Day 01
Visit Pisa, San Gimignano and Siena
- You will be picked up by your tour guide in Florence and drive for about an hour towards Pisa. As soon as you arrive, you will pass through the historic suburbs and encounter Piazza dei Cavalieri, the original political centre of medieval Pisa. Cosimo I de' Medici later transformed it into the centre of the Order of the Knights of Santo Stefano, created to defend the Tuscan and Mediterranean coasts from Turkish and pirate fleets.
- At the heart of the square, you will find the statue of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, made by Francavilla in 1596. Behind it stand Palazzo della Carovana and Palazzo degli Anziani del Popolo, later transformed by Giorgio Vasari. Piazza dei Cavalieri is also home to the Scuola Normale Superiore, commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte on the model of the Parisian Ecole Normale. Some of Italy's greatest professors, such as Antonio Pacinotti, Carducci, Pascoli, Fermi and Rubbia, have studied and taught here.
- You will then arrive at the breathtaking Leaning Tower of Pisa, the unmistakable tilting tower that has people marvelling from all over the world.
- See Piazza dei Miracoli, which has always been a fundamental part of a trip to Tuscany. Despite the presence of many tourists, the place radiates a timeless, evocative and powerful beauty. Visitors from every corner of the world often try to keep the leaning tower upright with a little help from their camera's perspective, creating amusing photos.
- The beautiful stronghold of San Gimignano is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Tuscany. It is a treasure of medieval architecture, frozen in time in the year 1300. Above all, it is famous for its ancient towers, which still stand out on the skyline and have earned it the nickname 'Manhattan of the Middle Ages'.
- Don't forget to stop by the famous Dondoli ice cream shop, winner of many awards for the best ice cream in the world.
- Visit Piazza della Cisterna, which dates back to 1287. It is located precisely in the centre of the city, at the crossroads of the two main streets of the upper medieval village. While the city's Piazza del Duomo served as both a religious and political centre, Piazza della Cisterna was used as a local market and as a stage for social gatherings, parties and tournaments.
- See the Duomo of San Gimignano, also known as La Collegiata. Visiting this beautiful cathedral is a must. Because it has never been restored, you will be able to marvel at the original colours used in its unique frescoes, which remain vivid, bright and genuinely splendid. La Collegiata was also used as a filming location for a few scenes in Franco Zeffirelli's Tea with Mussolini (1999).
- Siena is one of the most popular and visited places in Tuscany. It is known throughout Italy for its distinguished medieval architecture. Upon arrival, explore its rich history and art through notable local monuments such as the famous seashell-shaped Piazza del Campo and the outstanding Siena Cathedral. The historic streets of Siena are filled with local shops, offering an excellent opportunity to taste local food or buy some gifts.
- Visit the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, the main location of Catholic worship in Tuscany and the seat of the diocese of Siena. The building stands in the square of the same name in the centre of the city. Built in Italian Gothic style, it is one of the most significant and spectacular churches in Italy.
- Explore Piazza del Campo, or simply il Campo, the main square of Siena. Unique for its particular and original seashell shape, it is renowned all over the world for its beauty and architectural integrity, as well as for being the place where the Palio di Siena takes place twice a year.
- At the end of the tour, you will be dropped back in Florence.
