Pisa and Florence

Pickup at the port by our guide, identified with the Shore2shore sign, and departure from the dock by bus to begin our tour.

Our first stop will be upon arrival in Pisa. Located in the Italian region of Tuscany, its origin is unknown; legend speaks of founders of Greek origin, coming from a city called Pisa located on the banks of the Alpheus River in the Peloponnese, who would have founded another city with the same name as the original in Italy. Among the most important monuments in the city is the famous Piazza dei Miracoli , declared a World Heritage Site; the Cathedral, built in marble between 1064 and 1118, in the Pisan Romanesque style, with its bronze portal by Bonnano Pisano. The Baptistery, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, which began construction in 1152 and was completed in 1363, was the second building in the square to be erected after the cathedral and before the famous and striking Leaning Tower of the 12th century, with a height of 58.36 meters, which suffered its characteristic tilt immediately after construction began.

The visit to Pisa will be self-guided; upon arriving at the Piazza dei Miracoli (a 15-minute walk from the bus parking), the guide will give us a brief introduction to the history of the city, provide directions on what we can see, and the maximum time allowed for the visit, which will be on our own. Once finished, we will return to the bus to continue towards Florence.

We will discover the city of the Medici family through a guided tour of the Piazza Santa Maria Novella, located just a few steps from Florence’s main train station, one of the city’s principal squares.

From there to the magnificent complex of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore or Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower (exterior), one of the masterpieces of Gothic and early Italian Renaissance. A symbol of the wealth and power of the Tuscan capital during the 13th and 14th centuries, the Florentine cathedral is one of the largest buildings in Christendom. Its name refers to the lily, the symbol of Florence, or to the ancient name of the town called Fiorenza, although others believe the flower refers to Christ; with its imposing dome by Brunelleschi and to which we must add the Giotto’s Campanile (exterior), 84.70 m tall, and the Baptistery of St. John (exterior), with its famous bronze doors. The ensemble, formed by the church, the bell tower, and the baptistery, constitutes one of Florence’s artistic and architectural jewels.

We will continue our walk through several streets from the Piazza della Repubblica to the Piazza della Signoria, to see the old palace (Palazzo Vecchio), built between 1299 and 1314 as the residence and workplace of the republic’s officials, notable for its decorated courtyard and artistic treasures. We will admire the Loggia dei Lanzi, an open-air museum displaying masterpieces of sculpture.

We will also see the Ponte Vecchio, the only bridge in Florence that was not destroyed during World War II, and arrive at the Santa Croce Square to admire its wonderful church (exterior), the burial place of notable figures such as Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Galileo Galilei,... Santa Croce Square, besides being a popular spot for street artists, is the chosen place to hold various activities throughout the year. One feature of its church is the almost 300 tombs; on their tombstones, different dates from the 14th to the 19th centuries can be seen.

Free time for lunch, individual visits, or shopping.

After the break, we will head to the agreed meeting point to reunite with the guide and, if time permits, we will stop by the Michelangelo Piazzale Viewpoint, one of the best in the city from which to admire Florence in all its splendor.

We will return to the port for embarkation.

GENERAL INFORMATION

• DURATION: BUS AND GUIDE AVAILABLE FOR UP TO 10 HOURS
• IN PISA, FREE TIME WITHOUT GUIDE FOR THE VISIT.

SUPPLEMENT to be paid along with the reservation

• Mandatory headphones: €3.00 Adults and children over 12 years old

NOTES

• Easy level/Panoramic/Cultural
• Comfortable footwear is recommended
• People with reduced mobility who use wheelchairs must be accompanied by another person who can assist them. Please use foldable wheelchairs, as buses do not have lifts or ramps. Shore2Shore is not responsible if the client does not inform about their situation at the time of booking.