Florence has been besieged by visitors for centuries. But we can arrange for you to avoid the monumental queues and view some of the best-known sights after they are closed to the public, meeting the curators and admiring the most spectacular art on earth entirely on your own.
Our guides in Florence are loved as much for their charm as for their vast knowledge of the city. Allow a leading author on the artisans of Florence to take you in the back door of the leather school at Santa Croce, introduce you to a silk factory on the Arno where they still work on 18th century looms, or have your own scent created by a master parfumier.
For art lovers, Bellini Travel can divulge a secret known only to the Uffizi guards and a few real cognoscenti. A private visit to the Vasari Corridor which runs along the Ponte Vecchio is a unique opportunity to see where Grand Dukes hid from would-be assassins, the finest gallery of self-portraits in the world. Alternatively, visit the Uffizi after closing and have ‘The Birth of Venus’ all to yourself, or stroll through the majestic surroundings of the Duomo at twilight when the tourists have long departed.
For foodies, the Mercato Centrale is still the holy grail of Italian markets. Meet the stall holders who produce the freshest funghi porcini and tangiest tripe, and head home laden with goods for a master chef to create an unforgettable lunch.