Pisa to Florence

Italy Tour: Pisa to Florence

After two nights in Rome, our motor coach took us on the highway north through beautiful countryside. Our first attraction was the leaning tower of Pisa, followed by an overnight stay in the walled city of Lucca (230 miles north of Rome). The next day we visited quaint San Gimignano, Siena and the Verrazzano Castle winery before reaching Florence, with 120 miles of scenic travel. We would stay two nights in Florence, and our photos from this city are in the next link.

We were never quite sure what these beautiful yellow fields were, but we think they may have been mustard.

Moat people have seen photos of the leaning tower, but it is striking to see it first-hand, 180 feet high, and nearly 15 feet off perpendicular.

Engineers and architects from around the world have tried to solve the problem, but we imagine if they did all the tourists would stop coming!

Look closely at the foundation ring. The left photo shows five courses, and the right one only two. What a tilt!

After a while, we all began to tilt!

Margy and others do their best to try to straighten things out.

By afternoon we reached the walled city of Lucca, a scenic town in the Tuscan region of Italy.

The next morning we stopped in what the guide book described as "the most picturesque of Italy's perfectly preserved medieval towns."

Even our only day of rain on the tour did not stop our enthusiasm to explore this beautiful little village.

Wild boar are common in the woodlands and stores!

We explored the sloped and winding passageways of this old town.

Though we ended a bit wetter than we began, we still had fun here stepping back in time.

The next stop that day was a leisurely lunch break in Siena. This Plazza del Campo serves as the theater of the biannual Palio, Siena's spectacular medieval-style horse race. Can you imagine thundering horses racing around this slippery stone surfaced plaza?

Traveling north from Siena to Florence along the Chianti Road, we stopped at the Verrazzano Castle. Four types of grapes are blended to make their famous Chiante.

Giovanni da Verrazzano, celebrated navigator and discoverer of the bay of New York and the majority of the east coast of America, was born here in 1485. The famous bridge in New York was named after him in 1964.

We had a tour of their wine cellar, and enjoyed a wine tasting event with flavorful snacks.

After our day of touring we arrived at our hotel in Florence, April 23rd, where Artie had a surprise birthday cake presented to him at dinner. What a great way to top off the day.

The next day we would tour Florence, including seeing Michelangelo's statue of David. We also visit gold and leather shops, catch up on laundry, and Sherry and Stewart take in an optional dinner tour in this old city. Continue with the link below to see the details.

A day in Florence

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		After two nights in Rome, our motor coach took us on the highway north through beautiful countryside. Our first attraction was the leaning tower of Pisa, followed by an overnight stay in the walled city of Lucca (230 miles north of Rome). The next day we visited quaint San Gimignano, Siena and the Verrazzano Castle winery before reaching Florence, with 120 miles of scenic travel. We would stay two nights in Florence, and our photos from this city are in the next link.


We were never quite sure what these beautiful yellow fields were, but we think they may have been mustard.


Moat people have seen photos of the leaning tower, but it is striking to see it first-hand, 180 feet high, and nearly 15 feet off perpendicular.


		Engineers and architects from around the world have tried to solve the problem, but we imagine if they did all the tourists would stop coming!


Look closely at the foundation ring. The left photo shows five courses, and the right one only two. What a tilt!


		Margy and others do their best to try to straighten things out.


By afternoon we reached the walled city of Lucca, a scenic town in the Tuscan region of Italy.


		The next morning we stopped in what the guide book described as "the most picturesque of Italy's perfectly preserved medieval towns." Even our only day of rain on the tour did not stop our enthusiasm to explore this beautiful little village.

		We explored the sloped and winding passageways of this old town.

Though we ended a bit wetter than we began, we still had fun here stepping back in time.


		The next stop that day was a leisurely lunch break in Siena. This Plazza del Campo serves as the theater of the biannual Palio, Siena's spectacular medieval-style horse race. Can you imagine thundering horses racing around this slippery stone surfaced plaza?


Traveling north from Siena to Florence along the Chianti Road, we stopped at the Verrazzano Castle. Four types of grapes are blended to make their famous Chiante.

		Giovanni da Verrazzano, celebrated navigator and discoverer of the bay of New York and the majority of the east coast of America, was born here in 1485. The famous bridge in New York was named after him in 1964.

After our day of touring we arrived at our hotel in Florence, April 23rd, where Artie had a surprise birthday cake presented to him at dinner. What a great way to top off the day. The next day we would tour Florence, including seeing Michelangelo's statue of David. We also visit gold and leather shops, catch up on laundry, and Sherry and Stewart take in an optional dinner tour in this old city. Continue with the link below to see the details.