Piazza dell’Anfiteatro

It stands in the exact place where the ancient Roman amphitheater, dating back to the 2nd century AD, once stood. and of which the square still retains the traditional elliptical shape. During the Middle Ages, Piazza dell’Anfiteatro was the privileged meeting point of the Lucca society. Here, in fact, citizens’ meetings took place systematically. Today the square remains a very central meeting point, with many shops and bars created inside ancient premises. Piazza dell’Anfiteatro is accessed through four arches placed in different points.

Piazza Napoleone

Its origins date back to 1806, when, with the city invaded by Napoleonic troops, it was built at the behest of Elisa Bonaparte Baciocchi, sister of the French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. The square was dedicated to Napoleon and a statue erected in the center of it was dedicated. However, the monument that more than any other distinguishes Piazza Napoleone is the splendid Palazzo Ducale. Built in the 15th century, an enormous personal residence of Castruccio Castracani, an ancient lord of the city.

Piazza San Martino

The square opens in front of the asymmetrical facade of the thirteenth-century Cathedral of San Martino, which with its deep portico, the whiteness of the marbles and the inlays of the columns, create a unique scenographic effect. However, this square-churchyard is not proposed as a closed space, but as the introduction to a succession of other spaces that open on the sides and behind the apse of the church, so as to make it the fulcrum of an original, lively environment urban.

Piazza San Michele

Built at the end of the 11th century, the Church of San Michele stands in the center of the homonymous square, in the heart of the city of Lucca, and more precisely in the place where the ancient Roman Forum of the city once stood. Also for this reason the church is often identified with the name of San Michele in Foro. The architectural structure is typical of a Pisan Romanesque style church, with a Latin cross plan and an internal structure composed of three naves, on the external facade at the top is the statue of the Archangel Michael.

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The monuments of Pistoia

That of the Cathedral is the main square, around which the most important buildings overlook: the Town Hall, the Cathedral of San Zeno, the Palazzo dei Vescovi, the Baptistery and the bell tower. To understand where you are, we recommend climbing the 200 steps of the bell tower: from up there you can admire the whole city from above.

Piazza del Duomo

The cathedral is a beautiful architectural mix: built mainly in the Pisan Romanesque style, it also includes Renaissance, Baroque, sixteenth and nineteenth-century elements. The most valuable piece that can be admired inside is a silver altar from the ancient chapel dedicated to Santo Jacopo. patron of Pistoia. The Palazzo degli Anziani is the seat of the Town Hall, but it also houses the Civic Museum, the first museum in the city, and the Baptistery of San Giovanni in Corte is considered among the greatest expressions of Tuscan Gothic.

The museums of Pistoia

For those who are passionate about art, Pistoia will find something for their teeth. Not for nothing, in 2017 it was the Italian Capital of Culture. There are several museums of the Pistoia Musei Foundation that offer a rich program of initiatives including exhibitions, conferences, educational activities, workshops for adults and events, such as the “Art happy hour”. Among these are Palazzo Buontalenti, Palazzo de ‘Rossi and Palazzo dei Vescovi.

The “Tuscan Chocolate Valley”

And for the sweet tooth, Pistoia is located within what is called the “chocolate valley”, an area that includes the Tuscan territory between Pisa, Pistoia and Prato. This valley of chocolate has become famous in recent years for the development of numerous high-quality chocolate industries and for the establishment of some artisans capable of making excellent cocoa and chocolate-based products, which have become famous throughout the world.

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Castagnaccio, a VIP among Tuscan desserts

Castagnaccio is one of the best known traditional Tuscan sweets. It was once considered a real street food, and its origins are presumed to date back to the 16th century. A legend about the famous chestnut cake It is said that Castagnaccio is also the keeper of a legend. In fact, it is said that the rosemary needles present inside are actually a filter of love. Anyone who eats a slice of chestnut, offered by the hands of a girl, will fall in love with it instantly. You just have to try!

Ribollita or Zuppa di Cavolo

The best known Tuscan dish based on black cabbage is the satisfying and appreciated Ribollita. It is a Tuscan recipe, which perhaps represents the symbolic example of recycled cuisine of peasant origin, which is the basis of our regional culinary tradition. Just think that the ribollita, it is said, was a dish prepared on Friday, the day in which all the leftover vegetables of the week were cooked together, with stale bread (which we remember, it was at the time, baked once a week).

Porcini mushrooms

Mushroom lovers look forward to the arrival of autumn, to give free rein to their culinary creativity. In fact, these fruits of the undergrowth, in addition to giving the dishes an intense, particular and delicious taste, are a very versatile food rich in properties. The Tuscan recipes with mushrooms are so many and varied, although the undisputed protagonists are the porcini, the kings of the Tuscan woods. However, you will also be able to appreciate other types of mushrooms, often underestimated, but absolutely fragrant and tasty such as sloe and champignons. Also not to be overlooked are the ease and speed of preparing mushroom-based dishes. We can summarize that, with minimal effort, absolutely delicious dishes are created.

The cecìna or chickpea cake

You should know that it has been told since the dawn of time, of an eternal diatribe between two enchanting Tuscan cities: Pisa and Livorno. So geographically close to each other, they share the same sea and the same area. At the same time, deeply tied to their origins and traditions, so much so that they want to distinguish themselves from one another. The cecìna is such a source of pride for the city of Pisa, that it has requested the attribution of the DOP denomination. The origins of cecìna and chickpea cake go back to distant times, there are evidence of recipes already among the Greek and Latin population. As is well known in the Arab world, the use of chickpeas had been cleared for some time. It is assumed that during the Middle Ages, thanks to continuous contacts with the Maritime Republic of Pisa, the use of this legume was introduced in our territory.

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The famous Leaning tower of Pisa

Nonetheless referring to the Leaning Tower most people worldwide have in mind the incredible lines of the ‘Torre pendente’ of Pisa. Tourists flock to the informally named ‘Piazza dei Miracoli’ (Miracles Square) to admire the medieval masterpiece and possibly to take the ritual picture propping up the tower; some of them bravely take on the 296 steps to climb the tower and finally enjoy the fabulous view from the top. One of the recurring questions asked by the visitors was: is it unintentionally tilting or was it designed to be leaning? In general we don’t have much information about its construction but we know for sure was a mistake, a very lucky mistake. What is even more surprising and what the majority of tourists ignore is that the ‘Torre pendente’ isn’t the only leaning tower of Pisa! Actually the soil consisting mostly of sand and clay is the cause of inclination of another two bell towers.

The leaning tower of San Nicola Church

Specially famous for the Fibonacci sequence which is one of the most famous formulas in mathematics, the church of San Nicola is located in via Santa Maria. The original octagonal bell tower, the most characteristic of the city after the Leaning Tower, dates back to the second half of the 13th century and is slightly inclined and buried with respect to the current floor.

The leaning tower of San Michele degli Scalzi Church

The church of San Michele degli Scalzi is instead located in the homonymous square in the east of the city. The typical square-based bell tower is in stone in the lower part, while in the upper part it is in brick. The facade is decorated with Islamic ceramic basins from the 12th century. Placed on the side facing the Arno river, it leans strongly with a slope of 5% (more than the famous leaning Tower of Pisa).

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The advantages of a private excursion

By booking a private tour, you will have at your disposal an English-speaking guide who will accompany you throughout the day. Furthermore, the more you are, the more you save!

Our private excursions

If you plan to stay several days in Tuscany and want to explore its surroundings with a personal guide, you can do it by booking one of our private excursions. These are approximately 6-hour tours that include hotel pick up, minivan transportation and an English-speaking guide.

Covid-19 measures

All our vehicles are sanitized and safe for a comfortable and safe journey, also all our suppliers comply with local legislation and health recommendations regarding protection and safety, to avoid the spread of the Covid-19 virus.

What our private tours include

An English-speaking driver / tour leader will be with you throughout the day.
We will pick you up directly from your accommodation and bring you back at the end of the day.
Our guide will be with you for the entire duration of the visit to inform you and assist you during the tour.
It will be only you, as it is a private tour, there will be no other people in the group.

How to book a private tour

You can book up to 1 days before (italian time) if there are still places available.
Once the reservation is made, you will receive an email with the voucher, which you can print or download in digital format, to be brought on the day of the tour.

This tour is private and will take place exclusively for you, your family or your friends!

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1. More cured, the coronavirus in Italy has mutated. 45 patients improved.

Italy “is not a hotbed of anything, the virus is circulating all over the world,” assures Walter Ricciardi, an Italian member of the WHO executive committee. And only 0.1% of municipalities are affected by the epidemic.

2 . Coronavirus cases who are the dead in Italy

Coronavirus deaths in Italy were already suffering from serious diseases and were elderly who suffered from cardiovascular, tumor or chronic diseases.

3. The contagion of Coronavirus map is limited in northern Italy

There are two main centers of the coronavirus emergency. Most cases of contagion are in Lombardy, all concentrated in the lower Lodi area. In Veneto, however, the cases are concentrated in the municipality of Vo ‘Euganeo (Padua), a small municipality on the west side of the Euganean Hills.

4. Italy ranked healthiest country in Europe (and second in the whole world)

The Italian health system for its high performance as also testified by the state of health of the population, which remains good despite not always healthy lifestyles and as certified by life expectancy at birth (88.3 years for women, 83, 8 for men). Tuscany i one of the best places for healthcare in Italy.

5. Italy is still one of the most beautiful, frindly and welcoming country in the world. The best Pizza, Gelato and the Italians are waiting for you.

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The Tree of Love in the Tuscan medieval village

Did you know that the country of love is in Tuscany? It is Lucignano, a small medieval village between Siena and Arezzo, where a treasure is kept: the Tree of Love, also known as the Golden Tree or Tree of Life. It is a masterpiece of Sienese-Arezzo jewelery 2.60 meters high and decorated with rock crystals, corals, enamels and miniatures. According to a legend, it is a lucky charm for loving couples who exchange love promises in front of its branches and is kept in the Museum of the thirteenth-century Palazzo Comunale. Lucignano is part of the Association of the most beautiful villages in Italy and is splendid to visit with romantic walks through its streets that wind through its medieval elliptical urban structure surrounded by walls with towers and gates, and full of churches, palaces and beauties to see.

The Via del Bacio and the Strade dell’Amore in Val d’Orcia

The romantic walk par excellence takes place in Pienza, a Renaissance village in the beautiful Val d’Orcia, which is a real jewel with its infinite alleys and harmonious and beautiful streets among the stone houses with wooden doors and flowered balconies. The most romantic streets are the Via del Bacio, the perfect scenery for souvenir photos with a wonderful panoramic viewpoint, the Via dell’Amore, the Via del Buia and the Via della Fortuna, an enchanting itinerary for lovers who want to dream walking in another dimension , the one chosen by Franco Zeffirelli to shoot some scenes of his film Romeo and Juliet. Pienza is in the province of Siena and in 1996 it was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco. In the Piazza del Duomo, couples of lovers also visit a well. Is it a wishing well? Who knows … some say yes.

Romantic escape to the Tuscan spa

Another romantic paradise in the splendid Val d’Orcia is the village of Bagno Vignoni in San Quirico d’Orcia (SI). In the heart of the village, Piazza delle Sorgenti, built in the 16th century, is a basin from which the thermal waters that have come from an underground stratum at a thousand meters of depth at a temperature of 49 ° have been flowing for more than two thousand years. They are rich in therapeutic properties with beneficial effects for bones, joints, circulation and skin. Here in the past illustrious personalities such as Santa Caterina da Siena and Lorenzo il Magnifico have come and even today the medieval village retains all its historical and naturalistic charm.

Romantic escape in the fairytale forest of Tuscany

In a secret place in the heart of the Garfagnana there is a small village that looks like an illustration of a fairy tale drawn on the green waters of a lake surrounded by chestnut woods. It is the ancient village of Isola Santa, a pristine jewel nestled in the natural paradise of the Apuan Alps Park. It is located in the province of Lucca in the municipality of Careggine and is composed of stone houses with slate roof. In the 2000s it was renovated with a building renovation intervention in respect of the environment and sustainable tourism. It was reborn as a popular hotel where you can stay overnight in one of the stone houses decorated with plants and flowers, after a walk to admire the village, or an excursion along the lake or on the paths to discover the natural beauty of the place, such as the caves.

The Path of Love on the Elba Island in Tuscany

Wear comfortable shoes and set sail towards the Island of Elba where in Rio Marina (LI) the Path of Love awaits all couples who are also in love with nature and the sea. It is a path for romantic walks in all months of the year and, depending on the seasons, you can be accompanied by the blooming of wild orchids, rosemary, lavender and wild chamomile. It starts from the Torre degli Appiani in Rio Marina and ends on the Ortano beach. Walking together, you will find various well-marked branches of the path that descend towards some beaches such as the Marina di Gennaro, Luisi d’Angelo and the Porticciolo and then reach the tip of Madonnella. About halfway along the path, a detour leads to the Observatory on Monte Fico after a somewhat demanding climb, but it is worth it because once you get there you are rewarded with an extraordinary panorama of the entire coast including Monte Giove.

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Christmas Markets Florence 2019 center

It starts with a classic, the Christmas market in Piazza Santa Croce, counted by international guides among those to visit absolutely in Florence, but the city calendar is enriched with appointments day after day, with themed initiatives and free admission: there is the American and charity bazaars, the benches of local artisans and extraordinary markets.
Officially it is called Heidelberger Weihnachtsmarkt, but for everyone it is simply the Christmas market in Piazza Santa Croce: also for this 2019 the typical houses arrive in the heart of Florence for a month of events. Pretzels, strudel, mulled wine, but also a lot of handicrafts from Northern Europe are the protagonists of this Christmas party, even with the Santa Claus house and initiatives for children.

Christmas Bazaar: American Christmas market in Florence

For many it is simply the “American Christmas market”: in Florence the Christmas Bazaar organized by the Ailo association – The American International League of Florence ODV returns to the suggestive nineteenth-century greenhouse of the Horticultural garden. The location of the Tepidarium del Roster, tested for the first time last year, is also confirmed for the 2019 edition.

American market Christmas Florence Ailo

From brownies to vintage clothes and toys, this is a traditional event for the holidays that has been taking place for 44 years now, much loved by Florentines and not only, where you can breathe the stars and stripes Christmas atmosphere. All proceeds from the event are donated to local voluntary associations.

Street markets in Florence: Christmas for File 2019

Among the Christmas markets in Florence, another regular event is the one with “Nataleperfile”, the charity event organized at Palazzo Corsini by the Italian Foundation of Leniterapia. The seventeenth edition takes place on the weekend of the Immaculate Conception, offering many gift ideas such as vintage clothes, quality productions and objects donated by local companies. There is also a space for children, with creative workshops.

Fierucola of the Immaculate in Piazza SS. Annunziata

Another traditional event in the calendar of Florentine Christmas markets is the Fierucola of the Immaculate in Piazza Santissima Annunziata which brings the stalls of local producers to the historic center. Space then for rural crafts, hand-made and zero-kilometer food, as well as voluntary associations. Under the loggia are planned weaving and self-construction games, open to children and adults.

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The leather jacket of a sailor, the skeleton of a man embraced by a dog, a jar of salted anchovies, a wooden box full of coins and medicines.
There is a story spanning nine centuries, made up of businesses and sailors, of routes and shipwrecks, navigations and life on board, remained entangled in the mud, in a network of canals not far from Pisa, sealed by the alluvial deposits over time. A story that will resume at the end of February and will be completely revealed to the public with the opening of the exhibit area of the Pisa Ship Museum, in an area of 4700 square meters inside the Medici Arsenals, built in the second half of the sixteenth century for will of Cosimo I.

Beginning of the excavation

The history of what was dubbed the “Pompeii of the sea” began in 1998, the year in which the excavator traced the outskirts of the ancient walls of the city during work at the Pisa San Rossore railway station. something unexpected. At about three meters of depth emerged the wrecks of thirty Roman ships (11 of which are intact) dating back to a period of time between the 2nd century BC and the 7th century BC, still filled with tableware and kitchenware, wooden shoes, objects of worship that sailors brought with them on dangerous journeys.
The great excavation site inaugurated following the discovery ended in 2016, at the end of a laborious work of archaeologists and restorers who recomposed the original mosaic of a fascinating history.

The museum with more than 800 exhibits

The exhibition inside the Medici Arsenals, which will cover the Roman ships of Pisa, will be different from that of the other museums. The aspect of the story will prevail. In addition to places, activities that revolved around ships will be reconstructed, the daily life on board. It will be a multimedia story that will take advantage of modern technology systems. Visitors will not only see the individual objects, but will come to know the stories, for example that of the sailor and his dog, whose skeletons have been found embraced one another. The completion of the exhibition and the expected opening will allow a certain regularity of visits. Next to the halls that will characterize the entire exhibiting part relating to the ships, there will also be the City Museum, the museum that Pisa still did not have.

The archeological site

During the excavation, the wrecks were freed from the ground according to the method typical of the archaeological excavation, and by fiberglass panels. To ensure the necessary humidity, a spray system was set up on the exhibits, designed for each boat. A new fiberglass shell was superimposed on this to preserve the boat during lifting, transport and planting. The boat, thus encapsulated, was fixed to a metal frame and then lifted and moved to the laboratory for restoration. The archaeological excavation has made it possible to recover several wooden objects.

A wonderful experience through 9 centuries of Pisa

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5. The churche of San Michele in Foro

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