Carriage rides are back! They reappeared about a year ago on the Florentine scene thanks to Giacomo Goldkorn’s initiative. The idea came from a young university researcher in order to stay close to his children. He pursued his dream which was inspired by the desire to explore Tuscany in a different way: “through the sound of horses and the magic of carriages.”
This ancient means of transport should not to be confused with the smaller, single horse-drawn Florentine “cabby” carriages. These carriages are pulled two purebred Percheron horses, perhaps the most famous pedigree in the world for horse-drawn carriages. Their main feature is that they have a dapple gray coat: like Quella and Topaz, the two mare sisters who work for Giacomo. In the 1800s the Percheron horses were used for the omnibus, the public transport in Paris and throughout all of France. The carriage is called Break de Chasse, a name with a mixture of English and French, and was used by their owners for trips in the country (hunting) or to go to the horse races. Usually, the carriage was drawn by four horses and very often was led by the master. Today this type of carriage that can carry up to 12 people, including the driver, and is used in the city because of its grandeur and elegance.
You can meet Giacomo who is always dressed in an impeccable style, parked with his carriage in Piazza della Repubblica, while waiting for his clients, among which are many children, who like to take a trip around the city (or celebrate a birthday in the carriage). While other customers like to venture out of town to discover a pleasant and relaxing way to see the scenery at a height of 1.80 m from the ground, “a charming and different way to see the landscape.”
During the carriage journey, you can really appreciate the pace and the utmost quality of a “slow tour” in Florence; it will be a truly unique and fun experience: greeting and waving to passersby and shopkeepers from the carriage, photographing monuments without any rush. In addition, with the help of an experienced guide, you will have the opportunity to better appreciate the details and the overall views of the monuments.
