Welcome to the picturesque countryside of Tuscany, Italy, home of 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites! Take in its indescribable beauty and learn of its rich history as the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. See the best highlights of Florence along with the Field of Miracles and the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
You will meet your private driver at La Spezia bus port terminal for a 90-minute drive through the countryside to the amazing city of Florence! It will be just you and up to 7 of your friends or family on this fun highlights private excursion. Note that the driver will only give commentary while you are in the vehicle, not on site. As you near the town, you will be able to stop in Piazzale Michelangelo to appreciate the architectural beauty from above - tile roofs, steeple, and domes. But that is not all. This historic square, which is dedicated to the sculptor Michelangelo, has bronze copies of several of his most famous marble sculptures, including the David and the four allegories of the Medici Chapel of San Lorenzo.
In Cathedral square (Piazza del Duomo), you will view the Florence Cathedral (Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore), which is the primary church in Florence and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Taking almost 150 years to build in the 14th and 15th centuries, this Gothic-style church has some of the most magnificent architecture in Florence. Its exterior marble panels in shades of green and pink bordered in white are Gothic Revival in style and are absolutely stunning! And then you might want to enter the church and see the priceless works of art including Michelangelo's Deposition, and Giotto's Bell Tower with its amazing works of art. Please read the restrictions and notes regarding this excursion.
Walk along some of Florence's elegant streets to it's largest square - Piazza Della Signoria - the political focus of the city and the old center of life in the city. View the Uffizi Gallery, a prominent art museum constructed in the shape of a horseshoe. This gallery is one of the largest and perhaps well known in the world, containing priceless works of art from the Italian Renaissance.
You will have lunch at a local restaurant before visiting Ponte Vecchio (meaning "old bridge") with its gold and jewelry shops where you may be able to shop if time permits (lunch cost is not included). Then it is on to Santa Croce church, where the tombs of Michelangelo, Machiavelli, and Galileo are located, surrounded by beautiful frescoes.
After your 3-hour exploration time in Florence, you will take a beautiful drive to the university town of Pisa, stopping on the way at the Field of Miracles to take photos of the famous Campanile. You may know it as the Leaning Tower of Pisa! The famous bell tower leans more than 16 feet out of perpendicular, but has been stabilized! Did you know that it actually began to sink and lean before the 2nd floor was even completed because of unstable and weak subsoil? This design was actually flawed before ground was even broken. Enjoy this brief yet memorable photo stop. Note that guests do not go inside the tower.
After this experience, you will enjoy the 50-minute ride back to your La Spezia cruise port, having viewed some of the most well-known sites in Florence!
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