LIVORNO - FLORENCE- LIVORNO
Driving Times by car and Minivan up to 8 seats + driver
- Livorno - Florence: 1h 1/2
- Florence - Livorno: 1h 1/2
Minibuses and buses often have to follow the regulations of the checkpoints in the more important Italian cities: Rome, Florence, Venice, Mantua, Montecatini, Pisa, Lucca, Siena, San Gimignano. This is an access tax to the major Italian towns of historical and artistic interest. It refers to every bus with 9 passengers + driver or more. Plase for more infos see the dedicated page in this website http://www.privatetuscanytours.com/en/Helpful-information/
We take 1h and half to reach Firenze, via la FI-PI-LI Superstrada (60 mls of distance by superstrada - Speed limit 90 km/h). Along the way your Driver-Guide or your Tour Assistant will give you general infos about the places you'll drive throught . Living Livorno, in direction of Florence , the Fi-Pi-Li Superstrada drives throught many important villages and towns: Pisa, Pontedera, Ponsacco, San Miniato, Santa Croce, Empoli, La Ginestra (the north-west of the Chianti area). Before arriving in Florence we must drive close to the industrial area of the city and next to Scandicci town. This is the faster way to reach the Tuscan capital. Florence is surrounded by the hills of Chianti and tha Appenins mountains . The Arno river is the longest of Tuscany . It runs in the middle of the city as in Pisa. Florence is the best exsample or Renaissance city, where Dante , Machiavelli and Michelangelo were born.
By Car or minivan (1-8 pax): Following an ipotetic plan of the day:
Piazzale Michelangelo where you can enjoy the best view of the city as a postcard. From there you can see very well all the hightlight of the city and have an idea on the size of the historical centre. Academy Gallery where the famous David of Michelangelo (with the reservation of the tickets made by PTT staff or by the clients themselves). You ll be accompain till the entrance of the Museum and your driver will be waiting for you outside the Academy Gallery.
Duomo Square where is the S.Maria del Fiore Cathedral and the Giotto Bell Tower. At the Cathedral your driver will arrange the meeting point for the afternoon and he will provide you maps to help you to orientate yourself in the centre of Florence. You ll have free time for lunch and than on your own.
From the Cathedral you can walk on your own along the Calzaiuoli street or throught Repubblica Square, Porta Rossa Street and the Straw Market , which is nowaday the secondary location of the Letaher Market , but originally there were sell items made in straw as hats and every other objects. Is also called the Piggy Market becouse of a famous bronze statue of a wild-boar and according to the legend if you touch its nose it brings good luck , this is why it has a shinning nose. Finally we reach the Signoria Square where is the majestic Signoria Palace, the cityhall, Loggia dei Lanzi ( like an open-air museum) and the Uffizi Museum. From there you walk along the river you can reach Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge or Gold Bridge). On the side of the bridge there are building were nowaday are jewellery store. Crossing the bridge you reach Pitti Square with the Impressive Pitti Palace , the last residence of Medici Family (after Medici Ricciardi Palace and Signoria Palace).All the area from The Cathedral to the Ponte Vecchio is very crowded and pedestrian zone, we can drive throght it but if there are not some particolar needs we tend to avoind driving there.
For the hight quality shopping Lovers in Florenze you can't miss Tornabuoni Street and Via della Vigna . The best shopping district where you can find the best Butiques of Gucci, Armani, Prada, YSL, Tiffany, Ferragamo.
On the other side we have San Lorenzo Market wich take place in the San Lorenzo Square and in the Mercato Nuovo Square. It is open all week long 8 am-8 pm except for monday. Don't forget Santa Church , the second important church of Florence where inside are the tombs of many of the most important artists, writers, poets, genius, as Machiavelli, Foscolo, Galileo Galilei and so on.
By Minibus or Bus ( more than 8 passengers): With big groups ( from 9 people to more) we always suggest to hire a Tour Assistant. In Florence Busses can reach the Train Station area and sometime a bit closer but is not guaranted. Busses can not get in the city centre of Florence. Drop-off place an pick- up place are always the same spot. To make things easyer. With the tour assistant you can have the orientation tour of the city. Please remind: if you like to have a deep guided tour of the city you must hire the Authorised guide of Florence. If you do not hire tour assistant and/or guides, the bus driver will provide you maps and his phone number.
Unfortunatelly we are at the end of the tour . You ll leave Florence on time to catch your cruise .
PTT Staff , during the planning of your tour will offer to make reservation for museums as Uffizi and Academy Gallery. We just provide the reservation . You ll pay directlly the tickets at the entrance of the museum. The Academy Gallery is a small museum so we can fit the visit of it in additional to the visit of a second town as Pisa after Florence. For the Uffizi museum (being the 3rd biggest museum in Europe ) you need at least 3h to visit it and so we suggest to not add the visit of this museum with Pisa or some other activity but Florence. In additional to the visit of Florence we can include a stop on the way in a local winery of then Chianti area and PTT staff can book for you the wine tastingand the visit of the estate.
