Trace the fascinating history of the Medici dynasty on a 2-hour walking tour of Florence and learn how they used their wealth and power to patronize the arts and lay the foundations of the Italian Renaissance. Hear anecdotes about their intrigue, power struggles, betrayals and incredible foresight. Admire their former palaces and visit streets and squares where members of the family lived. Walk the same narrow streets they used to walk along to landmark monuments such as the Palazzo Medici Riccardi in the San Lorenzo district. Take a look at the church where they worshipped and built their mausoleum at the Medici Chapels in the Basilica di San Lorenzo. Marvel at Brunelleschi’s stunning dome. Continue to the Palazzo Vecchio on Piazza della Signoria, where Cosimo I de' Medici moved his official seat in May 1540, signaling the security of Medici power. Follow the route of the Vasari Corridor from the outside and learn more about the elevated passageway that allowed the Grand Dukes to move between the Palazzo Vecchio and Palazzo Pitti without being seen by the citizens. Arrive at the Palazzo Pitti and its magnificent Boboli Gardens for a look at the last residence of the Medici family at the end of your tour.