Full Day in Florence

After boarding your comfortable transportation, you will make your way on a scenic journey to Florence, approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes away. Upon arrival in Florence you will meet your friendly guide who will accompany you for approximately the next 3 hours before allowing you free time for self-exploration.

In the Piazza Duomo you will see the famous cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Our Lady of the Flower), the most famous structure of Florentine quattrocento and icon of the city. The oldest part of Piazza Duomo is a baptistery of St. John the Baptist, holy patron of Florence. The complex of the square includes the beautiful and famous Paradise Door and Giotto's bell tower.

Continue with a walk through the medieval heart of Florence discovering the area where Dante was born. There are so many remarkable and picturesque places to view along your way such as Republic Square, Orsanmichele Church and the famous Piglet Market. Florence's old covered Straw Market dates to the 11th century but has been called the New Market since 1551, when it became shaded by a lovely Renaissance loggia. It still has a stall or two selling the straw hats and bags for which it was once famous, but mostly it's tourist souvenirs now. For such a relatively small market, it has many nicknames. Most Florentines call it the Mercato del Porcellino, or Market of the Little Pig, after the bronze statue of a boar on the south side, a Renaissance copy by Pietro Tacca (Giambologna's student) of an ancient work in the Uffizi. Rub his shiny snout for good luck, no visit to Florence is complete until you have.

You will also visit Plazza della Signoria which was the center of the people's political life during the times of the Florentine Republic. The statues that decorate this square are most unique as they are the only representation of allegorical statue cycles in the world. You will see here statues of Judith, Neptune, Hercules and the most famous replica of David.

Among the sculptures of the open-air museum, Loggia del Lanzi, are the statues of Perseus with the head of the Medusa by Cellini, the Kidnapping of the Sabines by Giambologna and many others.

Afterwards, take a stroll along the oldest bridge in this ancient and historic city, the Ponte Vecchio, the only medieval bridge in Florence today. This area provides one of the best places in Florence to find memorable souvenirs of all kinds.

You will have some free time on your own after your guide has conducted their tour, the guide will help to instruct you where and when to be to find your return transportation back to your ship in Livorno at the end of the day.