During our visit in January two of us would like to take one or two walking tours of the city; do not necessarily want to spend the money for a private tour but would like a small group tour situation. Please recommend companies that will operate tours in January; we prefer English speaking guides.

Check out www.artviva.com. We used them
for a walking tour of Florence recently, and were very impressed. Small groups, English speaking guides who are very knowledgeable and entertaining. They offer several different kinds of tours.

I haven't used, but have read good things about

www.tours-italy.com/florence

Thanks! Will check them both; does anyone else have tips on walking tours that will operate in Florence in January? If anyone can tell me the name of a private guide and how much he or she might charge, that would also be appreciated. We do not want any bus tours.

ttt

I just got back last night and had a great tour with Megan McCaffrey - 4 hour walking tour.

Megan does not claim to be an art historian, but she shows you the main points of the city, adds in a nice gelato stop, a bit of shopping in the San Lorenzo market, and then lead us to the oldest wine bar in Florence at the end! She even took us to Santa Maria Novella Perfumery - which you will read about on the board and I am not addicted to, thank goodness they have an internet shop!

Our tour was slightly different, as we asked for an evening tour, so we weren't able to go in any churches, but typyically she would do that to.

www.bellavitaitalia.com is her website, and I don't have much time now, but over the next few weeks I will write more.

Was supposed to say I am NOW addicted to...

Travelphile can you tell me how much the tour cost?

We were quoted 185 EU for four... my travel partners cancelled a few days before, due to a family member being in the hosptital. I felt like I couldn't cancel the tour - that it would not be fair to Megan, and while it would be pricey, I still wanted a personal overview of the city!

She very graciously changed the price for two of us to 104 EU - we gave her 130 EU. I'm not certian it would always be 104 for two, but since we were in the evening we went a bit quicker than usual, so perhaps there was a small break for that as well. Hope this helps!

I was quoted 200 EU by another guide I spoke with on email.

Also, I found Megan from an ad on the slowtrav board... so you might want to do some checking there - let us know what you choose! -Kristy

We did tours with Sunny Tuscany (www.sunnytuscany.com) in 1998, and my brother used them a couple of years later. We did two three-hour tours of Florence, and did a driving tour of Tuscan towns, with a special emphasis on Siena. I cannot vouch for what they are up to currently, but you might want to check out their website. Our experience was positive.

I know of two groups:

1. http://www.firenzeantica.org/

These were recommend to me by the Scale Reale/Context Rome people, the excellent Rome guide group. They are expensive (about 150 Euros for a 3 hours so so), but excellent personalized tours. I think the max size is 4 people. I have used them about half a dozen times, and I would highly recommend them. I believe I have some particular names of guides at home, but have never been disappointed with any guide, so really would not say you have to ask for a specific guide.

2. http://www.artviva.com/originalwalk.html

They are mentined above. They do a larger basic group tour (about 25 people I think), and offer bike tours and other tours. Much cheaper than Firenze Antica, I think the basic walking tour is about 25 Euros per person. Some of their tours like the Beautiful Walks tour are for smaller group. I have done their bike tour and their Beautiful Walks Tour, and enjoyed both. On a not-too-cold day in January, the Beautiful Walks tour would be great, as you get up out of the city and will indeed get some great views. I don't think they offer the Bike Tour in the winter.

I sincerly suggest http://www.guidesinflorence.it/html/...ascimento.html if you want to have a real exciting Renaissance Tour around Florence