April 87 2019
Florence:
 |
Livorno is the gateway to glorious Tuscany. Visit
Florence - the cradle of the Renaissance - home to the Duomo,
the Uffizi and the Ponte Vecchio. Here the Medici fostered a
city-state whose cultural legacy is as great as classical
Athens. Giants like Dante, Da Vinci, Michelangelo and Galileo
infused the West with a new creative spirit. Then there is Pisa,
Florence's rival for political power. Pisa, a brash, commercial
seafaring town rivaled the great maritime powers of Venice and
Genoa. The city was a leader in art and architecture second only
to Florence. |
Tour: Florence & Time On Your Own
Depart: 08:00AM
Return: 05:30PM
Date: April 07, 2019
Departing from Livorno, you will take a 90-minute motorcoach ride to
Florence, and spend the day getting to know the art, architecture, and
culture that have influenced generations throughout the world. Once
there, you'll be able to enjoy the insight of a local guide as well as
time to explore on your own.
You'll start your day with a guided walking tour in the Historic Center
of Florence, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your first stop- the iconic
Duomo, or "The Dome" that graces the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore,
the most famous building of the Florentine skyline. During your free
time later in the day, you may choose to visit the Duomo where, upon
entering, you can look up to view the dome's interior, adorned with a
fresco of the Last Supper and beautiful stained glass. In the Cathedral
Museum you'll see The Deposition, a famous pieta, created by
Michelangelo at the age of 80. The face of Nicodemus in this pieta is
widely considered to be a self-portrait of Michelangelo himself.
Follow your guide to see Giotto's Bell Tower and the Baptistery, the
oldest building in the city. Not only does it host fine 13th Century
mosaics, but its known for its magnificent bronze doors featuring scenes
from the Bible. In fact, the doors on the east side of the Baptistery
are especially stunning, so much so that Michelangelo dubbed them the
"Gates of Paradise."
After a short walk, your tour continues to the Piazza Della Signoria,
the political heart of the city from the Middle Ages to the present day.
The square, which sits in front of the Palazza Vecchio, or the "Old
Palace", is in effect an open-air museum. Copies of some of the world's
most renowned statues hold court in the Piazza Della Signoria, including
a copy of Michelangelo's David. You can see the original sculpture in
the Gallery of the Accademia di Belle Arti, a premier Florence art
museum that hosts a number of notable Florentine Renaissance and Gothic
masterpieces.
Continuing on your adventure, you will stop at the famous medieval Ponte
Vecchio bridge for a chance to take a few photos, then continue on to
Piazza St. Croce - the final resting place of such notables as Galileo,
Machiavelli and Michelangelo. It's here where the guided portion of your
tour ends, and your imaginations take over. Your guide will finalize the
time and place you'll meet your escort for the return trip before you're
free to spend the next three hours on your own.
Take to the streets and absorb the culture. Sample the Florentine cafes.
View the stunning art and architecture of other remarkable highlights
including the Uffizi Museum and Gallery, one the Western world's oldest
and most famous museums, and Pitti Palace. And, of course, shop for the
perfect remembrances of your truly remarkable day, before returning to
your pick-up point and your scenic ride back to Livorno and your ship.
