Experience the Best of Florence and Pisa

Escape the crowded 50-person cruise line tours on this exclusive Best of Florence and Pisa tour. With a group size maximum of only 35 guests (and often less) you will enjoy a very personalized excursion experience.

At the beginning of your excursion leaving from Livorno, you will be met by your driver after a short shuttle ride from the pier, and then climb aboard your air-conditioned vehicle for the 30-minute drive to Pisa.

Upon arrival in Pisa, you will walk from the parking area to the Field of Miracles, where you will have free time for photos. The walk is approximately 15-20 minutes each way. You will have approximately 1 hour in Pisa to see sites like the Leaning Tower, the Cathedral, and the Baptistery on your own. Admission to the sites is not included in the price of your tour.

Your guide will then lead you to your transportation and bid you farewell before you and your driver depart to Florence. As you leave the flat plains near the sea, you will start to drive through the rolling hills of Tuscany.

Upon arrival in Florence, you will drive to the city's historical area, which is predominately pedestrian. During your first stop on your walking tour, you will be able to view the Piazza del Duomo. The Florence Duomo is dedicated to Santa Maria del Fiore and is typical of Italian Gothic architecture. Arnolfo di Cambio designed the present building. The Cupola remained unfinished, and was finally completed in 1436. It is the most characteristic feature of the Florentine skyline, symbolizing a great cultural tradition and the city's civic awareness. You will also see the outside of the Baptistery adjacent to the Duomo.

You will continue your walking tour at the Piazza della Signoria, which has been the political heart of the city from the Middle Ages to the present day. The piazza is named after the most important monument there, Palazzo della Signoria, designed in 1298-99 for the seat of the Republican government and which was later to host the Gonfaloniere of Justice and the Priors of the Arts.

Close by the Piazza della Signoria you will visit the Ponte Vecchio, the oldest bridge, which crosses the Arno at its widest point. It dates back to Roman times and has been re-built on several occasions. After the flooding of 1333, it was re-constructed with a double row of shops, passing from a defensive type of architecture to the current public one. In 1565, the east-facing Vasariano Corridor above the shops was built and the back-shops were added in the 17th century, giving the bridge its modern-day structure.

You will then have approximately 45 minutes to have a quick lunch on your own or do a little shopping.

After the break, you will have a quick visit to the Square of Santa Croce (Holy Cross), one of Florence's largest squares, and traditionally one of the city's main arenas for ceremonials and festivities. At the far end, you will be able to see the exterior of the Basilica of Santa Croce, one of the largest churches in the city, and the burial place of many of Florence's most illustrious citizens including Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei, Vittorio Alfieri, and Gioacchino Rossini.

Please Note: If fewer than nine people are on your Florence and Pisa tour, you will travel in a small vehicle and your tour will be led by a guide who is also your driver. If more than nine people are on your tour, you will travel in a van or minibus that will include a separate driver and a guide for the Florence touring portion. Crowds are to be expected at all sites.

Exclusive Monte Carlo, Eze and La Turbie

Departing from the cruise pier in Monte Carlo with your driver/guide and a group of no more than eight, you will drive to the hilltop medieval village of Eze, approximately 30 minutes away. During the drive, your driver/guide will point out what you are seeing. A stop will be made to take photos of this charming village clinging to the cliffside with its magnificent views overlooking the French Riviera. There will also be approximately 30 minutes for those brave enough to make the climb.

A stop will be made to visit the nearby Eze perfume factory, Fragonard, which has been producing scents for more than three generations.

A scenic drive will be taken through the hillside village of La Turbie, with its Trophy of the Alps, and scenic landscape.

Then, drive to the luxurious Principality of Monaco, where you will drive directly to the old town and enjoy an exterior visit to the Royal Prince Palace before walking to the Cathedral, where you will have an interior visit. You will then drive to the Casino Square and make a brief stop for photos of the exterior of the casino and enjoy time to view the gardens. This will be followed with a drive along a portion of the Monte Carlo Grand Prix circuit, as you make your way back to the pier area.

Please Note: Due to crowds or traffic, the order of the tour of the sites visited may differ.

Exclusive Aix En Provence and Marseille

Departing the pier in Marseille with your group of no more than 30 guests, oftentimes smaller, you will drive from the coast to the charming city of Aix en Provence, (Aix) approximately 50 minutes drive away. Along the way, your driver/guide will give you information about the area and the town you will be visiting. Aix, the former medieval capital of Provence, was founded in 123 BC by the Romans and boasts elegant 16 - 18th century architecture, wide tree-lined boulevards, charming cafes, and shopping opportunities. You will soon see why it was a place of inspiration for artists such as Cezanne and writers including Hemingway.

Upon arrival, you will be dropped off next to the Rotonde Square where the Rotunda Fountain, erected in 1860 and the largest in the city, is located. From here, it is a short walk to the Cours Mirabeau, the city's "Main" street. You will have approximately 3 hours 30 minutes of free time during which you will be able to stroll through the Old Town and see such sites as the stunning 12th-century cathedral Saint-Sauveur, with architecture styles from the 5th to 17th century. The Hotel de Ville, a classical style building from the middle of the 17th century, overlooks the place de l'Hotel de Ville square, a wonderful place for watching the locals. At its side rises a clock-tower first built in 1510. Other buildings of note include the ornately decorated former Corn Exchange (17th century), the 1705 spa built near the remains of the ancient Roman baths of Sextius.

South of the Cours Mirabeau is the Quartier Mazarin. This residential district was constructed for the gentry of Aix in the last half of the 17th century and contains several notable grand townhouses. Here you can also find the Church of Saint-Jean-de-Malte (13th century) and the Musee Granet, devoted to European painting and sculpture.

Aix is often referred to as the city of a thousand fountains, as you will begin to see as you walk down the Cours Mirabeau. During your stroll, you may see the 17th century Fontaine des Quatre Dauphins (Fountain of the Four Dolphins) in the Quartier Mazarin, as well as other fountains of note in the Place d'Albertas and the Place des Trois-Ormeaux. Some date back to the Romans.

Nestled in between all this charming architecture are the markets, galleries, antique emporiums, and cafes. During your free time, you may want to enjoy lunch (not included) at a cafe or restaurant of your choice. If you find one of the numerous markets taking place every day in the center of the city, you may wish to just snack your way through it.

Departing Aix, you will drive to the seaside city of Marseille. Here your driver will take you on a panoramic drive through the city. A 20 minute stop will be made at Notre-Dame de la Garde Hill to either take a quick look at the basilica or to take pictures of the panoramic view over the city, harbor, Frioul islands and Castle. Your drive will continue on the Corniche Road along the seashore, where the merchants and bourgeois from the 19th century showed off their wealth with magnificent houses featuring ostentatious decorations and features. A photo stop will also be made at Saint-Victor Abbey before going back to the cruise pier.

Exclusive Pompeii and Amalfi Coast

Departing from the Maritime Station cruise pier in groups of never more than 30 people max, you will meet your guide and your driver, who take you on an approximately 45 minute drive along the road that follows the Bay of Naples towards Mount Vesuvius and the ancient City of Pompeii, which lies in its shadow. Ironically, one of the ancient world's worst disasters preserved time in Pompeii, where you will experience life as it was lived in 79 AD. Once a thriving empire, it was devastated by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD when 30 feet of volcanic ash and pumice stone covered the city.

Upon arrival in Pompeii, you will enter by one of its ancient gates, and a short walk will take you to the city's hub, the Forum. Surrounded by lavish temples and porticoes, you'll begin to grasp the lifestyle of the inhabitants. Admire the mansions and the art of wealthy patricians who moved to Pompeii to escape the turmoil of Rome; view countless paintings and inscriptions. See the streets with raised pavements on both sides and the stepping-stones that ensured pedestrians a safe crossing at intersections. Your guided visit to Pompeii is approximately 2 hours.

After your visit to Pompeii sit back and appreciate about a 40 minute drive to the door of Amalfi Coast: Vietri sul Mare, the picturesque seaside resort situated on top of a hill facing Amalfi Coast. It is one of the most popular holiday resorts in Italy. You will have approximately two hours to yourself in Vietri to buy lunch, shop, take pictures, or stroll the narrow streets and several churches on your own. You will then drive back to Naples.

Please Note: The entrance fee to Pompeii is included in the tour price; however, all guests must present a valid photo ID on the day of the tour. Crowds are to be expected at all sites and lines for certain attractions may exceed over one hour to enter. The tour itinerary may be reversed but will still cover the mentioned sights. Heavy traffic congestion should be anticipated and may affect the duration of the excursion. On select days or holidays, heavy delays in traffic may contribute to a change of itinerary at the operator's discretion. Your tour of the ruins is guided.