We're now offering a curated selection of beautifully designed sightseeing and cultural walking tours by Walks. More than simply after-hours access or line-skipping tickets, a Walks tour is about connecting people to places, with storytelling at the heart of every unique experience. 

Skip lines and go behind velvet ropes at the two most important (and busiest) attractions in Florence: Michelangelo's David and the Duomo. This VIP experience showcases both masterpieces as you've never seen them before. 

Our tour is carefully planned to tour the Accademia Gallery without the crowds. You'll begin with reserved tickets for either the first entrance of the day or afternoon entrance at the Accademia Gallery, where Michelangelo's earth-shattering sculpture of David has been dazzling visitors for years. You'll learn the story of this statue from your local guide, along with fascinating tales of its tortured creator, Michelangelo Buonarroti, whose unfinished Slaves sculptures you'll also get to enjoy. They provide a fantastic insight into the artist's method of sculpting, which he characterized as being more like a reveal than a creation. Indeed, the Slaves do look like they've been lurking inside the rock for centuries, just waiting for Michelangelo to release them. 

Next, it's on through the Piazza del Duomo and past the Florence Baptistery, where all true Florentines were once baptized. Pause to gaze upon the bronze doors that Michelangelo himself called the Gates of Paradise. 

From there, you'll step briefly into the cathedral and take a moment to discover some of its most significant architectural and artistic features before you make your way up to the super-exclusive rooftop terrace.* This semi-secret platform will give you an unrivaled view of the great dome of the cathedral—truly a moment to remember. The terrace dome broke every rule of architecture when it was built by Filippo Brunelleschi and remains one of the largest domes in the world even today, more than 500 years after it was built. 

Finally, the cherry on top of this VIP cake: Following the guided portion of your tour, you'll have the opportunity to climb the rest of the way up to the top of the dome via a special entrance that gives you a shortcut. While most visitors wait for hours in the long line below, you'll walk right up to the pinnacle of this titanic structure for a jaw-dropping view of Florence and the rolling hills of Tuscany beyond.

Please note: Only the morning tour will briefly enter the Florence cathedral. The afternoon tour will enjoy a view of the cathedral's interior from above during the Duomo climb.

Please note that this description is an example and your experience may vary depending on the season, day of the week, and group size. Regardless of where your tour goes, you always have an excellent experience.