Royals, Move Aside: The Tornabuoni-Albizzi Not-So-Humble Wedding of the Century
3 hours
Florence, 1486. When two of the city’s oldest dynasties—the Tornabuoni (bankers to popes) and the Albizzi (blue-blooded aristocrats)—joined in marriage, they staged a spectacle so opulent, it reshaped Florentine politics and art forever. This tour recreates their legendary procession, blending grand frescoes, Medici intrigue, and secrets hidden in plain sight.
Begin at Piazza San Pierino, the Tornabuoni family’s parish, where their gold funded the altar and their influence echoed in every prayer. From here, we trace the steps to Santa Maria del Fiore, the cathedral where Giovanna and Lorenzo most likely married in June 1486. Their wedding ceremony, grand and overflowing with symbolism, marked the union of two rival families and set the stage for political alliances that would shape Florence’s future.
From the piazza, follow the ghostly echoes of trumpets and tambourines through streets once strewn with rose petals. Your guide, a brilliant art historian with a flair for drama, will lead you past Palazzo Tornabuoni, the family’s fortress-like home (where guests like Botticelli and Poliziano toasted the couple), to Santa Maria Novella. Inside, Domenico Ghirlandaio’s frescoes immortalize the newlyweds as saints—Giovanna’s face glowing in The Visitation, her gown’s French silk sparking whispers of treason among the Florentine elite, who regarded the gown as a political statement aligned with the French monarchy.
Why This Tour?
Time-travel vibes: Walk the procession route, still lined with Renaissance palazzi and hidden symbols of the wedding.
Art detective work: Decode Ghirlandaio’s frescoes to spot the couple’s portraits and their sly political messages.
Fun Facts:
The wedding’s leftovers fed Florence’s poor for a week—a PR stunt to cement the Tornabuonis as “benevolent” rulers.
Giovanna’s 20-pound pearl-encrusted gown required three maids to lift it—a sartorial power play so bold, rivals accused her of “treasonous” French fashion.
Your Guide
Your guide is a remarkable scholar with a deep passion for Renaissance history. With years of teaching and lecturing under his belt, he’s swapped traditional lectures for lively, engaging stories of the era’s colorful characters and behind-the-scenes mischief. He’s just as likely to make you laugh with tales of artists’ eccentricities as he is to dive into their greatest masterpieces.
Practical Details
Duration: 3 hours
Walking: Leisurely, with stops at key landmarks (tickets can be purchased on the spot)
Wear: Comfortable shoes (cobblestones) and a sense of whimsy
“This isn’t just a tour—it’s your invitation to crash the most exclusive party in Renaissance history.”
Perfect For: History nerds, art sleuths, and anyone who’s ever dreamed of time-traveling to an era where weddings came with their own frescoes.
Private Group Pricing (3-hour tour):
1 person: €369 (an intimate encounter with Michelangelo’s genius)
2 people: €185 per person
3 people: €124 per person
4 people: €93 per person
5 people: €75 per person
6 people: €69 per person
7 people: €59 per person
8 people: €52 per person
9 people: €46 per person
10 people: €43 per person