Pisa and Florence Highlights

The first stop on your tour is the well-visited, famous medieval town of Pisa, home to the University of Pisa, founded in 1343. Stop for photographs in the Field of Miracles, then marvel at Pisa Cathedral's Leaning Tower. This freestanding bell tower was built over a period of 199 years, beginning in 1173, and started to tilt early on during construction due to an unequal soil foundation. The tilt was partially corrected in the later stages, but the tower still leans about 3.99 degrees, resulting in the top of the tower being displaced a little over 12 feet from its center. Wondering what else to see in Pisa? While in Duomo Square you will also see the Pisa Baptistry of St. John, an ecclesiastical building made from marble and three brass doors containing relief sculptures that Michelangelo named the Gates of Paradise. Take a walk along the Piazza Dei Cavalieri, the political center in medieval times, with stunning facades. From there, you will travel through the Tuscan countryside to Florence and pass under the famed Porto Romana gate built into the 13th-century walls of the city. See Pitti Palace, a massive Renaissance palace and palazzo originally used as a residence by ruling families and a power base by Napoleon, and today is a large gallery and museum. Walk behind the palace, passing the Boboli Gardens, which are decorated with ancient sculptures. From the terrace at Piazza del Michelangelo, you will enjoy an impressive panoramic view of Florence. The Piazza della Signoria offers impressive sculptures plus the grand Palazzo Vecchio, or town hall. This square is also the gateway to the Uffizi Gallery, a prominent museum that houses several paintings from the masters, including Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Botticelli, and Raffaello. During this tour featuring Florence's highlights, you will also see the amazing Santa Maria Del Fiore Cathedral with its Giotto Bell Tower as well as the Basilica of Santa Croce. Stroll through narrow streets and past the Arno River as your driver/guide shares interesting tidbits and secrets about Florence's history. Cross the Ponte Vecchio Bridge, the most photographed landmark in the city. Sign up now and spend an unforgettable day in the cultural and historical heart of two of Italy's most cherished and visited cities.