Thanks to its location and its close proximity to Pisa airport, Livorno is the only true “Gateway to Tuscany.” From Livorno, tourists can easily reach many cities famous for their art, such as Lucca, Pisa, Florence, and Siena.

Lucca

Lucca is perhaps the only Italian city entirely enclosed by medieval walls, which helped to save the historic center from modern urbanization. The city walls, which are 4,200 meters long, are unrivaled in Europe. Various historic strata are visible; the earliest dating back to the Romans in the 2nd century B.C. Visitors can take a leisurely bicycle ride along the over 4km of wall to admire the various sites and monuments around the city. The narrow streets of the town provide the perfect opportunity to lose oneself while shopping for good deals in typical artisans’ shops for handcrafted silver and jewelry, and at the same time, admire the city’s countless works of art. In the center of Lucca there are about one hundred marvelous churches, which are full of works of art but are also in and of themselves true masterpieces, such as the Duomo di San Martino (St. Martin’s Cathedral), the Church of San Michele and the Church of San Ferdinando. Prominent works of art include “The Last Supper” by Jacopo Tintoretto (Church of San Martino), as well as the works by Pontorno, Bronzino, Beccafumi, and Reni. There are also splendid towers such as the striking Giunigi Tower and the Clock Tower (Torre delle Ore). In addition to visiting the historic town center, the province of Lucca should not be overlooked. It offers many other interesting places such as the villas which were the summer residences of wealthy 16th century families, such Villa Torrigiani, Villa Reale and Villa Mansi.

Events: Among the various events that take place in Lucca are: in autumn, Italy’s biggest comics and role-play games exhibition “Lucca Comics & Games”; during the winter there is Carnevale di Viareggio, one of the largest and most famous carnivals in Italy, with masks and allegorical parades; in summer don’t miss the ”Puccini Festival” at Torre del Lago which presents the works of Giacomo Puccini. Big names in both Italian and international music come to participate in The “Lucca Summer Festival”, which takes place in the historic town centre. An antique market is held on the third Saturday and Sunday of every month all year round.

Pisa

Pisa is without a doubt one of the most important cultural centers in Italy, famous throughout the world for its art. The most important monuments are found in Piazza dei Miracoli. Here one can admire the Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta (The Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption), the famous Leaning Tower, the Baptistery, the Gallery which surrounds the Monumental Cemetery and the Cappella Del Pozzo, all of which were built in white marble by Carrara. The Cathedral Museum houses not only treasures from the Cathedral itself but also works of art from various churches throughout the city. The Domus Galileana, where Galileo Galilei is said to have lived, is also to be found in Pisa. Piazza del Cavalieri, one of Pisa’s most important squares, should not be missed. The square is surrounded by beautiful buildings, one of which is the Palazzo dei Cavalieri, the home of the Normale Superiore,” a school founded by Napoleon in 1810. Today the school is a very prestigious university attended by the most gifted students. The “San Rossore” Natural Park, a WWF and LIPU protected area, which extends over 24,000 hectares and includes the Migliarino, San Rossore, Coltano and Tombolo estates, lies just a few kilometers outside the city. Of great interest for its environment and landscape, the park can be visited on horseback, by bicycle, by horse-drawn carriage with horses bred in the park or by small train. There are also boat trips on Lago di Massaciuccoli, which is part of the natural park

EVENTS: There are many traditional events, above all in June. The most evocative is without a doubt the Luminaria di San Ranieri on June 16th. More than seventy thousand small wax candles in glasses called “lampanini” are lit and placed in white holders called “biancheria” which outline the windows and doors of all the buildings along the River Arno. The river is also filled with small floating candles that are slowly carried by the current, creating a spectacular and fascinating play of light. The evening concludes with a great firework display.

Florence

Florence, Firenze or Florentia is certainly one of the most beautiful cities not only in Tuscany but in all of Italy, known worldwide for its great concentration of works of art by celebrated artists who over the centuries left their indelible mark and a legacy of inestimable value. The city of the Renaissance and Italian art is full of many unique tourist attractions, with the following being some of the most significant.
Piazza della Signoria is the heart of the city; from here one can easily reach the main museums, the Ponte Vecchio, and the greatest basilicas in Florence. The city’s most important buildings face each other across the square. Palazzo Vecchio, situated in Piazza della Signoria was once was the Medici family residence and is now the seat of the city council.
Ponte Vecchio is the oldest bridge in Florence, and the only one to have been spared bombardment during WWII. Today it is famous for its ancient goldsmith’s and jewellers’ shops and is crossed by thousands of tourists every day.
Palazzo Pitti, situated close to Piazza della Signoria and the Ponte Vecchio, was built for the Pitti family in 1457. It later became the Medici family residence and today is the site of important museums such as the Palatina Gallery, which houses works of art by Rubens, Caravaggio and Tiziano.
The Uffizi Gallery: one of the most important museums in the world. The Uffizi Gallery is usually one of the first places tourist plans to visit in Florence. The museum is located in a building designed by Giorgio Vasari for Cosimo I de Medici in the 16th century, and contains a magnificent collection of paintings by celebrated artists such as Botticelli, Michelangelo, Leonardo, Caravaggio, and Rafael.
Il Duomo di Santa Maria del Fiore (The Cathedral): the cathedral is located in the square of the same name in the heart of Florence’s historic center. Construction began in 1296 and finished in the 15th century when Brunelleschi’s stupendous dome was completed. Inside there are precious works of art by Andrea del Castagno, Donatello, Paolo Uccello, and Luca della Robbia.
Il Battistero di San Giovanni (Saint John’s Baptistry): is in Piazza del Duomo, directly in front of the Cathedral. Inside is the Buffalmacco’s famous fresco of The Last Judgment which inspired Michelangelo’s frescos in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel. The Baptistery is famous for the Porta del Paradiso (Door to Paradise), made in gold by Lorenzo Ghilberti in the 15th century.

Many traditional events take place every year: "The Entry of the Magi" (La cavalcata dei Re Magi) in the historic center on January 6th commemorates an old tradition from the 15th century.
"Lo Scoppio del Carro" is celebrated on Easter Sunday in Piazza Duomo; at noon, a dove-shaped rocket is fired from the main altar and hits a carriage to set off fireworks; "La Fiorita per Fra’ Girolamo Savonarola" takes place on May 23rd in Piazza della Signoria, in memory of the monk; Il Calcio Storico Fiorentino is held in June in Piazza Santa Croce. More than 500 actors and players gather in historical 16th century costume to participate in a very rough game of football. I Fuochi di San Giovanni (Saint John’s Fireworks), a pyrotechnic show on June 24th. La Festa della Rificolona, a celebration for children on September 7th when they carry lanterns called “rificolone” around the streets and squares. La Festa del Grillo (Cricket Festival) on Ascension Sunday. Cascine Park comes to life with a market where crickets are sold in brightly colored cages.
The city also offers concerts, theatre and a vast variety of cultural shows.

Siena

Siena is a fascinating city, rich in art, architecture, monuments and museums. Known for its characteristic narrow streets and dead-ends, Siena’s traditions, first and foremost being the Palio, and its typical cake Panforte, are famous throughout the world. Siena is home to the University and the area where Sienese Chianti is produced. It contains many precious works of art by great masters including Donatello, Pinturicchio, Beccafumi, Federico Zuccari, Jacopo della Quercia and many others. Must-sees include the cathedral (il Duomo), the Torre del Mangia, the Campo (Siena’s main square), l’Ospedale della Scala, Palazzo Pubblico and the many churches.
The province is filled with many wonderful places to visit, such as San Gimignano, famous for its beautiful towers, rich history and art, and lush green surroundings. Montepulciano, surrounded by a 16th century wall, is known for its impressive Renaissance buildings and its “noble wine.” On a hill 567 meters above sea level is Montalcino, the home of Brunello, one of the most famous red wines in the world. Don’t miss Monteriggioni where time seems to stand still. Its castle was built in 1213 and its surrounding walls stretch about 570 meters, with 14 towers and 2 entrances.

Events: Siena is busy throughout the year preparing for the Palio, a major event organized by the city council. The Palio takes place twice a year, July 2nd (Palio di Provenzano) and August 16th (Palio dell’Assunta). It is an extremely competitive and exciting horse race. Each “contrada”, or district of Siena is assigned a horse and after 3 days of trials, during which time the jockeys become familiar with their horses, the main race, the Palio, takes place. It consists of 3 laps around the square, Piazza del Campo, on a racetrack of tufa. The winner is the contrada whose horse arrives first at the finish line, with or without jockey.