Private Tour: Day Trip to Florence and Pisa from Rome with Lunch
Description
Uncover the art, history, and iconic landmarks of Florence and Pisa on this unforgettable guided tour! Explore the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, walk along medieval streets and admire the work of masters of Italian art, such us Brunelleschi's Dome on the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. After a 1.5 hours scenic train ride from Rome, you will meet your local tour guide in Florence train station and your journey will begin! Our expert tour guide will give you insights about the rich history and culture of the "cradle of the Renaissance". Enjoy a typical Italian lunch in a restaurant (if the option is chosen) and then get ready to discover Pisa! Take a picture in front of the world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa (one of Italy's most famous landmarks and one of the most photographed towers in the world!) and admire the breathtaking Piazza dei Miracoli. Make your day special with this small-group trip, the best way to make your trip unforgettable!
Tour Options
Itinerary
Brief stop
The Ponte Vecchio is a medieval stone arch bridge over the Arno river. The only bridge in Florence spared from destruction during World War II, it is noted for the shops built along it. Butchers, tanners, and farmers initially occupied the shops; the present tenants are jewellers and art dealers.
The Cathedral was erected between 1418 and 1434. The dome of Brunelleschi is the cover of the cruise of the Cathedral of Florence; at the time of construction was the largest dome in the world and still remains the largest dome in masonry ever built. A masterpiece capable of withstanding lightning, earthquakes and the passage of time, it continues to enchant all those who observe it from afar.
The Florence Baptistery, also known as the Baptistery of Saint John is a religious octagonal building in Florence and has the status of a minor basilica. It is one of the most ancient churches in Florence.
Piazza della Signoria, an L-shaped square, is located halfway between the Duomo and the River Arno. Together with the Palazzo della Signoria( Palazzo Vecchio) it has been the center of political life in Florence since the 14th century. In the square we can see many sculptures, among them The David (the original is in the Galleria dell'Accademia) by Michelangelo, Bandinelli's Hercules and Cacus, The Nettuno (1575) by Ammannati etc.
Giotto's bell tower is one of the four principal monuments on the Piazza del Duomo. It is the most eloquent example of 14th century Gothic architecture in Florence.
Pisa Cathedral is a medieval Roman Catholic cathedral dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, in the Piazza dei Miracoli. It is the oldest of the three structures in the plaza. The cathedral is a notable example of Romanesque architecture, in particular the style known as Pisan Romanesque. Consecrated in 1118, it is the seat of the Archbishop of Pisa.
The Piazza dei Miracoli is a compound in central Pisa, recognized as an important center of European medieval art and one of the finest architectural complexes in the world. It was all owned by the Catholic Church and is dominated by four great religious edifices: Pisa Cathedral, the Pisa Baptistery, the Leaning Tower of Pisa (the cathedral's campanile or bell tower), and the Camposanto Monumentale ('Monumental Cemetery'). Partly paved and partly grassed, the Piazza dei Miracoli is also the site of the Ospedale Nuovo di Santo Spirito ('New Hospital of the Holy Spirit'), which now houses the Sinopias Museum (Museo delle Sinopie) and the Cathedral Museum (Museo dell'Opera del Duomo).
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the campanile, or freestanding bell tower, of Pisa Cathedral. It is known for its nearly four-degree lean, the result of an unstable foundation. The tower is one of three structures in the Pisa's Cathedral Square (Piazza del Duomo), which includes the cathedral and Pisa Baptistry. The tower began to lean during construction in the 12th century, due to soft ground which could not properly support the structure's weight. It worsened through the completion of construction in the 14th century. By 1990, the tilt had reached 5.5 degrees.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pickup is included for all accommodation within Aurelian Walls. If your hotel is not in the list send us an email with your hotel /B&B/accomodation in Rome, we will let you know if the pick up is included. Our driver will take you to Termini train station.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- It is recommended to wear comfortable shoes
- Please provide your accommodation’s information at the time of booking (name, address)
- The day before we'll send a mail with exact time pick up and train tickets
- Please provide the names of all travellers
Reviews(64)
Driver was the guide. He was helpful and I could understand him to talk to. Showed us interesting information in Florence and also Pisa. Was a very long day and he even showed us some of the sights of Rome when taking us back to the hotel. The reason I would not recommend to a freind is that for Elderly it is a very long way. For younger people ,no worries.
Thank you for your detailed feedback. We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your guide and appreciated the information shared throughout Florence and Pisa, as well as the extra sights of Rome on the way back to your hotel. We understand that this is a full-day experience and can be quite demanding, especially for elderly travelers. We always recommend that guests consider the duration and amount of walking involved before booking. We're grateful for your honest comments and are pleased that, overall, you had a positive experience. We hope to welcome you on another tour in the future!
Quick trip to Pisa and Florence. The Pisa portion was without a tour guide, just go take pictures. It would have been nice to know that entry to the tower requires advance purchase of tickets. The guided tour of central Florence was good. Tour guide was funny and helpful with any questions. The square was jam packed with tourists, making following the guide difficult at times. For a quick bite, this was an okay tour.
Thank you for your review
Ali, our tour guides very personable and friendly. Show us the general Highpoint of each stop and then let us go on our own. Only Regret is the boat leaves too early.
Thank you for your nice review
I only give this a three star because the van was old and the air conditioning didn’t work well so the 3 of us the were sitting in the back sweat was just dripping off of us and the shocks were terrible. Our diver Ivano and our tour guide Felice were great. They tried the best they could to get us cooled down in the back and tried their best to make our day memorable.
Hello dear customer, we are sorry to read about this review. We confirm that the AC was working properly, however as per the Italian laws we cannot have AC at less than 21°C.
It was canceled because it didn't meet the minimum number of participants. I was very disappointed and had to scramble last minute to find something
we told you two days before that we had not reached the minimum number, you replied that it was not a problem and you put a negative review? I am sorry for this review because we do our job with the utmost professionalism and you are not evaluating our tour since you did not do it, it does not depend on us if we do not reach the number of participants. we have not created a problem or an inconvenience for you since we warned you in time
It was great having a knowledgeable person who could assure that we were receiving a fair deal in the shops and restaurants.
Thank you for your nice review!
The transportation was in a small van with broken A/C. The tour guide had no guided aids and was hard to hear. He was nice and very helpful in navigating through Florence and took us to a nice restaurant for lunch.
Hello, we are sorry to read this review as it give incorrect information. All our vans have working A/C, however we cannot (as per the Italian laws and regulations) have it on less than 21 °C. As per guided aids, we specify in our product description that we do not offer them, and that is because we only do small group tours (you group was indeed only a few people). We encourage you to carefully read any product description before purchasing it.
Bad car, bad driver, bad experience, bad communication. It was a bad experience for me For the first communication with the operator was so bad, the car was old and had Small chairs for this long trip
We were in near accidents twice. Our driver Hugo, was a very reckless driver. He crashed the car twice on our way back from Pisa, Italy. First time was when he pulled over into a gas station and crashed the front of the car into the curb. Although the crash was minor, it was bad enough to rattle us. The next time was during the long drive in the highway, he swiped the side of the car onto the railing of the road. He was speeding at the time when it was rainy and dark. He said that the vehicle was ‘not good’ and so we were scared that the car might not be safe to drive. He was driving us alone without a guide with him, and he spoke very little English so it was hard to communicate with him. On top of that, our local guide in Florence was 30 minutes late and so we were rushed for time during the tour in Florence, and what was supposed to be a 2 hour tour was reduced to 1 1/2 hours.
The biggest problem with this tour was distance. Pisa is about 4 hours from Rome, and Florence 3. So for our nearly 10 hour day was over 8 hours in transit. When we got to Pisa there was no guide. We were on our own, but with barely an hour to explore there was little time to do much beyond look at the tower. This was unfortunate, as the site had multiple other things to see - including a basilica. But each required you to pay (even the restroom), so you didn’t want to gamble on waiting in line for tickets you could not use. I think that between 1/2 day and a full day might be enough time for Pisa, depending upon how interested you are in the local history. There is much to see even on the site. Did have some yummy pizza at a restaurant out by the souvenir shops (on your left as you walk toward the entrance). Lunch was supposed to be included but was not, so good thing we snacked! Florence was beautiful, and our guide was fantastic. I did not catch his name unfortunately, but he was from Pakistan, was a student, had lived in Italy for several years, and was very knowledgeable and pleasant. We had about 1.5 hours - would have loved more time. This tour might be fine starting from closer to (or in) Pisa or Florence, and it’s at least partly my fault for not looking at a map. However, at $500 for two people I think I would have done better to leave our stuff in Rome, rent a second hotel room for one or two nights in Pisa or Florence, traveled by train, and connected with local guides. The cost would have been comparable and we would not have been anywhere near as rushed. But travel is like that. Live and learn!
