We loved our tour with Alan! Our daughters and 4 & 6 and Alan did an amazing job of engaging them with interesting stories. I couldn't believe how much my oldest understood and remembered after our tour. The tour was very interesting and informative. Such a great experience!
Florence for Teens Tour: Daily Life in the Renaissance
Homes, guilds, and family life at Davanzati and Orsanmichele
The Finer Details
Being 15 years old in Renaissance Florence meant standing at the edge of adulthood, with family expectations already pressing close. This 2.5-hour walk turns the city into a mirror for modern teens and their parents, using school, work, and family life as points of comparison. What would your life look like if you had been born in Florence in 1460?
In Piazza della Repubblica, Florence’s commercial heart opens the story through the rhythms of trade and ambition. Your Context Expert gets to know your teen’s interests, from what they enjoy after school to what they may already be imagining for their future career. Those modern questions lead naturally into Renaissance equivalents: a merchant’s son might have been pushed to study commercial math before entering the wool trade, silk guild, or banking.
At Palazzo Davanzati, the Renaissance moves indoors, into the rooms of a wealthy but not noble Florentine family. The house becomes a kind of social map, showing where daughters learned embroidery and household management, where servants slept, and where privacy was scarce. A 15-year-old girl here might be close to betrothal, while still learning the skills needed to manage a household with authority.
At Orsanmichele, the story shifts from family life to working life. Its guild statues, commissioned from sculptors such as Donatello, Ghiberti, and Verrocchio, reveal a city where art depended on labor, discipline, and membership. Teenagers in 1460 might already have been apprentices in an artist’s bottega, grinding pigments, preparing surfaces, and cleaning brushes for years before touching anything important.
From there, the route can follow the thread that best completes the narrative. The contrast widens here: a laborer’s child might already be working in textiles, while a more privileged teen could use Latin, books, or family connections to climb. At Santa Margherita dei Cerchi, meet a different side of Dante as he becomes less of a monument and more of a young Florentine who once fell in love, entered politics, and lost his city.
Parents and teens leave with Florence reframed as a place that feels much closer to home. Teenagers gain a clear sense of the choices, family pressures, and risks their Renaissance equivalents would have faced. They come away understanding the differences, but especially the similarities, between their lives and those lived more than 500 years ago.
Where You’ll Go
From iconic landmarks to tucked-away local favorites, these are the places you’ll explore and experience firsthand with your Expert.
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Palazzo DavanzatiDomestic rooms of a wealthy Florentine merchant family
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Orsanmichele ChurchGuild church with statues tied to artists and working life
What’s Included As Standard
Here’s a look at what your tour covers, plus anything you’ll want to consider arranging separately, so you can plan with confidence.
Included
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English-speaking expert guideTours led in English, offering you unbroken understanding throughout.
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Intentionally sized groupsA smaller group means more time for conversations and questions.
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Tickets and entrance feesAll entry tickets included (unless clearly stated otherwise).
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HeadsetsHeadsets are included on tours that need them, so every word can be heard.
Not Included
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GratuitiesWe encourage tipping as a way to thank your guide after your experience.
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Food and drinkRefreshments are only included during a tour when clearly noted.
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Transportation to and from the meeting pointUnless noted, pre- and post-tour transport isn’t included - this service can be added by request.
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Hotel pickup or drop-offUnless noted, travel to or from accommodation isn’t included - this service can be added by request.
Where You'll Explore
Make the Most of Your Tour
Some helpful advice for getting the most from your experience, from practical prep to small on-the-day tips.
Dos:
- Wear comfortable footwear
- Check the weather and dress appropriately
- Bring a bottle of water (no glass)
- Feel free to ask your Expert anything
Don'ts:
- Bring firearms or weapons
- Bring sharp objects (e.g. knives, swiss army knives, switchblades, hiking sticks)
- Dress inappropriately to enter religious sites or sacred monuments
Any questions? You can always
contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions
While history buffs of all ages are welcome, this experience is specifically curated for teens aged 13–18. The guide will use the teen's own present experience as a lens to compare with the lives of teens in the Renaissance. They will ask questions like: What do you do after school? What are you good at? What are your parents pressuring you toward? All of these questions had Renaissance equivalents, and the answers varied dramatically by class, gender, and family.
Yes, absolutely. Although the pacing and dialogue are designed with a younger audience in mind, the historical content is sophisticated and deeply researched. Solo travelers, couples, or groups of friends will find this exploration of daily life in the Renaissance both engaging and intellectually stimulating.
No prior expertise is required, our guides provide all the necessary context. We meet you at your current knowledge level and build the story from there.
Yes, everyone is welcome! Please keep in mind that the tour does not include specific "kid-friendly" interactive games or simplified activities designed for small children. However, younger siblings are more than welcome to join the family group.
For safety and insurance reasons, minors cannot participate in the tour alone. At least one parent or legal guardian must remain with the group for the entire duration of the experience. All bookings should be made under the name of the supervising adult.
Yes, this tour can be adapted to accommodate mobility needs, provided you notify us at checkout. While the ground floor of Orsanmichele Church is step-free and accessible via temporary ramps, please note that its upper museum floors are only accessible by stairs due to the historic architecture. Conversely, Palazzo Davanzati is fully wheelchair accessible, offering an elevator to the upper floors and accessible restrooms; however, navigating its historic entrance and room thresholds requires staff assistance to deploy mobile platforms and ramps. Advance notice allows us to ensure staff are prepared to assist you.
Don’t just take our word for it
Elizabeth established a great rapport with the kids and clearly loved her subject matter. She was generous with her time and explanations and we all learned a great deal. The locations she chose were fascinating and very illustrative. Thank you!
Rating of 6/6, no comment.
Let Your Curiosity Shape Your Journey
Join passionate experts on intimate walking tours that reveal a city’s unique stories, spark conversations, and leave you seeing the world—and yourself—a little differently.
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