Every itinerary can be changed to accommodate at the desires of customer The day trip start in general at 9.00 am and it is about 9 hours long.
Starting from your hotel in Umbria, I will drive on the one hour about you to cities like Florence,Arezzo,Siena,San Giminiano,Montalcino,Pienza,Moterigioni,Montepulciano Bagni di Vignoni or on the 2 hours for Pisa and Lucca.
We will stop for lunch in tipical restaurants if you wish, or we will eat good italian sandwiches to save time to see more towns.
We will drive back your hotel before the dinner.
While visiting Pisa, Piazza dei Miracoli is a destination that cannot be missed. It houses the most significant religious complex of the city composed of the Baptistry, the ome, the Leaning Tower and the Camposanto.
It is easily accessible walking down the Viale delle Cascine and then taking the right into Via C. Cammeo at the end of which the Baptistery in Romanesque style is located. It was built under the leadership of Nicola Pisano, who carried out the wonderful pulpit ornamented with the "Stories of Christ" inside it.
Behind the Baptistery, the Cathedral rises. Its façade shows an alternation of columns and pilasters that convey the harmony of the Romanesque architecture.
In the immediate surroundings, the Museo dell' Opera can be visited. It houses the reproductions, the models and the papers regarding the construction phases of this architectural complex.
Finally, in the Camposanto Monumentale, where the most illustrious men of Pisa were buried, numerous Etruscan and Medieval works are exposed and they are arranged in a sort of art gallery.
Leaving Piazza dei Miracoli and taking Via Cardinal Maffi, it is possible to see the Palazzo Arcivescovile. Taking the right into Via Carducci, one can reach the old city centre, namely the Piazza dei Cavalieri, with its homonymous Church and the Palazzo dedicated to St. Stefano, who fought against the Saracens and, therefore, he is remembered for this.
In the immediate surroundings, the Palazzo dell' Orologio, or the "Tower of Famine"", can be visited. It is called like this because the Count Ugolino died of starvation here at the end of the year 1200. he was a Pisan noblemen belonging to the Ghibellines, but he was shut up here because he plotted against his town and his party, since he wanted to establish a Guelf government.
Departure from your hotel to Florence, the capital of the Renaissance and art. Visit the Piazzale Michelangelo, where you can enjoy a spectacular view from the city. Then reach the center and visit the church of Santo Spirito and Carmine, Ponte Vecchio, Palazzo Pitti and its irresistible shops and the Piazza della Signoria. After lunch, the tour continues by visiting the Uffizi Gallery, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, with its dome by Brunelleschi, the Baptistery and Giotto's bell tower, then ending the visit walking through the old town with free time for the shopping.
The Piazza del Campo is worldwide known and is the heart of Siena. Today, it is the famous for the Palio dell'Assunta and once it was the meeting place for all the people of the town who came here to see performances and the medieval jousts.
Here, it is possible to visit the Museo Civico inside the Palazzo Pubblico, that today is the seat of the municipality, the Torre del Mangia, that offers a panoramic view of the city thanks to its 87 metres of height, and the Fonte Gaia.
In the immediate surroundings of the Piazza del Campo, it is possible to visit the Logge del Papa and the Palazzo Piccolomini, that today is the base of the State Archives. These buildings represent the Siena Renaissance architecture.
Going towards Banchi di Sotto, and then turning right into Via Pellegrini, it is possible to reach Piazza del Duomo with the Romanesque-Gothic Palazzo Arcivescovile that is characterized by the stained glass window of the choir made by Duccio di Buonainsegna.
Inside, the Libreria Piccolomini can be visited. Leaving the Piazza del Duomo and taking Via Fontebranda, the homonymous Fontana, which is among the most beautiful and ancient fountains in the city, can be visited.
The town of San Gimignano is located in the area of Siena at 325 meters a.s.l., and has a population of around 7.000 people.
The name of San Gimignano, derives from the bishop who saved the town from the gothic occupation, lost its indipendence in the middle of 1.300 and felt down to Florence control.
In this town one can visit the Churces of Saint Jacopo and Saint Peter, the "Collegiata of Saint Maria Assunta" with the Chapel of Saint Fina, the Cathedral, the Sacred Art Museum, the Podestà Palace and the Pratellesi Palace.
The town of Montalcino is the hometown to the Brunello, one of the most famous wines in the world. It is in the province of Siena, at 567 m of altitude and it has a population of about 5000 inhabitants. The Palazzo Vescovile and the XIII-century churches of St. Agostino and St. Francis, can be admired inside the town.
Between the Valdichiana and the Val d'Orcia there is the ancient village of Montepulciano renowned for the production of excellent wines and, with its old city centre, it is an important artistic testimony of the Renaissance and of the Middle Ages.
Walking through the town streets bordered by XVI-century buildings, one can visit the Palazzo Cocconi, the Palazzo Cervini and the Palazzo Cagnoni, the Tower of Pulcinella and, eventually, the theatre built in honour of the XVI-century poet Angelo Poliziano who was born here.
Crossing the Val d'Orcia the town of San Quirico can be reached. It is a suggestive medieval village surrounded by XV-century walls, where the XIII-century Collegiata Romanica, the Church of St. Francis and the small Romanesque church of Santa Maria Assunta rise
Leaving San Quirico, the small town of Montalcino is the next stop. It is famous for its excellent wine and it is important for the historic testimonies of the Roman period, such as the Loggia, the XIV-century Rocca and the Palazzo Comunale.
The town of Monteriggioni is located in the area of Siena, at 356 meters a.s.l., and has a population of around 7.000 people.
In the town of Monteriggioni, founded in the XI century, one can visit the namesake Fortress, built in 1203, which is constituted from 14 towers and it is long 500 meters and the Sacred Art Museum. Near Monteriggioni you can admire the Castle of the Chiocciola.
The history of the municipality of Pienza, which is in the province of Siena at 492 m asl of altitude, is strictly linked to the figure of the Pope Pius II, who was born in this little town and who transformed it in a wonderful Renaissance city once he sat on the papal throne.
The first settlement of the territory is a "curtis" called Corsignano of which the first information dates back to the IX century.
Nevertheless, the ancient parish of Corsignano, which can be still visited today, could even be dated to a century before and that is why it can be considered the core of the first built-up area. Until the XII century, this area was property of the St. Salvatore Abbey, which benefited from the concessions given by emperors. Later, the authority of Siena was established on the Corsignano territory. During the years, the Republic of Siena was obliged to deploy a conspicuous military garrison across the area to face the constant attacks by Orvieto and Florence, the cities which occupied the village for some years in the XIII century.
In 1330, Corsignano became a town hall and a vicariate one century after. In the meantime, the property-owning Piccolomini family was establishing its presence over the village. Enea Silvio, the future Pope Pius II, was born in this family in 1405.
In 1458, Enea Silvio Piccolomini became pontiff and he immediately started the reconstruction of his home town, which was re-founded with the name of Pienza.
The embellishment project of the ancient village was assigned to Bernardo Gambarelli, called the "Rossellino", whose some XV-century buildings are still visible today as well as the Piazza Pio II, designed by the architect himself. This square, which is the pivot of the city, is also the place overlooked by the Assunta's Cathedral and the most imposing buildings. For a weird of fate, both the Pope and the architect died in 1464, without the possibility to fully enjoy the fruit of their labours.
In the XVI century, Pienza became a rich and lively economic centre, therefore becoming the target of some commanders of mercenary troops and some Tuscan military forces. For instance, in 1502, the city was pillaged by Cesare Borgia, while other damaging stemmed from the conflict between Siena and Florence at the half of the century. In 1559, Pienza became part of the Medicis' s Grand Duchy, thanks to which the city lived a period of a renewed political and economical stability.
The Castle of Monticchiello can be also admired near Pienza. Despite its medieval origin, this stronghold marked the final history chapter of the city.
In effect, in 1944 it was the setting of a harsh conflict between the Partisans and the Nazi groups. Also thanks to the aid given by the population, the firsts scored one of the most significant military victories of the Tuscan Resistance.
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