Event details
Rediscover Florence, One Step at a Time
What You’ll Experience
This walk is designed for classmates who want to slow down, look a little closer, and experience Florence beyond its busiest streets.
Rather than concentrating only on the city’s most famous attractions, we’ll follow a thoughtfully planned route that combines familiar landmarks with quieter places that many visitors—and even former Florence students—may never have discovered.
Our guide will share the history, stories, and local traditions that connect these locations, while classmates add their own memories and perspectives along the way. The experience will feel less like a formal tour and more like exploring Florence with old friends.
A Walk Inspired by Shared Memories
This itinerary has been created by classmates who know Florence not only as visitors, but as former students.
Several of the locations hold special meaning for our group, reflecting the friendships, experiences, and memories that continue to connect us nearly fifty years later. The tour also honors the memory of our dear classmate Dorothy, whose love of Florence and lasting friendships helped inspire this walk.
The final route brings together four distinctive places, each offering its own connection to Florence's art, history, and the memories that continue to connect us nearly fifty years later.
Along Our Walk
Our walking tour will include four carefully selected stops, each offering a different glimpse into Florence's extraordinary artistic and cultural history:
- Basilica of Santa Maria Novella — Tornabuoni Chapel
We’ll begin at Santa Maria Novella, where we’ll visit the Tornabuoni Chapel and its celebrated fresco cycle by Domenico Ghirlandaio and his workshop. - Church and Museum of San Marco
At San Marco, we’ll explore the historic church and museum, including the former Dominican monastery and the remarkable works of Fra Angelico. - Ospedale degli Innocenti
We’ll continue to Brunelleschi’s Ospedale degli Innocenti, overlooking Piazza della Santissima Annunziata and closely connected to the development of Renaissance architecture in Florence. - Chiesa di Santa Felicita — Capponi Chapel
Our final stop will be Santa Felicita and the Capponi Chapel, with its extraordinary frescoes and paintings by Jacopo Pontormo. This stop has special meaning for Il Gruppo and was included in remembrance of our classmate Dorothy.
Transportation and Walking
The entire experience will take place on foot through Florence's historic center, beginning at Santa Maria Novella and concluding at the Chiesa di Santa Felicita. The route connects our four stops while allowing us to enjoy the streets, piazzas, and architectural details along the way.
Comfortable walking shoes are strongly recommended.
Proposed Schedule
Morning — Meet near Santa Maria Novella at the designated starting point.
Approximately 3 Hours — Guided walk through Florence with visits to selected churches, museums, historic buildings, and lesser-known sites.
Late Morning or Early Afternoon — Tour concludes in the historic center, leaving time for lunch and the afternoon reunion activities.
The exact starting time and final schedule will be confirmed after consultation with our guide.
Estimated Cost
The guide fee will be divided among the participants.
Some of the planned locations may require admission tickets. We are currently confirming which sites charge entrance fees and whether tickets must be purchased in advance.
The estimated total cost per person will be added once the guide fee, group size, and admission requirements have been finalized.
Who Will Enjoy This Experience?
- Enjoy exploring Florence on foot at a relaxed pace.
- Appreciate art, history, architecture, and local stories.
- Would like to visit places beyond the city’s most crowded attractions.
- Enjoy learning from a knowledgeable local guide.
- Value conversation and shared experiences as much as sightseeing.
Additional Information
The starting time, exact meeting point, admission fees, walking distance, accessibility information, and final participant limit will be added as those details are confirmed with our guide.
Participants should be prepared for approximately three hours of walking and standing, with stops throughout the tour.