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Florence: Meet the Artisans & Explore Historic Shops

Florence, Italy
  • 4 hours (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

Florence has a long history of creativity and a heritage of crafting artisan goods. On this small-group tour, visit a variety of specialty stores, learning about everything from leatherworking to paper marbling before heading to a traditional Tuscan extra virgin olive oil facility for a guided tasting. Choose between a shorter 2-hour tour with three artisan visits or a longer 4-hour option exploring even more workshops.
  • Sample some Tuscan snacks to complement your oil tasting
  • Enjoy an invigorating cup of Italian coffee at the start of your tour
  • Learn about the artisan crafters who helped to restore the towering Duomo
  • Small-group tour: Lots of chances to ask your guide questions

What's Included

  • Coffee and/or Tea
    Welcome coffee at our agency
  • Bottled water
    Refill your bottle with fresh water for free at our agency
  • Snacks
    Guided tasting of three Tuscan extra virgin olive oils
  • Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

  • Local Guides Tour
    Via di S. Giuseppe, 4r, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy

    Right beside the Church of Santa Maria Vergine della Croce al Tempio

End point

  • Ponte Vecchio, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy

    The tour will end near Ponte Vecchio. The endpoint is approximate.

Itinerary

1

Piazza Santa Croce

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

2

Duomo

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

3

Piazza della Signoria

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

4

Fontana del Porcellino

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

5

Piazza Del Limbo

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

6

Ponte alle Grazie

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

7

Ponte Santa Trinita

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Palazzo Pitti (Pass By)

8

Piazza Santo Spirito

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

9

Ponte Vecchio

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

10

Florence

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
  • Infants must sit on laps
  • Transportation is wheelchair accessible
  • Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Reviews

4.3
based on 3 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
We perform checks on reviews

A bit disappointing for this artist

Tammy_R, Oct 2025
The tour guide Vanessa was great. Since I like history she added a lot of more historical information about building. I am also an artist and work with copper so she showed me a great copper sculpture. The places we went to were a bit disappointing from an artist wanting to see studios with working artists. The leather factory was nice very big but felt a little pressure to buy something. The leather place also had a section with jewelry and coins I found interesting. Saw 2 artist one guy was cutting leather and the other used gold leaf to make a stamp impression on leather. We went to a jewelry story but she wasn’t working on anything. The Olive oil tasting was a highlight. And I did buy a few things. We went to a booking binding shop to see a paper marbling demo. I have done this before. It was a cute shop. We didn’t see book binding. We passed by two store and saw through the window a guy painting a wooden frame and another who made star shaped glass lamps. The final shop was a stone mosaic shop. Just saw merchandise no workshop. I was able to ask the sales clerk a few questions. I don’t think I would recommend this to an artist looking to see real studios. It felt very touristy and with the feeling of you should buy something from these places. I found on my own near the hotel a mask making studio and spoke to the artist at length and also a different wooden frame shop where a mane was hand carving the frames and another man was painting some wooden crosses. The guide Vanessa's was a delight and it was just the two of us the whole time.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you so much for your thoughtful review and for your kind words about Vanessa — we’re truly happy you enjoyed her passion and attention throughout the tour. Our Artisan Tour was created to share the story of Florentine craftsmanship across the whole city — from leather and gold to marbled paper, mosaics, and jewelry. The real value of this experience is entering authentic workshops, meeting artisans, and respecting their working rhythms — including their pauses and, yes, their sales moments, since selling what they create is part of their life and art. We’re sorry the experience didn’t fully match your expectations, but we sincerely appreciate your detailed comments. They help us explain even better what makes this tour special: an authentic introduction to Florence through its arts, crafts, and flavors.

Our tour guide Vanessa...

Wendy_K, Jun 2025
Our tour guide Vanessa was friendly and informative. We enjoyed going to a leather, gold, and paper store to learn a little history and how things were/are made. Everything was beautiful. We also went to an olive oil store and learned about their history, process, and how to taste and select olive oils. We appreciated Vanessa’s knowledge and kindness and the vendors taking time to show and give us background info their art and craft.

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Thank you so much for your lovely words! We’re really happy to hear you enjoyed the experience and valued Vanessa’s friendliness and insight. She has a true passion for sharing the rich stories behind Florence’s artisan traditions, and it’s wonderful to know that came through during your visit. We’re also grateful to our artisan partners for welcoming you and taking the time to share their craft. It means a lot to us that you appreciated both the history and the beauty of their work. We hope to see you again soon for more hidden gems and local experiences!

An unforgettable experience in the authentic heart of Florence!

Jennifer_S, Apr 2025
I joined the artisan tour on my own and couldn't have asked for a better guide—Enrico was absolutely exceptional! With passion and deep knowledge, he led me through hidden corners of the city, introducing me to amazing artisans and sharing stories I would have never discovered on my own. Every stop on the tour was special, but the olive oil tasting was definitely the highlight—a beautiful, sensory experience that made me appreciate Florentine quality and tradition even more. Highly recommended, especially (and perhaps even more so) if you're traveling solo!

Response from Host, Apr 2025

Thank you so much for your wonderful words! 🧡 It was truly a pleasure guiding you through the world of Florentine artisans. Knowing you felt inspired and connected—especially while traveling solo—means the world to me. The olive oil tasting is one of my favorite moments too, and I’m so glad it made such an impression! Looking forward to welcoming you back to explore even more hidden corners of Florence. See you next time! —Enrico

From $77.61

per person

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

Book ahead!
On average, this is booked 32 days in advance.

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