For hundreds of years the city nurtured an unceasing succession of great artists. No other place can rival Florence for the quantity of first-rate, locally produced works of art, many still in the sites for which they were created or in museums a few hundred yards away. Giotto, Brunelleschi, Donatello, Masaccio, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo – these are some of the artists and architects whose works fully justify Florence’s epithet as the cradle of the Renaissance. This walk through the heart of Florence provides a fascinating overview of the city and puts the neighborhood in historical context. Begin in Piazza della Reppublica and discover Florence’s beginnings as part of the Roman Empire. Walk through the medieval streets and unveil the many towers that once made up the center of the city and understand the mercantile activity of Florence with a visit to the Ponte Vecchio. There is no better place to experience the rise of the Florentine city-state than emerging from dark, towered streets into the light, open Piazza della Signoria, the seat of the government and the center of Florentine politics since the 14th century. We will finish in the religious heart of Florence, Santa Maria del Fiore — the Duomo — the most recognizable symbol of the city. The walk lasts about 3 hours and includes a coffee break at midpoint.