This private shore excursion offers an opportunity to combine Florence, the capital city of Tuscany with the charms of Lucca.

Lucca and its charming athmosphere

Leaving directly from your cruise ship, the drive to Lucca takes about 45 minutes. The medieval treasure of Tuscany, Lucca is entirely enclosed within its sturdy city walls. Elegant and immaculately-kept, the city possesses an endless number of striking churches; the Cathedral of San Martino and the dazzling San Michele. Its many piazzas include the delightful square once the site of a Roman Amphitheatre; the wider Piazza Napoleone opened up by Napoleon’s sister, Elisa. You will also have a chance to see the charming tree-lined avenue along the top of the city walls; the Fillungo, Lucca’s main shopping street with its cobbles and carefully-preserved old shopfronts.

Florence at a glance

After a couple of hours in Lucca, you will proceed to Florence, a drive of about 1h 15m. Capital of the region of Tuscany, Florence is a treasure trove of art and architecture; you will admire the whole town centre for the first time from the glorious viewpoint at Piazzale Michelangelo. An alternative point of view is from the beautiful Romanesque church of San Miniato; the Monte stands above the square, overlooking Florence.

Once in the heart of the city, top of the list for first-time visitors to Florence will no doubt include the Ponte Vecchio; the bridge is famous for its traditional jewellery stores; the marble-clad Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence’s cathedral (known simply as the “Duomo”) with its astonishing gravity-defying Cupola. In the same square stand two other masterpieces; the recently-restored octagonal Baptistry and the soaring 14th-century Bell Tower. Another must-see is without a doubt Michelangelo’s sculpture of David, the giant white marble statue of the biblical hero; the artist began it when he was only 26. The original stands in the Accademia Gallery, but you can also see a copy of Michelangelo’s masterpiece in Piazza della Signoria, another landmark stop on your visit to Florence.

Food-enthusiasts might also like to visit the Mercato Centrale, the fascinating indoor food market of Florence. The opportunity to taste most of the genuine products from countryside farms.

Your drive back to the port of Livorno will take about 1h 15m