TOUR DESCRIPTION

Pisa and Lucca are two ancient treasures of architecture, art, food and wine that really deserve a close up experience. Your tour of Pisa and Lucca will start directly from your accommodation. After a brief drive we will reach the most important places to visit in Pisa, including the Piazza dei Miracoli where you will admire the city's Romanesque architecture of the Pisa Cathedral, the Baptistery and the famous Leaning Tower. These buildings laid out on the sprawling green lawns are the most beautiful and important examples of Tuscan Romanesque architecture in all of the history of art and listed as one of seven of the worlds. We can reserve in advance for you Leaning Tower Pisa tickets to climb it, as it is difficult to buy them on the spot due to the great number of tourist and the restrictions to the number of those allowed per day.

After you can stroll around the Pisa city center for shopping or just to reach the Arno river to see the renaissance palaces. After discovering what to do at Pisa, before lunch, we will drive you in Lucca.

In the second part of your daily trip you will pass under its 16th century Lucca walls, to access this delightful town with surprises around every corner.

We will reserve for you a nice restaurant to discover local Lucca food and wine produced on close hills north of the town.
After lunch you will be free to discover the ancient Lucca city center and its charm with a walk to the local tasty traditional pastries, to the open piazza where once stood a Roman Amphitheater, to the long streets lined with medieval buildings and towers that now house fashion boutiques and jewelry shops, or rent a bike for a ride on the tree-lined immense 16th century walls.
You can visit the lucca Puccini house where the famous opera author lived and worked or join one of the many Lucca festival that this lively city organize every year such as the Lucca Summer festival where famous pop music stars performs their concerts or the Lucca Comics in the winter.

We will drive you back at your accommodation at the end of the day.

Your expert Driver, fluent in English, will be at your disposal for the day and will introduce you the local history and will give you the proper advises for the day to be a relaxing experience.

If you are interested to deep in the local history and to be accompanied to have a detailed introduction
we can reserve for you a Pisa Walking tour and/or a Lucca Walking Tour with our Certified Guide, fluent in English.

HISTORY NOTES

Pisa, during the Middle Age, was for centuries the naval force of Tuscany and its fleets crossed the Mediterranean Sea carring all kinds of products from Tuscan markets to the ports of France, Spain, Portugal but expecially North Africa and Asia. The “Pisani” met the peoples of the Mediterranean importing the distant cultures into Tuscany, the refinement of the Moors, the mathematical intelligence of the Indians. Pisa was so reach and developed to found its University in 1343 AC.

Meanwhile Pisa established colonies, conquered territories and became immensely rich with wars. This happened around 1100 A.C. when its immense Cathedral was built and behind it the Leaning Tower was started on a not so suitable terrain, which would become one of the seven architectural wonders of the World and which is still a destination for many  visitors.

In the same period not far from Pisa just beyond a few hills an ancient Roman colony, Lucca, which controlled the way from France to Siena and Rome had grown in wealth thanks to the production of fabrics, especially silk whose technique had been stolen from the Chinese by Venetian merchants. The proximity of the two powers could only give some problems and, in fact, Pisa and Lucca were always adversaries so much so that the Lucchesi preferred to ship its goods from Genoa, hundreds of kilometers away instead of favoring the rival Pisa. Pisa was conquered by Florence in the 16^th century while Lucca and its citywalls resisted independent up to 19^th century when Napoleon arrived for its Italian Campaign.

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Available: All year round. Rain or shine
• Duration: 8 hours
• Travelling time: 3 hours

INCLUDED IN THE TOUR

• Luxury air conditioned vehicle
• Pick up and drop off in Florence or its immediate surroundings
• English speaking Driver Guide for the day at disposal
• All local Taxes, gasoline, highway/parking tolls, driver's meal

NOT INCLUDED

• Lunch
• Admission fees where required unless otherwise specified
• Walking guided tour (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to be reserved on request)

Please note that we can organize to come pick up and drop you off at your place outside of Florence. We are also available to personalize your itinerary. Contact us and we'll send you a personalized quotation.

TYPICAL SCHEDULE

09:00 Start from accommodation and drive to Pisa

10:00 Visit Pisa

12:00 Panoramic Drive through the Pisani hills and reach Lucca

12:30 Lunch

14:00 Visit Lucca

16:00 Drive Back

17:00 Arrive at accommodation