Florence & Pisa

Florence & Pisa Photo #1 of 2 Photo copyright ShoreTrips.com.

Overview

This all-day tour will take you into the lovely city of Florence, and then Pisa!

Your first stop will be an overview of the town from Piazzale Michelangelo, on the top of the hill.

This tour includes:
- Round trip transportation from your hotel
- English-speaking driver
- Option to add a guide in Florence for an additional cost
Visit to:
- Santa Croce Church
- Piazza del Duomo
- Piazza della Signoria--Palazzo Vecchio, Uffizi Museum, and Ponte Vecchio
- Accademia Gallery, Pitti Palace, and/or Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, if you choose
- Pisa's Field of Miracles--Baptistery, Campo Santo, Duomo,and the Leaning Tower

From Florence, head first to Santa Croce Church, where Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, and Rossini are all buried. Then your driver will park in the Piazza del Duomo to survey the superb cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the second largest church in the world.

You are now in the middle of the walking area, only five minutes from the best shopping area in town. Check out the Piazza della Signoria--with Palazzo Vecchio, Uffizi Museum, and Ponte Vecchio, the famous 14th century covered bridge--home of Florence's gold shops! Here you can wander through the fashionable boutiques or sample a bit of Tuscan cuisine.

Remember that the driver is always at your total disposal to show you any place you wish--for example, the Accademia Gallery, home to the original statue of Michelangelo's David, or the huge Pitti Palace, a large, mainly Renaissance palace located on the south side of the Arno, a short distance from the Ponte Vecchio. Or perhaps you'd like to visit Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, located in the cathedral, and home of Michelangelo's Pietà (1548-55).

On return, detour to Pisa, where you will park in the middle of the famous "Field of Miracles." This square is the site of Pisa's Baptistery, Campo Santo, Duomo, and, of course, the Campanile, better known as the Leaning Tower. Make sure to bring your camera!

- Your English-speaking driver will not enter sites with you, but will give running commentaries of what you are seeing and make sure you have enough time to visit each site. You will be supplied with a map of the center of Florence with emergency phone numbers and a timetable for the churches and museums.
- Tickets to the Accademia and the Uffizi are about 16.50€ per ticket per person. (NOTE: Both are closed on Mondays.) You will pay the ticket fee in cash directly to the driver at the time of the tour.
- Please note that if you are making a last-minute booking, especially during the high season, we cannot guarantee that you will have tickets reserved. Pre-reserved tickets are non-refundable.

Food, beverages, entrance fees, and gratuities are not included in the price of this tour.

You may add a guide for 3 hours in Florence.

*If you wish to climb the Leaning Tower, please log on to www.opapisa.it to purchase tickets. Tickets should be purchased 45 days in advance to assure space. You will need your ID with you to exchange the voucher for the tickets, and your guide can help you with that. Please book the tour for 4 p.m., around the time you will arrive in Pisa. Also note that this will take approximately an hour, which may shorten other stops on your itinerary.

- Please note that pre-reserved tickets are non-refundable.
- On Mondays, some museums, including the Accademia and the Uffizi, are closed. You may instead visit Museo dell'Opera del Duomo.

Days offered: 7 days a week

Departures:

• 08:00 AM, duration: 9 hours