SHORE EXCURSIONS

Take a scenic drive through the countryside to the magnificent city of Florence. Pause in the Piazza del Duomo to admire the exterior of the Cathedral (Duomo) of Santa Maria del Fiore, its elaborate Gothic façade is covered in a mix of pink and green marble.

View the statues in the Piazza della Signoria on your way to the Ponte Vecchio, the medieval stone bridge was the first bridge built across the River Arno, and has been well known for its goldsmiths and jewelers since the 16th century. Lunch is included at a local restaurant, and after the meal you’ll have free time to explore on your own or to shop, before your tour continues to the historic town of Pisa. Here, you’ll make a brief photo stop in Miracle Square for a look at the exterior of that famous Leaning Tower. Built in the 12th century, it began to lean soon afterwards, but has now been stabilized.

If you want to explore these fascinating places on your own, we are pleased to provide a motorcoach transfer to Florence and Pisa, complete with an English speaking escort. You’ll visit Pisa first, to avoid the heavy traffic entering Florence in the morning. Arriving in Pisa, your escort will walk you to the famous Miracle Square to enjoy some free time to take pictures of the Leaning Tower. Continue to Florence, where in the early afternoon, you’ll be dropped off at a central location in Florence and have approximately 3 1/2 hours to explore the city at your leisure.

The Leaning Tower and Tuscan wines - what a perfect combination! Enjoy a day filled with the sites, aromas and tastes of Tuscany.

After meeting your guide in Pisa and a brief orientation of the Field of Miracles, you'll be free to explore the magnificent sites on your own. See the Leaning Tower and discover Pisa’s superb black and white marble enhanced Duomo. If you wish to enter the cathedral, you may do so on your own.

The Tuscan hills are home to some of the finest wines in the world, including Chianti. Enjoy a ride through the Italian wine country to visit a famous wine producer, tour the winery, and learn how Tuscan wines are created. Enjoy a typical Italian lunch in this privileged setting and sample a variety of house wines and olive oil. Ending your meal with a taste of Vin Santo - a sweet dessert wine.

Leaving Livorno, you will travel north for 1.5 hours, passing the coastal area of Versilia until reaching La Spezia where you'll begin your exploration to the Cinque Terre: a National Park protected by UNESCO. Weather permitting you will enjoy a scenic cruise or a ride by train till Monterosso al Mare. Here you will have plenty of free time to enjoy a stroll around its narrow streets, to explore the tiny shops, have lunch on your own and after a tasting of the local wine. By boat or train you will reach the fishing village of Vernazza, where you'll enjoy time at leisure. Then you will re-board a boat or a local train back to La Spezia where your motorcoach is waiting for you for the return drive to Livorno.

Behold some of the world’s most impressive Byzantine mosaics, which adorn the walls and ceilings of Ravenna’s 6th-century basilicas and mausoleums.

Depart from the pier and enjoy a brief drive through the ancient city of Ravenna. After a photo stop at the 6th-century Mausoleum of Theodoric, a rotunda-shaped tomb that the emperor built for himself, you’ll arrive at the city center and begin your walking tour.

Ravenna is revered for its well-preserved Byzantine mosaics, and you’ll see them in all their glory at sights such as the Sant’Apollinare Nuovo basilica, which Theodoric also built. Most of the original mosaics depicting the life of Christ still exist, and the colors are vibrant, even after 1,500 years.

You’ll also tour San Vitale Basilica, whose Byzantine mosaics are considered the finest in the western world. Be sure to note the glittering mosaics in the ceilings of the choir and apse. More spectacular mosaics await you at the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, which dates even earlier to 430 A.D. The Roman empress who commissioned the tomb was never buried here, but it certainly would have been a grand final resting place.

Nearby, you’ll find the tomb of the poet Dante, who died in Ravenna in 1321 while exiled from Florence. The mound of dirt to the right of his tomb is where Dante’s urn was buried to protect it when Ravenna was bombed during World War II.

An hour of free time follows your walking tour, after which you’ll return to the pier.

Snap selfies at the most photogenic spots in and around Florence and Pisa, many of them iconic attractions that define the cities. To ensure the best possible results, a selfie expert guide will offer tips so you can capture just the right angle, lighting and composition for every shot. your pictures will be ideal for posting on social media and sharing in other ways.

As you walk and ride through Florence and Pisa, you will pause at designated selfie stops that include:
• Ponte Vecchio
• Palazzo Vecchio
• Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral
• Santa Croce Square
• Piazzale Michelangelo viewpoint
• Leaning Tower of Pisa

HIGHLIGHTS

• Take inspiring selfies at the most photogenic attractions in Florence and Pisa.
• Follow tips from your selfie expert guide to ensure the very best pictures.
• Learn the historical significance of the locales while enjoying their dramatic settings.
• Behold the 13th-century bridge Ponte Vecchio and the fortress-like Palazzo Vecchio.
• See where Michelangelo is buried in the basilica overlooking San Croce Square.
• Enjoy the ultimate view of Florence from the hilltop terrace Piazzale Michelangelo.
• Visit the Field of Miracles in Pisa, home of the famed Leaning Tower.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
• Be sure your phone or camera is fully charged.

Drive through the countryside en route to the historic town of Pisa, located on the banks of the Arno River. Enjoy a short trolley ride that takes you directly to Miracle Square, next to the famous Leaning Tower. Your walking tour begins near Miracle Square. During World War II, much of Pisa was destroyed by German and Allied bombing, however the cathedral, baptistery and famous Leaning Tower escaped unharmed. There’ll be some free time to admire the exterior of the campanile, better known as the Leaning Tower and enjoy some coffee or browse for souvenirs in Pisa before returning to your ship.

Indulge in time entirely on your own in resplendent Florence, allowing for ample exploration at your pace. Enjoy a picturesque drive of approximately 2 ½ hours through Tuscany’s legendary landscapes. Founded by Romans, Florence came under the rule of the Medici family in the 15th century, who later became the Grand Dukes of Tuscany. This was the period when the city was an economic power and at the height of its glory in art, culture and politics. Florence still retains an extraordinary wealth of artistic and architectural treasures, including the glorious Uffizi gallery, magnificent Sante Croce church, and Ponte Vecchio, the city’s oldest bridge. Once in Florence, you will have approximately three to four hours to explore at your leisure. A Florentine tour escort will accompany you on the bus and will be happy to assist in your planning.

Want to explore Florence on your own? We are happy to provide a motorcoach transfer to Florence complete with an English speaking escort. You’ll be dropped off at a central location in Florence and have approximately five hours to explore the city, shop and enjoy lunch at your leisure. Motorcoach drop-off and pick-up points will be provided by the Shore Excursion Desk on board your ship.

Make the most of your time in Florence with this one-of-a-kind Attraction Pass that includes the entrance to the most emblematic and historical sites with art treasures at the heart of the Italian Renaissance while you enjoy a curated path designed with the best Florence has to offer. A special shuttle bus will take you to Florence, choose according to the time you have in Florence and adventure with the company of your guide on this amazing trip! Start your journey by taking a Walking Tour around Florence´s highlights to learn more about the city and experience the day-to-day first-hand. Pass through Duomo Square, Cathedral -Baptistery, Dante's quarter, San Michele, Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio, Via Dei Neri, Santa Croce and more. Visit Casa Buonarroti, on the path, you will enjoy walking in the footsteps of the great genius, of the genius of Michelangelo. Florence is worldwide known as city of outstanding art and architecture in the world and with our pass you might browse a glimpse of art visiting Ufizzi, home of the artwork of stunning artists, as Michelangelo. You can also delight in museums, such as Franco Zeffirelli, Museo de' Medici and Degli Innocent. Choose your favorite attractions, leave no sight unseen and get the most out of your visit to Florence.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Use the Attraction Pass to see Florence’s best attractions at no additional cost.
• Discover Florence with a curate path and enjoy a walking tour of its marvelous plazas and main squares. Pass through Duomo Square, Cathedral -Baptistery, Dante's quarter, San Michele, Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio, Via Dei Neri, Santa Croce and more.
• More than 4 attractions included, such as: Uffizi Gallery, Franco Zeffirelli Museum, Casa Buonarroti, The Medici Dynasty Museum, Museo Degli Innocenti.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance, offers so many treasures of art and architecture that its entire historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Fortunately with the highlights so centrally located, it is ideally suited to a walking tour. You'll stop at the Piazza Michelangelo for an overview of the city's tiled roofs, steeples and domes.

Visit the Accademia Gallery for an up-close introduction to Michelangelo’s famous David. The 17-foot-tall statue depicts not the king, but the youthful shepherd who slew Goliath. You’ll have a reserved time for entering to avoid the long line. Have a look at the exterior of the Cathedral (Duomo) of Santa Maria del Fiore, its elaborate Gothic façade covered in a mix of pink and green marble.

View the statues in the Piazza della Signoria on your way to the Ponte Vecchio, the medieval stone bridge that was the first bridge built across the River Arno, and has been well known for its goldsmiths and jewelers since the 16th century. Admire the exterior of the beautiful Basilica of Santa Croce, burial site for the city’s larger than life citizens, including Michelangelo, Rossini, Machiavelli and Galileo. Enjoy some free time for lunch, to explore further or do some shopping.

Travel in a small group to Florence, stopping en route in Pisa’s Miracle Square, for photos of the medieval cathedral and its bell tower, which you will recognize immediately as the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. Begin your visit to Florence with the stunning view from the Piazza Michelangelo over the city's tiled roofs, steeples and domes. Then immerse yourself in one of the world’s great art collections at the impressive Uffizi Gallery, where you’ll have reservations that enable you to avoid the long lines. Heaven for art lovers, the works here are all considered true masterpieces, created by artists such as Michelangelo, Rafael, Rembrandt and Goya.

Admire the Piazza della Signoria on your way to the Ponte Vecchio, the medieval stone bridge that was the first built across the River Arno, and has been well known for its goldsmiths and jewelers since the 16th century. Pause in the Piazza del Duomo and take in the magnificence of the grand Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, its elaborate Gothic façade covered in a mix of pink and green marble. During the tour, you’ll enjoy free time for lunch and shopping, before making a stop at a showroom specializing in discounted gold items.