AION Tour

Symbolism through Time

The AION tour is our introduction to an alternative view of Florence. 

Rooted in history and symbolism, this half-day or full-day excursion will surely influence and inspire your future relationship with this city and its endless treasures. 

Hidden just below the surface of Florence – a vibrant, contemporary city, and favored travel destination – there lies a lesser-known place where time as we know it is suspended. Past and present - no longer constrained by the chronological order of things - intermingle and become one in an enchanting, eternal waltz. 

This hidden Florence usually remains unnoticed by most; it is an abstract, parallel world where the curious of mind and eager of heart can discover and reconnect with the ancients’ voices and their enlightened understanding of wisdom and harmony

There are no special gates or enchanted portals that lead to the hidden Florence; the key to accessing it can be found in plain sight: in the symbolically encoded visual language that permeates Florentine art, architecture and the very blueprint of the city itself. 

More than a walking tour around the city center, the AION tour is our roadmap to the hidden Florence.  Through this privately guided experience, guests are given unique perspective on the subtle, ongoing dialogue between some of Florence’s most iconic sites from Santa Maria Novella in the northern quarter of the city, to San Miniato al Monte, situated atop a hill just off the southern bank of the Arno River.  The tour is punctuated by visits to local museums and artisan workshops that further illustrate the timeless dialogue of symbolism in the city. 

After a morning spent exploring the streets, museums and artisan workshops of Florence’s city center, guests will enjoy a complementary lunch at a traditional Florentine Trattoria.  

Guests that choose to book a full-day excursion will continue the experience in the Chianti wine region, where they will explore small towns in the region and enjoy a wine tasting experience at a small-scale family-owned winery. 

Half-day Excursions

What’s included:

  • Duration: about 5 hours

  • Private tour guide

  • Walking tour of the city center

  • Privately guided visit of the Palazzo Vecchio Museum and the workshop of Master Goldsmith, Paolo Penko.

  • Seated midmorning snack; lunch at a traditional Tuscan trattoria.

Full-day Excursions

What’s included:

  • Duration: 8.5 hours

  • All experiences of the half-day tour

  • Private driver to and from the Chianti Region

  • Privately guided tour of small towns in the Chianti Region 

  • Wine tasting at a small-scale family-owned Chianti vineyard

Notes:

  • Minimum booking: 2 people; maximum: 8 people

  • Experiences must be booked at least 1 month in advance. 

  • To book a half-day or full-day AION tour, or to schedule a consultation to personalize this tour option, please fill out the consultation form below.