Florence City Tour & David

Our family had the exceptional experience of exploring Florence for the day under Paul's masterful tutelage. Paul is much more than a tour guide: he is a gifted educator and true ambassador for the city's food, art, history, and culture. His passion is genuine and infectious. His approach to art brought it to life in a way that literally transformed how we view and relate to Renaissance art from that day forward. Importantly, Paul deftly customized the experience to meet our family's interest, pace and background - engaging and enriching us all. His warmth, excellence, and genuine love for the city, its history, and many, many treasures made our day with Paul a truly unforgettable experience. For any family our group looking to experience Florence at its fullest, Paul is your guide. Be prepared to go on a journey you'll never forget! You'll be grateful you did. We certainly are!

If you want an excellent and very knowledgeable tour guide, Paul is your guide! He’s not only knowledgeable about the art and history of Florence and the surrounding areas but he’s also engaging and pulls you in by asking you questions, wanting you to know more. Our family has used Paul, and some of the guides who work for him, multiple times in the past five years and compared to other guides, he’s the absolute best. You won’t be sorry you chose Paul, I guarantee it!!

Paul had us engaged within seconds of meeting him. He made the city of Florence , its art and culture come alive for us . He is extremely knowledgeable. I could have listened to him for days . Look no further for a personal tour guide . You will not be disappointed. I’ll take any tour her offers no matter the cost .

We had the absolute pleasure of taking a private, tailored tour of Florence with Paul and it was nothing short of amazing. From the very first minute, Paul’s passion for Florence, his deep knowledge of art and history, and his warm, engaging personality made the experience unforgettable. He crafted a tour perfectly suited to our interest, weaving together fascinating stories about the Renaissance, local life and hidden corners most people walk right by. His explanation about the art and Michelangelo’s David were captivating - clear, insightful and full of humor. By the end of our tour we felt like we had not just explored Florence, but truly understood it, thanks to Paul’s expertise and genuine love for the city. If you are looking for a personalized high quality tour we recommend Paul of Tuscantourguide.com. He was the best tour guide I have ever had.

I highly recommend Paul's tour. He is engaging, informative and provides a wonderful way to learn and enjoy the beautiful city of FLorence.

I'd rather be hiking in the mountains for 4-6 hours than visit an art museum. After 1 to 2 hours in an exhibit, reading almost all the text, I come away, tired and remembering almost nothing. Paul Costa was our guide at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence while on a Rick Steve's tour (known for partnering with high quality local guides). His presentation was so informative and interesting that my wife & I hired him for an additional hour (that's all the extra time he had) for a private tour. I couldn't believe that Medieval and Renaissance art would be so interesting. He made the museum and the artwork come alive. If he held an art appreciation class, I would take it. Hopefully, you will be lucky enough to have him as your guide.

My husband and I took this tour with Paul Costa and were wowed. This was a big step above a typical tour experience. As a passionate college art history professor, he was very knowledgeable, shared background not many would be aware of, and best of all, he involved us by asking questions to test what knowledge we already had. A wonderful, interactive, immersive experience that felt more like a journey of discovery than a lecture.

Paul has incredible expertise in all things Italy, but the tour of Florence was magnificent. His energy is infectious and his interactive approach keeps you engaged and poised to remember it all! You’ll learn things you never would with a traditional tour guide. Paul also arranged a Tuscany trip with wine tasting (San Gimignano and Cianti) and a transport to Rome (with an amazing stop at Montepulciano. I highly recommend the Tuscan Tour Guide!

Review: Paul Costa – Tuscan Tour Guide We first toured with Paul Costa in 2014 and didn't hesitate to rebook with him in 2025. His consistency, professionalism, and breadth of knowledge made him one of the most interesting and entertaining guides in Italy. During our most recent trip, Paul curated a series of experiences across Florence, Tuscany, Venice, and Bologna. Grand Tour of Florence A 4.5-hour semi-private walking tour began at the Accademia Gallery with Michelangelo's David, followed by key Renaissance sites including the Duomo, Baptistry, Piazza della Signoria, and Ponte Vecchio. Paul's use of the Socratic Method kept the group engaged, offering a structured yet interactive approach to Florence's historical context. We continued to the Uffizi Gallery to view works by Giotto, Botticelli, Leonardo, and Michelangelo. Paul's pacing and storytelling ensured that both museums and outdoor sites were covered efficiently without sacrificing depth. Florence Foodies Tour Our private culinary tour started with espresso and pastries, moved through Sant'Ambrogio's produce and meat markets, and featured a wine tasting with cheeses, salumi, and schiacciata. Paul had good knowledge of the vendors and we tasted far more than we could finish – "just to sample." We finished with Florence's lampredotto sandwich. A truly local and well-curated itinerary. Tuscan Day Trip: Chianti & San Gimignano Paul arranged a seamless full-day outing with a private Mercedes and our driver Vieri: • San Gimignano with plenty of time to explore this town. • Wine tasting, olive oil tasting and balsamic vinegar tasting with a lunch and professional service at Poggio Amorelli. • Our driver Vieri was charming and stopped for photos and shared knowledge of Tuscany, Italy and Italian life. Venice Orientation Walk & Water Taxi Paul coordinated a 3-hour private tour split between walking and water taxi. Our guide met us on the train platform and led us through Venice's Jewish Quarter, Rialto markets, and Saint Mark's Square with commentary on local traditions and legends. Highlights included a gelato stop, Scala del Bovolo, Venice Opera House, and a private boat ride passing the Guggenheim Museum and Santa Maria della Salute. Bologna Cooking Class Paul also arranged our private pasta-making class in Bologna. We learned to make tagliatelle, tortellini, tortoloni, and Bolognese sauce entirely from scratch. It was hands-on, expertly guided, and a culinary experience. Summary: Paul Costa delivered consistent value through detailed planning, expert guides, and local immersion. Whether you were exploring Renaissance masterpieces, Tuscan vineyards, Venetian canals, or Emilia-Romagna's culinary heritage, Paul was the kind of guide who turned touring into learning and leisure into lasting memories. Highly recommended.

We have just returned from BEAUTIFUL ITALY, and yet another trip in which Paul Costa and his company, Tuscan Tour Guide (tuscantourguide.com), has not disappointed. Paul and his company offer services throughout Italy, not just Tuscany. If you are looking to FULFILL YOUR DREAMS of a once-in-a-lifetime Italian vacation, look no further than Tuscan Tour Guide to help enhance your trip and make those dreams come true! Whether it is: -a planned or surprise engagement proposal -a memorable wedding or honeymoon -a family or ancestral trip -a stop on a European vacation -a retirement dream trip -a vacation of any kind in Italy …Look no further! We have used the services of Tuscan Tour Guide several times since 2015, and we have NEVER been disappointed in any aspect, on any occasion. From your initial contact for details in booking, whether it is something listed on the website or not, you can rest assured that Paul Costa will go above and beyond to answer your questions and fulfill your requests whenever possible. From response time and contact for services during the trip, to the actual transfers and tours; every step in utilizing Tuscan Tour Guide is timely, efficient, professional, and pleasant. We have had different drivers from Tuscan Tour Guide over the years, and EVERY SINGLE ONE has been on time, friendly, and goes out of their way to be accommodating to needs. All vehicles have been upscale, clean, and very comfortable. The drivers all have a great command of English and always have a pleasant demeanor. In addition, they are also always quite knowledgeable about the area in which you are traveling. Tours and tour guides from Tuscan Tour Guide are also TOP NOTCH! The tour guides are TOTAL EXPERTS in the subject and location for your tour. The guides are great at “reading” the group, such as when a break might be wanted or needed, and know just how and when to seamlessly fit that in. While enjoying our own tours with Tuscan Tour Guide, we have witnessed larger tour groups full of participants who seem to be struggling to hear or keep up while the guide that is speaking sounds like a recorded message. It is important to know that tourist sites in Italy can be very crowded. Quite often, there are unbelievably long lines for tickets and entry into tour sites. This can sometimes make sightseeing challenging and difficult, or downright miserable (especially in the heat of the summer months). You will NEVER have to worry about a hurried, uncomfortable, or unpleasant experience if you choose Tuscan Tour Guide! Paul and his guides will manage the entrances and somehow, almost like magic, manage to move everyone in the tour through tour requirements and lines in a most efficient fashion, while bypassing other tourists who may wait for hours, sometimes in the sweltering sun or even rain! We have used Tuscan Tour Guide for the following transfers multiple times: -to/from Rome’s Fiumicino airport (arrivals, departures, car rental) traveling to/from Rome city center and Vatican City -to/from the Naples train station (Napoli Centrale) traveling to/from many locations on the Amalfi Coast, including Sorrento, Praiano, and Ravello -to/from Praiano, on the Amalfi Coast, with a tour stop at Pompeii (We have done this twice, and we left all of our luggage, worry-free, with the transfer driver during our fantastic tour set up through Tuscan Tour Guide). It is important to note that the transfer drivers are not only professional, but COMPLETELY trustworthy with your luggage and belongings. We have used Tuscan Tour Guide multiple times including the following tours (both group and private): -for Rome (Colosseum, Forum, other Roman sites) -Pompeii -Florence (Uffizi, the David, city walking tour of sites) -Lucca -Pisa We have verbally recommended Paul Costa’s Tuscan Tour Guide to SO many people over the last ten years, and no one who has heeded our advice has ever been disappointed! We have traveled to Italy almost every year in the last ten, and when the want or need arises, we ALWAYS contact Paul for Tuscan Tour Guide’s services. We consider ourselves quite discerning and rarely do reviews, but we can recommend Paul Costa and his company with COMPLETE CONFIDENCE, and just cannot give a glowing enough review. That sentiment is not hyperbole, it is the absolute, literal truth! Please, take our advice. DO NOT be swayed by less expensive or larger companies that may come up on your search engine! Remember your travel goals and dreams. When it comes to Italian vacation dreams, we can most certainly say, without reservation or hesitation, choosing the reliable and capable “hands” of Paul Costa and all those at Tuscan Tour Guide continues to fulfill ALL of ours!