Florence: Pitti Palace & Palatina Gallery Small Group Tour

Summary

Wandering royal halls in Florence’s Pitti Palace with Medici tales

You’ll step quietly through Florence’s grandest palace with a local guide who brings Medici legends to life. Marvel at Renaissance art in the Palatina Gallery, skip past long lines, and wander frescoed rooms once walked by dukes and duchesses. With a small group, you’ll notice details you might miss alone — and maybe leave still thinking about those painted ceilings.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was the echo of footsteps on marble — ours and a few others, but mostly just the quiet. Our guide, Francesca, waved us over right outside the Pitti Palace and pointed at a window where she said Cosimo de’ Medici used to watch the piazza. I tried to picture him up there, maybe bored or plotting, while we shuffled our earsets into place. The sun was already hot on the stone but inside it felt cool and smelled faintly of old wood and polish — not musty, just… lived-in.

I didn’t expect to be so drawn in by the Palatina Gallery itself. The rooms are covered in these wild frescoes and gold stucco that almost distract you from the paintings (almost). Francesca had this way of telling stories about Raphael’s portraits — she’d lean in close, lower her voice like she was letting us in on some family gossip. At one point she laughed when I mispronounced “Titian” (to be fair, Italian names are tricky before coffee). We stopped for a moment in front of a painting of Eleonora de Toledo; I swear her eyes follow you around the room. Maybe that’s just me.

The whole tour moved at this gentle pace — no rushing, no crowding since it was just our small group (I think 10 or 12 people?). Sometimes you’d catch someone else from another group peeking over at our guide because she really knew her stuff. There were kids too, clutching their parents’ hands and whispering questions about all the gold everywhere. It made me smile. By the end I was half wishing we could stay longer just to sit under those painted ceilings and listen to more Medici drama. Still thinking about that last room where light slanted through high windows onto velvet chairs — felt oddly peaceful for a place built on power.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Visit Pitti Palace and Palatina Gallery

• Learn about Piazza in Florence
• Discover history of Pitti Palace
• Tour Medici apartments and paintings

Top questions

How long is the Pitti Palace & Palatina Gallery tour?

The guided tour lasts up to 2 hours inside the Pitti Palace and Palatina Gallery.

Is skip-the-line entry included for this Florence tour?

Yes, your ticket includes timed skip-the-line entry to both Pitti Palace and Palatina Gallery.

How many people are in each group?

The group size is limited to a maximum of 14 participants for a more personal experience.

Is this tour suitable for children?

Yes, children aged 6 or older can join if accompanied by an adult.

Is the Pitti Palace wheelchair accessible?

Yes, both Pitti Palace and Palatina Gallery are wheelchair accessible.

Do I need to bring identification for entry?

Yes, each traveler must present a valid passport or ID matching their booking name at entry.

Are earsets provided during the tour?

Earsets are provided if there are four or more participants on your tour.

Where does the tour start?

The tour begins at Piazza de’ Pitti right outside the main entrance of Pitti Palace in Florence.

What’s included

Your morning includes timed entry tickets for both Pitti Palace and its Palatina Gallery so you can skip any lines, plus an English-speaking licensed guide who knows all those Medici stories by heart. If your group is four or more people you’ll get earsets too — makes it easier to catch every detail without missing anything as you wander those grand rooms together.