From the Port of Livorno, you can visit Florence & Pisa, Cinque Terre, San Gimignano, Siena, or Lucca. If you are not on a cruise, you could easily explore this region of Italy for several days. If you are on a cruise, most people want to spend the valuable day visiting Florence and Pisa. Be sure to select a cruise that does not visit Livorno on a Monday because major museums and galleries are closed.
Florence
Florence is about one hour and 30 minutes from Livorno. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site with many fascinating buildings and sculptures such as:
- Accademia (where the original David by Michelangelo is located)
- Basilica of Santa Croce Church (where Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, and Rossini are buried)
- Piazza della Signoria
- Piazza della Repubblica
- Uffizi Gallery (where Botticelli’s famous The Birth of Venus painting is located)
- Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge)
- Pitti Palace
Florence Cathedral is stunning. The facade is made of polychrome marble panels in greens and pinks boarded in white. The gothic-style cathedral was designed by Anolofo de Cambio and the dome was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. The dome is the largest brick dome ever constructed. The cathedral complex in Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square) consists of the Florence Cathedral, Giotto’s Campanile, and the Baptistery.
Pisa
The main attraction in Pisa is Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles), a UNESCO World Heritage site. The square contains four religious buildings: the Duomo (cathedral), Baptistery, Campo Santo (cemetery), and Campanile (the leaning tower of Pisa).
The Pisan Romanesque style cathedral facade is made of grey marble and white stone with discs of colored marble. It was designed by Buscheto and construction began in 1064. The Baptistery of St. John is located at the west end of the cathedral is the largest baptistery in Italy. It was designed by Diotisalvi and construction began in the mid-12th century.
The walled cemetery (Campo Santo) is located on the northern edge of the square. It is said to have been built around sacred soil from Calvary which was brought back from the Fourth Crusade.
The leaning tower of Pisa, known for its nearly 4-degree lean, is located behind the cathedral. It is the third oldest structure in the square. During your tour, you will learn about why it leans and the corrective measures being taken to stop it from leaning further.
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