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Florence: Masters of Maths and Arts

Overview

Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance; during the 16th and 17th centuries this beautiful city inspired a plethora of new knowledge and mathematical ideas.  It is an exciting and wonderfully unusual destination for a school maths tour.

Explore the glories of Florence: Brunelleschi’s Dome, the Basilica di Santa Croce and Giotto’s Campanile to observe the importance of mathematical concepts in art and architecture.  Students have fun unravelling the origins of Arabic numbering, Pythagoras’s theorum and investigating Galileo’s theories.

Pisa is a must-see city, home of the most famous mathematician of the middle ages with his golden numbering system.  Fibonacci brought the Hindu-Arabic numbering system to Europe; his statue can be seen on a stroll around the stunning Piazza dei Miracoli.  Observe the medieval proportions of this beautiful square, estimate the angle of the Leaning Tower and discover how engineers have found a solution to its enduring problem.

Our Suggested Itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Flight to Pisa and private coach transfer to Florence.

    Stop off at Vinci for a guided stroll through the wonderful Tuscan countryside to see the house where Leonardo da Vinci was born, followed by a guided tour at the Museo Leonardiano.

  2. Day 2

    In the morning, visit Galleria dell'Accademia, one of the top museums in the world! Home to Michelangelo's David, and some of the masterpieces that mark artistic innovation, this gallery is sure to impress!

    Buy some lunch near the famous Ponte Vecchio.  Perfect place for some souvenir shopping too!

    Afterwards, visit the Pitti Palace - itself a magnificently decorated and historical setting - which houses several important art collections OR the Boboli Gardens, one of the greatest open-air museums in Florence; a spectacular example of "green architecture".

  3. Day 3

    In the morning, visit the Uffizi Gallery, one of the oldest and most famous art museums of the Western world, housing works by da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael and Botticelli.

    Buy some lunch and relax in Piazza della Signoria, before enjoying a Math Walking Tour of Florence with an expert guide!

    Afterwards, visit the Museo Galileo and admire the permanent collection of medieval mathematical and astronomical instruments, as well as temporary exhibitions on key mathematical figures.

  4. Day 4

    Private coach transfer to Pisa. Take in the city’s key sights: optional visit up the famous Leaning Tower!

    Flight back home.

School Trip Accommodation

Accommodation

We use safe and secure accommodation especially suited to schools. Our accommodation is usually 2* or youth hostel standard and provides a perfect base for enjoying your tour. All accommodation we use is audited, and our auditing regime is verified by independent experts.