28 May 2025|Florence and Pisa Tour
From the outset, I knew today was going to be a whirlwind of two fantastic places and fun. We left the port of Livorno, on our official ‘Sights and Selfies’ tour and travelled first to Florence.
As we approached on the tour bus, my first glimpse of the city revealed why so many fall in love with it. Our first stop was Piazza Santa Croce, a lively square steeped in history. Here, we had a quick lesson in selfie sticks and iPhone timers before taking in the beauty of the Basilica di Santa Croce, a stunning Gothic church that houses the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli. The square was dotted with market stalls selling leather goods, souvenirs, and local crafts.
After wandering through the fantastic leather shops, we had a free gelato included in our trip. I opted for a tiramisu-flavoured gelato, which tasted as good as I thought it would.
Next, we strolled through the main streets to the heart of the city, arriving at the Baptistery of San Giovanni, famous for its magnificent dome and the Gates of Paradise, a set of gilded bronze doors designed by Lorenzo Ghiberti. The reliefs on the doors revealed scenes from the Old Testament and are considered masterpieces of Renaissance art. I could have spent a long time looking at each image.
From there, we made our way to Piazza della Signoria, home to the Palazzo Vecchio and an impressive collection of statues, including a replica of Michelangelo’s David and the striking Perseus with the Head of Medusa, by Benvenuto Cellini. Maybe more importantly, I even discovered a wine window, a quirky remnant of Florence’s past where noble families once sold wine directly from their homes. A very handy window to find!
Then, we headed to Centro Storico, where we were treated to more breathtaking views of the Ponte Vecchio, Florence’s iconic medieval bridge lined with jewellery shops. Just as I had imagined, the scene was postcard-perfect. The streets of Florence were full of tourists, and I’d recommend avoiding the city in the height of summer if you prefer this experience without the heat.
For lunch, we returned to Piazza Santa Croce and enjoyed a delicious, authentic pizza with a glass of wine before heading to our final stop in Florence.
We travelled up to Piazzale Michelangelo, a hilltop terrace with panoramic views of the city. The sight of Florence’s skyline, with the Duomo and Palazzo Vecchio rising above the rooftops, was incredible—a perfect final photo stop and memory stop.
Pisa
The journey to Pisa took around an hour, passing by the airport, which is apparently just a 30-minute walk from the city centre. Ideal for anyone who wants to do a day trip from the UK. On arrival, we found a scattering of cafés, shops, and stalls, plus a McDonald’s, of course!
Once through the gate in the ancient city walls, the Piazza dei Miracoli was immediately in front, With the Cathedral of Pisa and its famous Leaning Tower. At this point, photo opportunities were in overdrive—I saw people balancing on benches, holding empty ice cream cones, and even doing handstands to create the perfect fun tower photo. To be honest, once these photos were taken, there wasn’t much else to do. I stopped for a refreshing and strong limoncello shot, before heading back to the tour bus.
All in all, it was a day of contrasts—two completely different experiences in one morning and an afternoon. Florence left me longing to return, as I barely scratched the surface. Pisa was fun, but for me, it’s officially ticked off the list.
A similar excursion 👇
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