23902ITA
Sightseeing with local guide on foot, (3 hours).
IMPORTANT!
Make sure you have passports or copies for all pax under 18 today! You will need to collect them and show them to the Accademia ticket desk when collecting tickets. Failing to do so will result in a full price charge-make sure everyone is informed when you leave the hotel in the morning. Get to the Accademia 10-15’ before your booked time slot to take care of ticketing. Group gets in line (reserved time queue) and you go inside with passport copies. Show the guards your voucher, go through scanner and to the ticket window, where you hand over voucher and passport copies, and they print the tickets for you. Take tickets and go back outside to hand them out to your group. **We often have several different time slots (15’ apart), so be sure group knows what you’re doing after the visit, as you won’t all be coming out at the same time.
The Accademia visit is not part of the guided sightseeing tour, ie you will not have a guide inside the museum.
Free admission is granted to all visitors aged under 18 in all state-run museums and archaeological sites. ACIS will provide a timed reservation to skip the line and a voucher will be with your documents. The voucher details the exact breakdown of adults and under 18 passengers in your group, including yourself. CHECK THAT THIS INFORMATION IS CORRECT. If not, contact Carlotta immediately.
· Remind the group about the dress code for churches, and that the tour will be on foot (comfortable shoes, don’t bring large backpacks).
· Remind everyone to have VOX with them, and be sure to take a guide transmitter, extra headsets and batteries with you.
· Florence bus regulations require a permit. Check the location of the check points. The usual pickup/drop off point is on the Lungarno della Zecca, about 15’ walk from Santa Croce.
· Check the meeting point and time with the guide on your voucher and call ahead to reconfirm.
· You pay for entrances (cash or Equals card) to Santa Croce if visiting inside. You have a voucher with a timed booking for the Accademia visit.
· On REN and ART, the Uffizi is also included. Check your voucher for time of booking. On ART the Bargello is also included, and you need cash for entrances. You may want to include this in the guided tour.
· The Accademia is closed on Mondays. You will then have a booked entry to the Accademia on Tuesday morning or possibly on Sunday evening. Visit without guide. Please be there about 15 minutes beforehand.
Tour includes (order will depend on which hotel you’re coming from or if you are arriving by bus):
· Duomo (outside visit, pax can go inside during free time if they wish)
· Baptistery doors
· Walk through medieval heart of city (past Dante’s district)
· Piazza della Signoria
· View of Ponte Vecchio (time permitting)
· Santa Croce (inside visit on some tours)
The appointment with the guide will usually be at the hotel. Reminder: VOX, church attire, no big backpacks, comfy shoes!
Santa Croce
Groups with a guide are only allowed in if they have an audio system. When you get the tickets (ticket booth on the left side of the church behind Dante statue), tell them that your group is already equipped.
The tour normally ends at Santa Croce. If you are continuing later by bus, this is a good spot to meet and walk to the bus, as it is closest to pickup point. Distribute city maps (available free from Misuri Leather shop) and make sure everyone is orientated. Give free time suggestions (loads of sandwich spots in the via dei Neri).
Uffizi (REN/ART)
15 minutes prior to your reserved entry time assemble your group at the entrance for groups with reservations. ** Be sure to have passport copies of all under 18 pax!** You go to get the tickets in the building opposite the museum entrances. Distribute the tickets, pass through the security x-ray machines and take them up to the top floor.