Let us bring you to Florence, the marvellous ‘cradle’ of the Renaissance and of the culture of Italy. A city pf unrivalled elegance, enchantment and exclusiveness. An unforgettable experience. Our chauffeur-driven car journeys to Florence will bring you face to face with a literally stunning city – a city that combines the delicate charm of a provincial city with the audacious glamour of such events as the Pitti Uomo men’s fashion show, not to mention the exclusive exhibitions organised by Florence’s galleries and museums. If time is a major consideration, our chauffeur-driven car rental service option will bring you the Florence experience under ideal conditions – taking you to the very heart of the region of Tuscany… where past and present blend… seamlessly! Where should you go to see Florence at its best? The main attractions are the old bridge (Ponte Vecchio) and the cathedral (Duomo). Florence must surely be one of the most beautiful of Italy’s cities! It is the ‘cradle’ of the Renaissance period. A visit to this open-air museum brings you into contact with the history of Italy as a whole. Here, the leading thinkers of Italy’s cultural landscape gathered. Individuals who transformed the globe, who created a new world and filled it with marvellous inventions. Hence, the sights here become more than merely attractions. With its stunning monuments, the city attests to the historic birth of a world entire! This is Florence! Spend a day amid the marvels of a city − of a re-awakening Tuscany −, providing joy to the eye, heart and mind. Florence’s marvels belong to a realm where art, history and architecture are reflected in everything you see, feel or touch. Take the Arno river, for example. In the waters of the Arno the writer Manzoni is said to have ‘washed’ the ‘cloth’ of Italy’s idioms, to create the language that we call Italian. The old city centre is just one of Italy’s glories, and a UNESCO heritage site since 1982. Florence’s art galleries, churches and old palaces are the envy of the world! Charming hill country provides a stupendous backdrop to the city. The glories of Florence take us back to the Italian Renaissance, as we see it in the works on display at the Galleria degli Uffizi and at the Galleria dell’Accademia (where visitors may also admire Michelangelo’s monumental ‘David’). Not to mention the cathedral, Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore. So, what must you absolutely not miss out on when you come to Florence?

As you tour Florence, Ponte Vecchio is one of the sites that will surprise you most. Ponte Vecchio is one of the city’s six main bridges. It dates back to Roman times. The Romans built the uprights in stone and added wooden boarding. This is where the Via Cassia crosses the Arno river. Until 1218, this was the only bridge across the Arno. It collapsed repeatedly, in 1117 and 1333, due to the force of floodwaters, and was repeatedly rebuilt. Under the rule of the Medici house, the bridge was fully restored and a raised corridor was added linking the Uffizi palace and Palazzo Pitti. The old bridge thus also featured an upper closed bridge above the bridge’s shops and storerooms. This corridor, designed by Vasari, enabled the nobles to avoid contact with the common folk and provided protection also from the elements. Vasari was eager to finish the work as soon as possible. His solution was both functional and a marvel to behold as a work of art. Take a photograph here. It is thought that this bridge is more frequently photographed than even the bridges of Rome! Not only does the bridge serve as an icon for the city; it is also the only bridge to be entirely (or nearly entirely) occupied also by raised shops and homes, looking down over the Arno’s waters. The corridor, a well-known feature of the city, also plays a role in Dan Brown’s literary works. Built by Vasari – who was also an author responsible for the biographies of major Renaissance figures – it enabled the Duke Cosimo I (de’ Medici) to move back and forth between Palazzo Pitti and Palazzo Vecchio.

The large Palazzo Pitti is a ‘must’ for visitors touring Florence. This enormous fifteenth-century structure stands near the south bank of the Arno river. It served for a long time as the residence of the city’s rulers. During the early decades of the twentieth century, the palazzo was passed on to the Italian State, which turned it into a museum, much loved by the Florentines themselves and by tourists flocking here from all over the world. Palazzo Pitti towers over the cityscape and occupies a strategic site. This elegantly refined architectural work is one of the major ‘exhibits’ of this open-air private museum.

This basilica − Basilica di Santa Croce − is less well known than Florence’s cathedral. It hosts the tombs of major Renaissance figures such as Galileo Galilei and Machiavelli. Italy’s rebirth owes so much to protagonists of renewal such as Rossini and Michelangelo, who also rest here. The church was built in the late fourteenth century for the Franciscan order. The basilica is much loved by the faithful, arriving from all over the world. Over and above its spiritual beauty, the church also hosts frescoes by Giotto and a wooden ceiling marvellously painted at the time of its construction.

What would a tour of Florence be without some shopping? You may want to purchase some traditional items or perhaps just to savour an experience to be shared with the Florentines themselves. Either way, San Lorenzo is the place for you! This famous downtown market showcases much of traditional Florence, not to mention echoes of the local folk culture. The mercato di San Lorenzo includes a two-storey food market. Here, in this marketplace dating back to the fifteenth century, gourmets will find many items of interest. Let us now turn to the other stalls, so popular among tourists on the lookout for souvenirs, clothing and in particular leather goods. Why not pick up a handmade leather bag here? The ideal souvenir! Enjoy the bright colours and fragrances, handed down from one generation to the next. Beauty for all the senses. The San Lorenzo marketplace stretches from the church of San Lorenzo (also known as the Medici church) to Via Nazionale. For nearly 300 years, the Medici church was the cathedral (before cathedral status was conferred upon Santa Maria del Fiore). Admittedly, with its unfinished facade, its rather rustic look and the location (outside the old city walls), it hardly looks like a cathedral building at all. However, Popes, politicians and artists have come to greatly love this location, because here we find Florence’s oldest church (as officially recorded). The consecration came through the intervention of Saint Ambrose in 393 AD. Still today, the church hosts very many artistic works that reflect the splendour of Italy’s arts.

When we think of Florence, one of the first things that comes to mind is the Uffizi Gallery. This is Florence’s largest and most important art gallery, hosting any number of paintings, sculptures and antiques that date back to Renaissance times. The collection is made up of more than 100,000 items, including drawings and old prints. This year-round exhibition features the Venus of Urbino by Titian, Bellini’s works, the Vicentian annunciation, Botticelli’s Venus and a thousand other works familiar to all who enjoy artbooks. Galleria degli Uffizi is therefore yet another ‘must’ on the itinerary of any Florence tour!

How do we convey a sense of the beauty of the world-renowned Campanile di Giotto? It is one of the most fascinating of Florence’s sites, located in the cathedral square, Piazza del Duomo − world-renowned, indeed, as a symbol of beauty and art. It is nearly 85 metres high, and affords one of the most impressive views of Florence. Again, a ‘must’ for day visitors (or, at least, for visitors who aren’t too scared of heights!!). Of course, some dedication will be required (‘just’ 414 steps up from ground level of the city of birth of the Renaissance and Italian culture in general). The views take in the church of San Lorenzo, the Palazzo Vecchio, the Chiesa di Santa Croce, and, in part, the river Arno. The truly stunning view here, however, is the cupola or dome built by Brunelleschi. An amazingly unforgettable vision.

The two most beautiful piazzas in Florence – which we absolutely must include in our itinerary – are Piazza della Signoria and Piazzale Michelangelo. Piazza della Signoria is the heart of the city. It is flanked by Palazzo Vecchio and one of the wings of Galleria degli Uffizi. The square hosts many events such as open-air concerts and itinerant exhibitions. These events are enjoyed by the citizenry and by tourists who come to the square throughout the year. Piazzale Michelangelo, the most famous among Florence’s piazzas, is more discreetly positioned, with its panoramic view over the city reproduced in any number of postcards and prints picked up as souvenirs. Another Florentine sight which we must also visit is the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore. The cathedral of Florence, the Duomo di Firenze, is the city’s spiritual heart, and a site that is world-renowned for its artistic beauty (the key attraction is the famed cupola or dome built by Brunelleschi). This cathedral, located in the stunning Piazza del Duomo, was built in the Gothic style. It is flanked by its belfry, the campanile di Giotto (another major Florentine attraction). Consider a chauffeur-driven car tour of Florence one of the necessities of life!

You reach the city gates and, as you stand there, your heart misses a beat, and the thought lingers: how can I penetrate the heart of Lucca in just a few hours, less than one day? The car rental chauffeur-driven car rental solution will enable you to reach Lucca, city of a hundred churches, and calmly enjoy your visit – even for just a few hours.
What to see in Lucca in just a day? Seeing it all and seeing nothing. Maybe. Maybe we should stick to the main sights of Lucca: its beautiful architectural works and the surprising traces of a long history, to be found wherever you turn. The city of Lucca will enchant you. The time you dedicate to uncovering Lucca’s secrets will absorb you, as though this were a game, and an exciting one at that!
Maybe this why the place has captivated the visitors who flock here also for the Lucca Comics & Games trade fairs, when the city showcases items of interest to keen video gamers and avid readers of comics! What must you absolutely not miss out on when you come to Lucca?

Let’s get back to the basics, and the old city walls − an attraction that, more than many others, draws attention to itself imperiously. The city walls may well be the great favourite among tourists coming to Lucca, who greatly enjoy the views afforded over the city. In any case, visitors will be surprised and impressed at the views. The walls area also includes children’s playing areas, and spaces in which just to relax and take it easy, plus picnic areas. On each corner are small towers, ramparts and secret passageways that need to be actively sought out. The city’s botanic gardens with their lab, museum and library facilities (a major centrally located urban asset) are also worth a visit.

After the walls, forming a girdle around Lucca, we find the church of San Martino. In the lively city centre, we find the practically one hundred churches, all of which are stunning examples of any number of architectural styles. Indeed, one might say that these structures provide concrete expression to integration and multiculturalism as principles. The church of San Martino is a case in point. Located in the square of the same name, it serves also as the city’s cathedral. Lucca’s cathedral holds some of the most beautiful examples of Renaissance art ever. This church, the spiritual heart of the city, also hosts tombs by Jacopo della Quercia. The cathedral was built in the sixth century by San Frediano, then the bishop of Lucca. The church became a cathedral or “Duomo” during the early decades of the second millennium, thanks to the intervention of Anselmo da Baggio, more widely known as Alessandro II. Here, we also find the cathedral’s museum, Museo della Cattedrale (paintings, sculptures, prints, gems and much much more). The church of San Martino also hosts the sanctuary chapel, Cappella del Santuario. The cathedral’s famous facade drew its inspiration from the cathedral in Pisa. This church features polychrome marble work and coloured mosaics, conveying to all who enter, a marked sense of peace and intensity of the feelings of the faith. The structure of Pisa’s cathedral includes an imposing set of arches in stone, arcades, and a belfry that was never completed (you will note also the interesting contrast effect between the white of the walls and the unfaced brickwork). The cathedral also hosts the sanctuary of the Sacro Volto (Holy Visage). Another absolute ‘must’ for visitors.

Along with the church of San Martino, another ‘must’ on our Lucca tour is the basilica of San Michele in Foro. This church is unique, unlike any other here! Its arches, adornments and columns are extremely unusual. The frescoes and artworks representing wild animals confer upon this structure a decidedly unusual appearance. Luca della Robbia and Filippino Lippi enriched this church with their incredible works of art.

Piazza dell’Anfiteatro is one of Lucca’s most beautiful piazzas. It is elliptical in form, just like a Roman amphitheatre. However, the actual theatre and even its remains are largely absent. The palaces skirting the piazza adhere to the form, while their variety of heights and colour schemes make for an odd (but most attractive) harmony!
The amphitheatre’s presence is reflected in the curves of a number of streets in Lucca. Look carefully at the stone arches in the buildings leading up to piazza del Mercato. If you look carefully, you will see that they represent what’s left of the ancient Roman amphitheatre, once a ‘showbiz’ venue for the people here. Nowadays, we see buildings where, in ancient times, stood the amphitheatre’s orders of tiers and stone walls supporting imposing arches. The destruction of the barbaric invasions followed, and then came the houses and palazzos of the Middle Ages. Today the oval outline bears witness to the area’s former vocation.
This is a pleasant spot in which to pause for a while. Piazza dell’Anfiteatro hosts a number of open-air bars and eateries.

Yet another ‘must’ in Lucca is the famous Torre delle Ore, a former defensive work overlooking Lucca for more than seven hundred years. It is now a clock tower in the traditional sense. It is (and it has always been) very much a part of the life and rhythms of life of the people of Lucca.
The Torre delle Ore was built in 1300 as a lookout and means of defence. Over time its role has changed. It is now Lucca’s clock tower. From the top of the tower, one can see all the other towers of Lucca. The view also takes in the Basilica di San Frediano, Lucca’s marvellous cathedral, and the city’s other hundred churches.

Lucca is renowned for more than ‘just’ its walls and stunning architectural works. There are other attractions well worth checking out too. One of these we find to the south – the acquedotto dei Nottolini. This construction with its more than 400 arches covers a route of three kilometres. From the tempio della Cisterna (cistern temple) at the Parco Acquatico (water park) you can go the whole walk, to enjoy not only this imposing architectural work as such but also the surroundings.
The acquedotto dei Nottolini is more than ’just’ a marvellous architectural work, which anyone might well be interested in; like all the beautiful landmarks of Lucca, it is also quite unique and hence it truly deserves the attention of all visitors.

Dopo piazza dell’Anfiteatro, si trova un altro bellissimo spazio accoglie i turisti: è piazza Napoleone che ospita anche uno degli edifici storici più importanti di Lucca ovvero il Palazzo Ducale con la sua imponente facciata anteriore ricca di bellezze architettoniche senza tempo. Alberi frondosi, statue eleganti insieme ad altri edifici di rilievo storico incorniciano la piazza. Qui si trovano il teatro Giglio, la prefettura di Lucca ed il museo del Risorgimento.
Oltre al Museo del Risorgimento che racconta un pezzo di storia italiana, Lucca ospita anche la bellissima Villa Mansi che viene costruita nel 1700 per la famiglia Benedetti. Successivamente, a questa meraviglia dell’architettura viene annesso il giardino paesaggistico ed i suoi particolari arredi esterni, tra cui il portico ad arco e la scala ornata.

Lucca is known as the city of (more than) one hundred churches. The basilica of San Frediano attests to a sense of religion that was heartfelt, built upon solid foundations. Standing at the heart of Lucca, the basilica is a highly unusual structure. The exterior includes a beautiful mosaic. The belfry is marvellously adorned. With its unique detail work and colours, the mosaic representing the Assumption of Christ cannot fail to amaze visitors, given its refinement as a work. The beauties of the basilica of San Frediano are to be found both in the exterior and interior zones. Inside, the adornments are as refined as outside, as seen in the sculpture work within the basilica, symbolically attesting to Mankind’s commitment to God.

Over and above the Torre delle Ore, visitors to the old city centre can hardly fail to notice another extremely fine tower. While apparently set to one side and practically forgotten, it actually hosted the noble House of the Guinigis in two palazzos The Guinigis ruled over Lucca in the fifteenth century, during a period of prosperity and peace for the city.
The Guinigi tower and complex – fine structures from yesteryear – also host the national museum, Museo Nazionale. At a height of 50 metres, the Torre dei Guinigi affords a view of the city of unrivalled magnificence.