Private Tour – The Hospital of the Innocents

• Step back in time with a private tour of the Spedale degli Innocenti, the masterpiece designed by Filippo Brunelleschi in the early 15th century.
• Built in 1419 under the patronage of the Arte della Seta (Guild of Silk)
• This was the very first orphanage in Europe—an institution created to care for abandoned children and give them the skills to build a future.
• This private tour is perfect for travelers who want to experience Florence through the lens of art, architecture, and social history, a unique journey where beauty and humanity intertwine.
• This private tour is available with a minimum of 8 participants

Standing in Piazza della Santissima Annunziata, the building’s elegant loggia is considered the earliest example of Renaissance architecture. Brunelleschi took inspiration from the great porticoed squares of antiquity, blending functionality with human-scale beauty to create a space that reflected Florence’s civic ideals.  On this tour, you will not only admire the extraordinary architecture, but also learn about the visionaries who supported the project, such as the merchant Francesco Datini, whose generous donation of 1,000 florins helped bring Brunelleschi’s design to life.  Today, the Hospital still serves children with nurseries, kindergartens, and reception facilities, as well as hosting UNICEF research offices. Inside, you will explore the Innocenti Museum, a recently expanded 1,456-square-meter space spread across three levels. Here, six centuries of history come alive through art, architecture, and stories of childhood.

Highlights include:

• Precious artworks by Botticelli, Ghirlandaio, and other Renaissance masters.
• The moving choral prayers of the nurses, echoing with centuries of compassion.
• Personal stories of the “Nocentini”, the children once raised here.

At the end of your visit, you can browse a specialized children’s bookshop or relax in the on-site café overlooking this historic square.

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The price includes

• Guide service
• Entrance tickets
• Headphones 

 

Meeting point

Your guide will be waiting for you at the Equestrian statue of Ferdinando I de 'Medici, Piazza della Santissima Annunziata. We recommend that you arrive at least 15 minutes before the start time of the tour.

 

Remember

If you do not take part in the tour, no refund will be possible.
Tailor-made private tours can be arranged.
Please contact us if you would like to arrange a tour with an itinerary or theme of your interest.