HUNTING FOR LIONS AND LILIES

Florence is immersed in legends, steeped in mystery and brims with intriguing tales and symbols. Follow your guide across the old town on an exciting quest for emblems, coats of arms and unexpected beasts.

Young adventure-seekers might like to know that an incredible number of wild animals hide within Florence’s streets and squares. Who can spot a boar guarding a town market? Don’t be scared! Go rub its snout so that you will – as legend has it – one day return to Florence. The most intrepid of visitors will be thrilled to hear that the king of the forest has been haunting these alleys for thousands of years! Join your guide on a safari through this city of marble and stone and see how many lions you can espy. You may not know that in ancient Roman times real lion hunts were staged in town, inside a long-lost amphitheatre, and from the Middle Ages up until the 18th century these majestic felines were kept in cages on display in the city centre for all to see. Can you imagine walking along Via dei Leoni flanked by roaring beasts?

This family-friendly experience, combining a well-thought-out mix of famous landmarks and lesser-known spots, will bring history to life for children allowing them to gain an entertaining and informative overview of Florentine culture and art. Your private guide will lead you past some of the city’s most enchanting piazzas, bridges and churches, setting the pace and route to suit the age, knowledge and needs of the young and very young. Along the way you will hear tales of power-mad lords and headstrong artists and discover the legends and meaning behind the symbols you spot on your hunt through the city.

Every square, alley, palazzo, statue and street corner holds a different secret ready to be unravelled. A symbol is so much more than just a decorative design or embellishment. Symbols contain hidden significance, harbour captivating stories and throw light on the history of a family and city. What a multitude of moons, spheres and dolphins! Listen as your guide turns the key and decodes their message. You will definitely encounter the lilies, the centuries-old heraldic emblem of Florence. The origins of this symbol are still something of a mystery and might be linked to the founding of the city in ancient Roman times. It may well be that this occurred in spring, coinciding with festivities in honour of Flora, the goddess of flowers. But the truth is still unknown…