Visit Florence by bike

Your private English-speaking guide invites you to discover Florence by bike!

A great experience, cultural and fun, to discover the historical center of Florence and get off the beaten track!

Cycling is an ideal and fun way to discover Florence. It remains the most popular vehicle used by Florentines in their daily commute. How nice to go out in the morning and find all these Florentines on bicycles, getting right to work! The itinerary is easy and perfectly designed so that the visit with your English-speaking guide is an enjoyable time for everyone, young and old, and completely safe.

The route will be more complete than a walking discovery since the bike allows us to travel faster. Since the city is flat, it does not take too much effort! Each district has its own charm and picturesque side. Every district has a church with a large square that, for centuries, was a place of preaching, celebrations, markets, and festivals. Some of these squares still play a central role in the lives of residents. Art, history, architecture, unusual places, secrets, and anecdotes make for a captivating guided bike tour, and make you want to keep discovering Florence and, why not, return! Let your private guide lead you on a personalized trip!

Bike tour of St. John’s neighbourhood

The Piazza del Duomo with the green and white marble of its three main buildings (Cathedral, Baptistery, and Bell Tower), is the heart of this district. One must stop in front of the Cathedral of Santa Maria Del Fiore, and Filippo Brunelleschi’s Cathedral, to appreciate these two magnificent testaments to the power of Florence in the 14th and 15th centuries. Always fantastic! How not to admire the bronze door of the Baptistery, a true masterpiece of the Florentine Renaissance? The route continues to San Lorenzo to reach Piazza San Lorenzo, which was the seat of the Medici dynasty for centuries: the family’s first residence, the Medici-Riccardi Palace, and their church. Here you will find the leather market (Florence has a long tradition of handicrafts) and the large Central Market, the ideal place to refresh yourself at the end of your visit and enjoy the good dishes of Tuscan cuisine. In a covered hall, you can go shopping, or have lunch at the many stands located on the upper floor. In the evenings the Central Market comes alive, often with various events and music.

Bike tour of the Santa Croce neighbourhood

It is a vast district that also includes the area of Palazzo Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria. It owes its name to the Basilica of Santa Croce, the largest Franciscan church in the world. In 1228 the Franciscans settled there. The church is an important stop  with all the illustrious tombs and countless artistic masterpieces it contains. I propose another itinerary to visit the interior of this basilica, known as the Pantheon of illustrious Florentines. The decoration of the facade of the Church of Santa Croce, clad in polychrome Tuscan marble, was not done until the 19th century. This is the neighborhood where Michelangelo spent his youth, and in the church, his tomb. Opposite the church is Piazza Santa Croce which over the centuries has been the scene of festivals, gatherings, processions, and religious and popular celebrations. Even today throughout the year important events take place: concerts, shows, and fairs. Since 1530, matches of the Florentine Historical Football have been held in the square. A mixture of soccer, rugby, and Roman wrestling, between the four districts of Florence. The players wear period costumes. The match is preceded by a magnificent historical procession. The final takes place on June 24 for the feast of St. John, patron saint of Florence. Understanding the rules of this game is not easy! Santa Croce is a lively neighborhood by day, with its cafes, boutiques, leather shops, and trattorias, but also by night, for young people.

Bike tour of the Santa Maria Novella district

The ensemble formed by the Dominican church of Santa Maria Novella and its cloisters is a true masterpiece of the Gothic and Renaissance styles. It represents the heart of the district of the same name. The original facade was completely covered with slabs of white and green marble in the 15th century. It was designed by architect Leon Battista Alberti and financed by wealthy Florentine merchant Giovanni Rucellai. A geometric and harmonious decoration according to the canons of Renaissance architecture. The result is extraordinary! All around, a tangle of medieval streets leads to Via Tornabuoni. The city’s elegant street, a place for luxury shopping (Gucci, Ferragamo and its museum, Prada, Armani, etc.), Via Tornabuoni is lined with prestigious stores and historic palaces, residences of noble Florentine families (Strozzi, Antinori, Medici, Bartolini-Salimbeni…). On the occasion of 500 years after the death of Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) in 2019, an exhibition celebrates Andrea del Verrocchio, Leonardo da Vinci’s master. Also nearby is the famous Officina del Profumo Santa Maria Novella, one of the oldest pharmacies in Europe.

Bike tour of the Santo Spirito neighbourhood

Crossing the Ponte Vecchio or Ponte Santa Trinita, one enters the narrow streets of the Santo Spirito district, where artisan and antique stores and markets abound. The Oltrarno (literally “beyond the Arno”) originally a poor and working-class neighborhood of the city, holds treasures, such as the Pitti Palace (the grand residence of the Medici family for six generations), the Boboli Gardens, the Basilica of Santo Spirito (with its simple and harmonious facade), the church of Santa Mari del Carmine (Masaccio’s frescoes inside), or even the remains of the ramparts from the late 1200s. The Oltrarno maintains its authentic and popular side because tourists have a harder time accessing it. Often, Florentines who want to avoid the large crowds of tourists choose the Santo Spirito neighborhood to live . The square of Santo Spirito is charming, and it is there that Florentines meet at aperitif time.