
The cradle of the Renaissance, Florence hosted a profound cultural, artistic and intellectual revival. Da Vinci, Dante, Petrarch and the Medici, powerhouses of art, literature, philosophy and politics all shaped Florence’s cultural legacy.
Florence - History School trip
- 4 days
- +1 hrs (UTC)
- Italy
- Approx. 2hrs
- Piazza del Duomo
- Florence Cathedral
- Uffizi Gallery
- Accademia Gallery
- Palazzo Pitti
For the latest travel advice, including passport and visa information, visit the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office website
Sample itinerary
This sample itinerary is offered as a guideline. The trip focus, length and itinerary/activities can be tailored to meet your learning objectives.




- Day
Day 1 - Fly to Pisa, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and Introduction to Renaissance Florence
Arrive in Pisa and make the essential visit to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Grab a creative photo before transferring to Florence and checking into your accommodation.
Begin your orientation in Florence with an introductory Renaissance history tour. Meet your expert TCBC guide and head into the city, where you’ll discover that the streets and buildings have remained largely unchanged since the Renaissance, giving Florence its status as a UNESCO World Heritage site. On this first tour, you’ll visit Piazza della Signoria. This iconic square has been the political heart of Florence for centuries, making it an ideal starting point. History students can explore the site of the original David statue by Michelangelo, and see the Loggia dei Lanzi, where statues depict key historical and mythological figures, providing insights into Florence’s civic pride and artistic heritage.
Visit the Duomo Square, where the magnificent Florence Cathedral stands, named Il Duomo for the stunning dome that crowns it. We will also take a look at the gold doors of the Baptistery, often referred to as “the Gates of Paradise,” exploring the iconography of these doors which depict scenes from the Old Testament, and discussing their influence on Renaissance art.
Enjoy a relaxing dinner and get ready for the days ahead. History school trips to Florence are jam-packed.
Day 2 - Guided Walking Tour of Florence, The Medici Legacy and the Uffizi Gallery
This morning, meet your guide in the lobby and head into town to dive deeper into Florence’s history. Begin with a return to Il Duomo, ready to climb Brunelleschi’s Dome, a masterpiece of Renaissance engineering and architecture. From here, overlooking the city, you can take in many famous historical sites and elucidate the contributions of legendary historical figures. The power of the Medici and the contrasts of the Florentine Republic are excellent for discussing the evolution of political thought here.
From here, explore Basilica Santa Croce and Basilica Santa Maria Novella. The former is the burial place of famous Italians, including Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, and Rossini. This offers history students the chance to reflect on the contributions of these figures to both Florence and the wider world. It’s also famous for its beautiful frescoes by Giotto and the Pazzi Chapel designed by Brunelleschi. The latter is a Dominican church known for its stunning façade, designed by Alberti, and its beautiful interior, which includes frescoes by Masaccio, Ghirlandaio, and Filippino Lippi.
In the afternoon, visit the Uffizi Gallery, designed by Giorgio Vasari and home to an exceptional collection of ancient sculptures and paintings from the Middle Ages to modern history. Renaissance masterpieces shown here include works by Giotto, Botticelli, Caravaggio, and Michelangelo.
This evening, dine in a local trattoria.
Day 3 - Accademia Gallery, Palazzo Vecchio, Bargello National Museum
Today, start with a visit to the Accademia Gallery, which displays the largest number of Michelangelo's sculptures in the world, including the world-renowned David. The Accademia also offers works by Italian artists such as Domenico Ghirlandaio, Pontormo, Sandro Botticelli, and Andrea del Sarto. Discuss how Renaissance artists developed new forms and styles.
Later on, visit the Palazzo Vecchio, Florence's town hall, located in Piazza della Signoria. The palace is one of the most important and notable symbols of Florence. It stands as a monument to communal government and the rise of tyranny after the Medici rose to become grand dukes. Now housing the local government, between 1865 and 1871 it hosted united Italy’s provisional government when Florence became the temporary capital of the Kingdom of Italy. The palace offers students a glimpse into Florence’s political history and the art that reinforced its power.
Continue your tour with a visit to the Bargello National Museum. Once a medieval prison, it now contains one of Italy’s finest collections of Renaissance sculptures, including works by Michelangelo, Verrocchio, and the renowned bronze David by Donatello. Students can consider how sculpture was used to convey political and social ideals.
Finish at Piazzale Michelangelo. This 19th-century terrace offers a spectacular panoramic view of Florence, with the city’s domes, towers, and the Arno River spread out below. It’s a popular spot for photographs and a deeper appreciation of Florence’s architectural beauty.
Day 4 - Free Time, Fly Home
Spend your final morning in Florence at leisure. After check-out, if time permits, visit the San Lorenzo Market, comprised of two separate markets: Mercato Centrale, an indoor market home to Florentine dishes and local ingredients, and the outdoor section that lines the surrounding streets of the Central Market building, selling pottery, leather, clothing, and many souvenirs.
For those with more time, consider visiting any sites you may have missed, such as the Medici Riccardi Palace or the Santa Maria Novella Church, both of which offer further insights into Florence’s rich history.
As your school trip to Tuscany draws to a close, transfer to the airport for your departure, taking with you a deepened understanding of Florence’s pivotal role in shaping European history.
What’s included
Full TCBC support from the moment you book until you return home
Full itinerary flexibility to ensure the perfect tour for your students
We'll source the best available flights based on your school's location
You'll have all our necessary contact details to hand should the need arise
Knowledgeable TCBC guide ready to bring your walking tours to life
Detailed itinerary, with all entrance fees included, no hidden costs
Return flights, 1 piece of hold luggage per person, airport taxes and security charges and ATOL Protection Contribution
Airport transfers upon arrival and departure with your local TCBC guide. We can also arrange your UK airport transfers if you wish
Experienced local TCBC guide for your excursions.
3 nights accommodation at 3 or 4 star hotel, twin rooms for students and single rooms for teachers
Breakfasts and dinners at hotel or local restaurants. Lunches can be included too
Reservations and entrance tickets as per your chosen schedule
Guided tours of Red Square, Lenin’s Mausoleum, the Kremlin, Armoury, Novodevichy Cemetery, Gulag museum, Moscow metro, Victory Park, Great Patriotic War museum and Stalin’s Bunker
24 hour emergency contact details of TCBC's office and your local guide's mobile number
The normal free staff place ratio is 1:10 but this is flexible and we'll work to whichever ratio you require
Cover with a bespoke travel insurance policy, provided by Endsleigh Insurance, is included in all our tours. If the cover does not meet your needs or if you prefer to use your school’s existing travel insurance, you may opt out of the Endsleigh policy.
Please check with your school to ensure you are covered by an adequate travel insurance policy which we will need to see a copy of. We can help you source cover if you need
We generally don't include lunches unless requested. We prefer to let the students explore the local options and choose for themselves
If you feel you have received excellent service, then our local guides and drivers will appreciate being tipped. Guidelines will be outlined in your quote
We will inform you of the availability of ballet, opera, circus, folklore show and sports events closer to departure and invoice you at that stage
Reasons to travel with us
We honestly believe we are the best in what we do. We'd love the opportunity to show you.
Safety & reliability
The safety of all our travellers is our number 1 priority. We have a robust Safety Management System in place to ensure that our tours are run to the high levels you expect.
Experience & expertise
We have years of experience in planning school tours. Our expertise lies in our organisational skills, attention to detail and an understanding of what you need to make your trip a success.
TCBC local guides
Our guides are our greatest assets and consistently lauded. Highly experienced, knowledgeable and trustworthy, most are hand-picked and have worked with us for years.
Complete peace of mind
Our accreditations (ATOL, ABTA, STF, LOtC) provide you with the reliability, assurance and financial security expected from a specialist tour operator.
Customer
service
Our dedicated team is on hand to offer help and advice at every stage. We are positive you will be impressed with the high level of service you receive from us.
Flexibility & customisation
We customise every trip to suit your needs and offer maximum flexibility in planning your itinerary. We won’t rest until we get it right!
The personal touch
Getting to know our clients is very important to us. It’s very likely therefore that you’ll meet one or several of us at some point, either at school before departure or on the tour itself.
Total transparency
We include as much as possible in our quotes and are very transparent about what is and what is not included. There will be no hidden or surprise costs.
Pre-departure support
We understand how much work goes into planning a school trip. You will be dealing with the same people throughout the pre-departure process allowing us to respond quickly and accurately.
Repeat business
99.9% of teachers are so happy with our tours and our service that there is no need to travel with anyone else. We are confident you will feel the same way.
Excellent, personal service. The company went out of their way to be helpful and accommodating. Superb local knowledge from our guide which meant that we got the very best out of a very short stay.
