San Marc and Palazzo Medici Riccardi
Morning visit to Museum de San Marco. Housed in a former Dominican convent redesigned by Michelozzo for Cosimo de’ Medici, it contains the world’s most extensive collection of works by Fra Angelico. It is especially renowned for its frescoes, including Fra Angelico’s celebrated Annunciation and the cycle of frescoes decorating the monks’ cells, created between 1438 and 1446. After time for lunch (own expense) we finish the afternoon at the Palazzo Medici Riccardi where the vaulted ceiling of the Mirror Gallery was frescoed by the major Baroque painter of the time, Luca Giordano. Evening talk from Clare: ‘Florence in the time of Fra Angelico’, then dinner.

Day 3: Palazzo, a convent, and Santa Maria Novella
Full day to view some of most beautiful frescoes of the Renaissance city of Florence. We start at Palazzo Davanzati, dating from the 14th-century, which showcases medieval and Renaissance life with its frescoed rooms and period furnishings. We also take a private guided tour of the second and third floors to view the frescoed walls and needle lace displays. Next we visit the Convent of Sant’ Apollonia, renowned for Andrea del Castagno's fresco of the Last Supper; and the Tornabuoni Chapel in the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, where we view the magnificent fresco cycle by Domenico Ghirlandaio. These 15th century frescoes depict the lives of the Virgin Mary and St John the Baptist, the patron saint of Florence. Evening talk from Clare: ‘15th Century Florentine Frescoes’.

Day 4: Brancacci Chapel, Santa Trinita, Uffizi Gallery, and Santa Croce
Morning visit to the Brancacci Chapel within the Church of Santa Maria del Carmine. It is often called the Sistine Chapel of the early Renaissance due to its impressive cycle of frescoes that influenced generations of Florentine artists, including the young Michaelangelo. We also visit Santa Trinita which features many frescoes, mosaics and statues, including the Sassetti Chapel with beautiful frescoes of ‘Stories of St Francis’. We spend the afternoon at the Uffizi Gallery, including entry to 'Magnifico 1492', a historic exhibition on Lorenzo de'Medici (subject to Uffizi Gallery scheduling). The exhibition will reunite over 100 works, in the most extensive and details reconstruction ever attempted of the Medici art collections as they were recorded in 1492, the year of Lorenzo's death.
This evening we enjoy a special out of hours visit to the Basilica of Santa Croce, the largest Franciscan church in the world, where illustrious figures such as Galileo, Michelangelo and Machiavelli are buried. Farewell dinner tonight.

Day 5: San Miniato al Monte, Fiesole, then return to Pisa
Morning visit to San Miniato al Monte, a beautiful Romanesque Basilica decorated with frescoes and a 13th century golden mosaic depicting Christ Pantocrator. Next drive to the lovely village of Fiesole, up in the hills to the north of Florence. Fiesole offers wonderful views of the city below as well as works by Fra Angelico at the Monastery of San Domenico. Here we have special permission to enter the Chapter House to view two more Fra Angelico works. Afternoon transfer to Pisa for flight to London Gatwick.

NB: Exact order of itinerary may vary according to local conditions and tour manager's discretion.

Please note the maximum group size on this tour is 25 passengers.

Tour Grading: This tour has been graded moderate due to the amount of time spent walking and standing for viewing at attractions. Please note that days 2-4 will be spent on foot in Florence as all sites visited are close together and not all reachable by coach. Please visit the mobility page of our website, or call our team for further information prior to booking.

INCLUDED

• Return flights from London Gatwick to Pisa
• Four nights’ bed and breakfast at the four-star Hotel de la Ville, Florence, based on shared occupancy of a twin/double room
• Three dinners with wine 
• Two lectures at the hotel
• Transfers, tours and entrance fees as per the itinerary
• Clare Ford-Wille throughout
• Tour manager throughout
  
  

NOT INCLUDED

• Double for sole use supplement - £395
• Holiday insurance 
• Meals other than those stated 
• Items of a personal nature such as drinks, laundry, telephone calls etc 
• Porterage and gratuities

HOTEL

Hotel De La Ville, Florence 

Located in the historic centre of Florence the hotel is housed within two buildings, one of which was built around 1460 with important graffiti on the facade which is still visible today and created by Andrea di Cosimo Feltrini in 1579. The hotel is very warm and charming and offers a bar with lounge for an aperitif or snack. Bedrooms are comfortable with a classic design and Florentine style. They offer en-suite bathrooms, TV, telephone, wifi, safe, air-conditioning, minibar and hairdryer. 

Hotel De La Ville Website

MORE INFO

YOUR EXPERT TOUR LECTURER

Clare Ford-Wille

Clare has taught art history for over 35 years and continues to lecture at the University of London, Morley College, the City Lit, the V&A, and for The Arts Society across Britain and abroad.

A Birkbeck graduate, she brings vast experience and enthusiasm to every tour she leads. Her deep knowledge and passion for art and history enrich each journey with insight, making her tours both engaging and illuminating.

Recent Reviews

“The expertise and teamwork of Clare, Barbara and Silvia really stood out. They worked seamlessly together and their enthusiasm and knowledge added greatly to our enjoyment of the holiday, bringing the art and history of Florence to life. The itinerary was rich and rewarding throughout.”  Mrs M, travelled January 2026

“A wonderful tour led by a lecturer and tour manager I already knew and greatly respect, which added hugely to the experience. Florence itself was, of course, magnificent, and the one-off Fra Angelico exhibition was a real privilege to see. The itinerary was very rich and rewarding, thank you for a great trip. ” Mrs H, travelled January 2026

“The outstanding exhibition of Fra Angelico’s work was a real highlight and made the trip truly special. The itinerary was expertly put together and very rewarding, though understandably intense at times. Convenient flight times were particularly appreciated, especially when travelling in January, and overall the tour struck a great balance between depth and enjoyment.”  Mrs C, travelled January 2026

“The tour was wonderfully centred around the Fra Angelico exhibition, with the Palazzo Strozzi section being a personal highlight. The trek through the snow to Sant’Apollonia was challenging, but the Last Supper fresco and the Cappella Brancacci made it all worthwhile. The programme was very full, and a little more free time to explore Florence independently would have been perfect, but overall it was a rewarding and memorable experience.”  Mrs P, travelled January 2026

“Seeing the Fra Angelico exhibition across two venues was a real highlight, especially works rarely brought together. Visiting a monastery outside Florence to view a fresco in such an intimate setting was particularly memorable. Clare Ford-Wille was an excellent lecturer with outstanding knowledge, and Barbara was a friendly and well-organised tour manager.”  Mrs F, travelled January 2026