Florence evening tour of wine windows and local legends

The wine windows of Florence -  known in Italian as buchette del vino - are tiny stone openings built into the walls of Renaissance-era Florentine palaces, typically just large enough to pass a bottle of wine through. First used in the 16th and 17th centuries by aristocratic families who wanted to sell wine directly from their cellars to the street, the wine windows allowed transactions to happen without the buyer ever entering the palace. Remarkably, they were also used during the plague of 1630 as a contactless way to safely sell wine. Today, a handful of these historic wine windows have been beautifully restored and are once again in use in Florence.

Florence's historic wine windows are scattered throughout the city's historic center, most notably in the Oltrarno neighborhood and along Via de' Bardi, Via dello Sprone, and around Palazzo Antinori. Many of the wine windows belong to historic noble palaces whose families were once major wine producers in Tuscany. The Florencetown Florence wine windows evening tour visits the most fascinating and historically significant buchette del vino, sharing the stories behind each one with expert local guides who know Florence's hidden legends intimately.

The Florence wine windows evening tour by Florencetown is a charming and atmospheric walking experience through Florence after dark. It includes a guided walk to the most celebrated historic wine windows in the city, fascinating stories about their origin during the Medici era and the great plague, tastings of wine served through an authentic wine window, and local legends and tales about Florence's lesser-known history. It's a perfect first evening in Florence Italy — relaxed, convivial, and completely different from standard museum-focused tours.

Florence's wine windows were most widely used between the 16th and 18th centuries, when powerful Tuscan noble families -  including the Antinori, the Frescobaldi, and the Ricasoli - sold wine directly to Florentine citizens from their city palaces. Their use declined as wine shops became more common. Fascinatingly, they were revived in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic as a safe, contactless way to serve wine and food — proving that the ancient Florentine solution to social distancing was centuries ahead of its time. This piece of living history makes Florence's wine windows one of the most compelling stories in the city.

Yes - the Florence wine windows evening tour is one of the best ways to spend a first evening in Florence Italy. It's relaxed, unhurried, and deeply atmospheric, offering a completely different perspective on the city compared to daytime museum visits. Walking Florence's historic streets at dusk with a knowledgeable guide, glass of local wine in hand, is a genuinely memorable experience. It's also a great way to orient yourself to the city before a full day of sightseeing. Suitable for all ages and fitness levels.

Cancellations are free up to 24 hours before the tour departure. For cancellations made within 24 hours of the tour start time, as well as in case of no-shows, the full amount will be charged.