Florence Is Full of Opportunity for School Tours

Taking students away on a school tour is a real privilege for all involved. Offering young people the chance to learn outside the confines of their classroom can bring out the best in them and help them experience learning from a new perspective. Drawing from years of experience, specialised travel companies can provide a fantastic portfolio of school trips - all meticulously planned and organised to an exceptionally high standard. The trips are tailored to young groups so no matter where you want to go and what subject you want to focus on, there is bound to be a perfect destination.

Consider Florence

The heart of Italy’s Renaissance art, Florence, is a city of beauty, historical wealth and lavish and intricate history. Students on a school tour in Florence will be inundated with places to visit and opportunities for excursions. Despite its relatively small size, Florence is bursting with attractions. From the fashion boutiques of Gucci and Dolce and Gabana, to Michelangelo’s Statue of David, this city has both a rich history and a buzzing modern day vibe.

In the times when Renaissance art was in its heyday, the many powerful and influential families of the day made their mark on this wonderful city. Stunning palaces, meticulously planned gardens and lavish statues adorn the city and remind young learners of the wealth that dominated the city in times gone by. The Boboli Gardens and the Pitti Palace are perfect examples of the ostentatious way in which the aristocracy of the day lived and how they spent their money. Students can admire the buildings and the fine architecture or can spend a morning in one of the many wonderful museums, including the Uffizi and the Academia - marvelling at works by Botticelli, Caravaggio and de Vinci.

The cathedral, or Duomo, designed by Brunelleschi is one of the must-sees in Florence; students can climb the inside of the dome to get up close to the stunning fresco that decorates its interior. Built in the 13th century, this cathedral is the centrepiece of the city and is a breath-taking example of the architecture of the time. Close to the cathedral is the Campanile, built by Giotto in the 14th century. Students can climb the many steps and marvel at the breath-taking views of the city below.

You should also take your school tour group to Piazza Michelangelo, high above the main city streets. Despite the tourist souvenir stands and the somewhat disappointing replica of the Statue of David, a hike up here is definitely worth it. Views over the city are nothing short of stunning and there are some very special photographic opportunities.

On a school tour to Florence, students will also have the chance to engage in a cookery class and discover the culinary delights of the world-famous gastronomy of Italy. Every young person loves pizza and pasta, and students are bound to have lots of fun getting their hands dirty and creating some of the culinary delights Tuscany is so famous for.

Angela Bowden works for EST (Equity School Travel), the UK's largest educational travel company, providing school tour itineraries for secondary schools, primary schools and colleges. Tours with EST can encompass a wide range of learning opportunities in worldwide destinations.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.