An English-speaking driver will pick you up at the dock in Livorno and he will drive you to the Renaissance city of Florence. The first place you are going to see is Piazzale Michelangelo, the most amazing lookout point over Florence where you can take some memorable photographs and see the bronze replica of Michelangelo’s David.
Next, your driver will take you down into the historic city center where I will be waiting for you! We will walk to the Ponte Vecchio or Old Bridge lined with jewelry shops since 1593 when a Medici duke issued an edict for goldsmiths to replace all of the butcher shops previously lining the sides of the bridge. We will make our way past the Uffizi Gallery to see the copy of the David where Michelangelo’s real David once stood in Piazza della Signoria, headquarters of the Florentine city and county government. The Palazzo Vecchio dominates the square and this is where Dante Alighieri was an alderman in the 1300’s. It’s hard to imagine the size of the Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore aka the Duomo in Florence until you turn a corner and find it towering in front of you. It is famous for Brunelleschi’s dome, Giotto’s colorful bell tower and the carved bronze Baptistry doors across from the entrance of the main church.
If you would like, we can add a stop at the Accademia, to see Micheangelo’s original David. We are happy to book entrance tickets ahead of time to allow you to skip the long lines at the entrance. After a break for lunch you’ll be able to enjoy some leisure or shopping time in this fashion capital of Tuscany before meeting back up with your driver to head to Pisa. Here you will stop in the Miracles Square or Piazza dei Miracoli to see the worldwide famous Leaning Tower and the massive Cathedral next to it. Your shore excursion is coming to an end and your driver will take you back to the ship in time for boarding.