Friday April 15th, 2011
Like all car trips, we leave early in the morning and around 10am we arrive in Lucca. We park the car, we walk to Town Hall, Palazzo Mansi, S. Pellegrino, S. Maria Corteorlandini, S. Salvatore, Piazza dei Mercanti, Palazzo Pfanner and arrive at S. Frediano.
After the visit we go to the nearby Amphitheater and, shortly, we go up the Guinigi Tower to see the landscape. Then some other churches until we reach S. Michele in Foro and the Pretorio palace. After lunch we visit S. Giovanni e Reparata and Duomo S. Martino.
Before leaving the city, still some churches: S. Maria delle Rose, S. Maria Forisportam, S. Pietro Somaldi. And finally, visit Palazzo Mansi.
Next destination: Pisa. We have some difficulties getting to our hotel due to the restricted traffic areas, but it is in a great location, close to the Leaning Tower. First we visit the Camposanto, then climb up the tower and last visit the Cathedral.
For dinner we go near S. Frediano, passing from Piazza dei Cavalieri and from the university. Before going to sleep we walk a bit to take photos with lights.
Saturday April 16th, 2011
The next day we continue to visit the city. We go again to the Leaning Tower to take more photos taking advantage of the beautiful sunny day. Then many churches: S. Stefano dei Cavalieri, SS. Felice and Regolo, S. Cecilia, S. Paolo all’Orto, S. Francesco.
We arrive at Galileo’s house and then we cross the Lungarno on both shores. Then we reach Santa Maria della Spina where we go on to the Benedictine convent, S. Paolo a Ripa d’Arno and crossing the Arno, the Guelfa Tower and the Arsenal.
Not far from Pisa there is S. Piero in Grado with a beautiful Romanesque church. As we continue our journey we stop at S. Vincenzo for lunch, then continue to Massa Marittima.
Also here our hotel is in a great location, very central. We start the city tour starting from the top: S. Agostino, the fortress (from where we see the sea), the Duomo with its square surrounded by ancient palaces and then walk a bit for the central streets.
Sunday April 17th, 2011
We leave Massa Marittima and arrive in Volterra. It’s a wonderful sunny day. At the entrance of the city, we see the Medicean Fortress, then we head towards the center, and we arrive at the Cathedral and the Baptistery, passing by S. Agostino and S. Michele.
From the Hospital of S. Maria Maddalena, passing through the Torri Buonparenti Houses, we arrive in Piazza dei Priori with Palazzo dei Priori and the Pretorio Palace. Within a short distance, from a panoramic point, we look at the Roman Theatre, which is below us.
Finally S. Francesco, the Fonte S. Felice and the Gate to the Arch. We get back to the car to go to S. Giusto and Le Balze. We stop at San Gimignano with its numerous towers: S. Agostino, Piazza Duomo, Collegiata, Piazza della Cisterna and then to the Rocca.
A short stop in Monteriggioni with its walls, and we reach Siena. We start our tour from Piazza del Campo, with the beautiful Public Palace and Torre del Mangia. However, we decide to postpone to the next day the climb and we walk a little while enjoying the last rays of the sun.
Monday April 18th, 2011
Last day of our trip. We start by going straight to Torre del Mangia: the climb is tiring and the staircase a bit narrow, but the scenery is gorgeous. Then we visit the Duomo: here too the interior is really nice. We leave Siena and stop at Certaldo and S. Miniato, and in the evening we leave Tuscany and get back home.
