Florence and Pisa from Rome: Enjoy a Full Day Small Group Tour
Description
Experience the ultimate day of Italian art and history on a full-day tour from Rome to Pisa and Florence! In Pisa, marvel at the iconic Leaning Tower from the outside and explore the dazzling Baptistery and Duomo, all gleaming in white marble. Then, head to Florence, the legendary cradle of the Renaissance. After a stop for lunch at your own expense, join your expert guide for a walking tour through the city’s artistic treasures. See masterpieces by Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, and Michelangelo, including the world-famous David at the Accademia. Explore the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Brunelleschi’s magnificent dome, Giotto’s Bell Tower, and the Baptistery. Stroll through Piazza della Signoria and admire the historic Ponte Vecchio spanning the Arno River. End your day at Piazzale Michelangelo with a jaw dropping panoramic view of Florence....a perfect finale to an unforgettable Italian adventure.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Enjoy the marvels inside the Piazza dei Miracoli, 4 monuments: The Baptistery (famous for its echo), the Cathedral, the Leaning Tower, the Cemetery. Take a souvenir photo with the background of the leaning Toore that you are holding.
The Pisa Baptistery of St. John (Italian: Battistero di San Giovanni) is a Roman Catholic ecclesiastical building in Pisa, Italy. Construction started in 1152 to replace an older baptistery, and when it was completed in 1363, it became the second building, in chronological order, in the Piazza dei Miracoli. The shape of the building, the material used, the distribution of the interior spaces given by the columns and the space between the two domes make the Baptistery create an incredible effect of acoustic resonance, better known as Echo. The sound spreads throughout the space, like a continuous wave, rising in tonality to the point of suggesting the presence of an angelic choir. Every half hour the Baptistery staff performs a small demonstration for tourists: the effect is not to be missed.
Pisa Cathedral is a medieval Roman Catholic cathedral dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, in the Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa, Italy. It is a notable example of Romanesque architecture, in particular the style known as Pisan Romanesque
Admire the most famous bell tower in the world from the outside, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, known worldwide for its nearly four-degree lean, the result of an unstable foundation. The tower is situated behind the Pisa Cathedral and is the third oldest structure in the city's Cathedral Square (Piazza del Duomo), after the cathedral and the Pisa Baptistry.
The visit includes the Accademy Gallery where inside is the David, Michelangelo's famous sculpture. Michelangelo’s David at the “Accademia in addition to the work of David, there are also other sculptures and a large collection of paintings by Florentine artists.
The cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Visit from outside), with its beautiful dome projected by Brunelleschi, is the cathedral of Florence. Construction began in 1296, Gothic style to a design of Arnolfo di Cambio and was structurally completed by 1436, with the dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. The exterior of the basilica is faced with polychrome marble panels in various shades of green and pink, bordered by white, and has an elaborate 19th-century Gothic Revival façade by Emilio De Fabris.
The Baptistery of San Giovanni stands in front of the Cathedral and is the ancient religious and civil center of the city, as well as a masterpiece of Italian Romanesque. It is one of the oldest buildings in the city: it probably dates back to the 5th century, and took on its current appearance in the 11th-12th century. With an octagonal plan, it is covered on the outside with white and green Prato marble with geometric motifs and has an eight-section roof; the decoration was enriched in the 16th century with statues and bas-reliefs. The three gilded bronze doors are the work of Andrea Pisano (south door, built around 1330), and Lorenzo Ghiberti (north, 1402/25 and east, 1425/52). The east door, with Stories from the Old Testament, opens towards the Cathedral and was defined by Michelangelo as the Gates of Paradise; all the doors are copies, the originals are kept in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo.
Adjacent to the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is the Bell Tower designed by Giotto (visit outside). Giotto's Bell Tower is the majestic bell tower of the Cathedral and one of the masterpieces of Italian Gothic. The Bell Tower has a square base of approximately 15 meters per side with corner reinforcements that rise up to the horizontal cantilevered crown located at a height of 84.7 metres.
Piazza della Signoria has been at the center of Florence's political life since the 14th century. The Square has seen important historical events and great triumphs take place, such as the return of the Medici in 1530. The famous sculptures located in Piazza della Signoria have references to the political events of Florence. The David (the original is located in the Accademia Gallery) was created by Michelangelo and positioned in front of Palazzo Vecchio to symbolize the power of the Florentine Republic in contrast with the tyranny of the Medici. Hercules and Cacus (1534) by Bandinelli instead symbolizes the physical power of the family.
Built near a Roman-era crossing, the Ponte Vecchio was until 1218 the only bridge that crossed the Arno in Florence. Above Ponte Vecchio you can see a part of the beautiful Vasari Corridor. This corridor, built in 1565 by Giorgio Vasari, passes just above the goldsmith shops that currently stand on either side of the bridge. Commissioned by the Medici, it allowed them to move from Palazzo Vecchio to Palazzo Pitti without having to cross the streets of Florence, in complete safety. At the time of the construction of the Corridor, the butchers' shops were gathered on the Ponte Vecchio, whose activity probably disturbed the passage of the Medici, who in 1593 had them moved, replacing them with the more "decorous" goldsmith shops.
Piazzale Michelangelo is the most evocative point of Florence. From here you can admire the whole city with its splendid monuments. This square was dedicated to the great Renaissance artist Michelangelo and the copy of David is located in the center of the square next to the four allegories of the Medici Chapels of San Lorenzo.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
- Free Pick-up and drop-off to the Hotels, Appartments, Bed&breakfast, accomodations - The address must to be provided on the reservation. - Please contact customer services one day before the tour to confirm the pickup time. - Please wait in the hotel lobby or outside your accommodation 15 minutes before your scheduled pickup time
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The duration of the tour may take longer during the high season months due to heavier traffic.
- Dress code is smart casual
- Provide the Correct address of your accommodation , hotel, B&B
- Provide the correct phone number and international country code
- Pickup and drop off included service at Hotels, Apartments and B&B
- Check that you have provided all the requested information
- Emergency number also operational via whatsapp
- One day before the tour, call to confirm the pick up.
Reviews(818)
This fantastic trip to Pisa and Florence is designed so you experience both coastal and inland Tuscan countryside and includes thoughtful comfort stops.. Giuseppe, our driver, weaved his way safely through Italian traffic.Thanks for your support Giuseppe! Knowledgeable Anna guided us through the beautiful, the sacred and the unique at the Pisa park.Tell us more Anna! She was also a great help with those crazy Pisa photos. Florence was a travel to Medieval times beginning with a delicious lunch in a calm cool 900+ church restaurant,then a meander through cobblestone narrow streets soaking in old architecture, sacred artworks,the magnificent Duomo and of course the David, both the actual and the replica with the Museim's pre David's and much other famous artworks wonderfully explained by Renata our local guide.The tour was carefully worked so that we travelled through the entire very old town imagining past, vibrant life, seeing the old houses, workshops, churches, 'government ' buildings and Square and ending up at the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge.There was also time to explore on your own and shop for that famous Florence leather. On leaving town the final famous picture spot overlooking all of ancient Florence was superb. Thank you to Welcome Italy for your cool and comfortable car and great trip design. Thank you to Giuseppe and Renata for working so hard. A super special thanks to Anna for her kind and diligent care proving how special private small share group tours can be.
This tour includes quite a bit of travel time in the car but the guide and driver place stops in strategic places to help with that. Ana was a wonderful guide and Renata was amazing as well during our time in Florence. If you want to see both Pisa and Florence then this is a great tour to get the highlight. Seeing and learning about the statue of David was one of our favorite parts of this tour.
Our tour to Pisa and Florence was wonderful. Our guide Agnese was so nice and so very knowledgeable. We had such an amazing time. Not to mention our driver Fabrizio ensured we had a safe travel on the drive. We appreciate both of them for a memorable tour and vacation.
Such a great tour and tons art/history lessons. We loved every second of it! We also learned a lot!!!
Julianna was amazing, so caring and thoughtful, her knowledge was amazing. We were then given another guide in Florence who’s knowledge and passion for her city was outstanding, would definitely recommend this tour the history art and architecture was mind blowing
We had a great time on the tour with Elizabetta (guide) and Fabio (driver), super attentive and kind; the trip from Rome was super comfortable.
Excellent tour with Luigi, a great driver, the assistant Ana was attentive the whole time, and the great guide Carla.
Muchas gracias por compartir su excelente experiencia. Nos alegra saber que disfrutó plenamente de la excursión a Florencia y Pisa y que nuestro equipo contribuyó a hacer de la jornada un recuerdo especial. Luigi estará encantado de saber que valoró su profesionalidad al volante, Ana agradecerá mucho sus palabras sobre su atención constante, y Carla se sentirá igualmente feliz de saber que su labor como guía enriqueció la visita. Para nosotros es una gran satisfacción contar con un equipo capaz de ofrecer un servicio cuidado, cercano y profesional en cada etapa del viaje. Gracias nuevamente por elegirnos y esperamos tener el placer de acompañarle en otra experiencia inolvidable en Italia.
Our full day private tour was exceptionally led by our Tour Leader, Nariman and conveniently provided by our driver Roberto. They were professional, thoughtful, and accommodating every step of the way. Nariman’s wealth of knowledge and recommendations made the experience personable. The minivan was clean and the AC was perfect. They cultivated a friendly ambiance for the entire family. We recommend the experience, A+!
Thank you very much for your wonderful review and enthusiastic recommendation. We are delighted to know that Nariman and Roberto made your full-day private tour such a comfortable, personalized, and memorable experience for the entire family. Nariman will be especially pleased to hear that his knowledge, thoughtful recommendations, and warm approach added a personal dimension to your journey, while Roberto’s professionalism and attentive service ensured that every transfer was smooth and enjoyable. We are also very happy that you appreciated the cleanliness and comfort of the minivan, as these details are an important part of the quality experience we strive to provide. Your A+ rating means a great deal to our entire team, and we sincerely hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you and your family again on another unforgettable experience in Italy.
Excelente! Juliana was very professional, knowledgeable and friendly. Luis was a great guide. The city main landmarks tour with him was very informative and valuable.
Thank you very much for your excellent review. We are delighted to know that you enjoyed your full-day experience in Florence and Pisa and that Juliana’s professionalism, knowledge, and friendly approach made the journey so enjoyable. We are equally pleased that Luis provided such an informative and valuable introduction to the city’s main landmarks, enriching your visit with his expertise and insight. Your kind words are greatly appreciated, and we will be very happy to share them with both Juliana and Luis. Thank you again for choosing our tour, and we hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you on another memorable experience in Italy.
★★★★★ Absolutely the Highlight of Our Trip to Tuscany! I almost canceled this excursion because of the long drive from Rome, and I am so grateful that I didn’t. It ended up being our favorite tour of the entire trip! Our driver, Artur, was outstanding. The ride was smooth, comfortable, and safe, and with a rest stop halfway both to Tuscany and on the return trip, the drive was much easier than expected. Our tour leader, Nariman, made the hours fly by. He is incredibly knowledgeable and shared fascinating history, stories, and fun facts throughout the journey that kept everyone engaged. He also proudly called himself the “best photographer,” and he absolutely lived up to that title! He happily took countless photos for everyone throughout the day and made sure we all had wonderful memories to bring home. Pisa completely exceeded my expectations. Pictures simply do not do it justice. The Piazza dei Miracoli is breathtaking, and every building is stunning. One of the most unforgettable moments was inside the Baptistry when our guide requested a demonstration of its incredible acoustics. A staff member stepped into the center and sang, and hearing her beautiful voice echo throughout the building gave me chills. It was one of the most moving experiences of our entire vacation. Florence was equally amazing. Before we even arrived, Nariman made restaurant reservations for us so we didn’t have to waste our free time waiting for a table. That thoughtful gesture allowed us to enjoy over two hours exploring this incredible city. Our Florence guide, Luis, was fantastic. His passion for Florence, its history, and Michelangelo was obvious in every story he shared. He didn’t just recite facts. He brought the city to life and made us appreciate what we were seeing so much more. The perfect ending to an already incredible day was when Artur drove us up to Piazzale Michelangelo for the panoramic overlook of Florence. Standing there, looking out across the entire city, was absolutely breathtaking and the perfect finale to an unforgettable experience. Thank you to Artur, Nariman, and Luis for creating memories that will last a lifetime. If you’re debating whether this tour is worth the long drive from Rome, don’t hesitate. It was the most memorable excursion of our vacation, and I would book it again in a heartbeat.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a detailed and heartfelt review. We are truly delighted to hear that this excursion became the highlight of your trip and that the journey from Rome felt comfortable and worthwhile. Your kind words about Artur, Nariman, and Luis mean a great deal to us, and we will be very happy to share your compliments with them. It is wonderful to know that you enjoyed the beauty of Pisa, the unforgettable acoustics inside the Baptistery, the history and atmosphere of Florence, and the panoramic view from Piazzale Michelangelo. We are also pleased that the restaurant reservation helped you make the most of your free time. Thank you again for choosing us and for recommending this experience so warmly. It was a pleasure to have you with us, and we hope to welcome you back to Italy for another unforgettable tour in the future.
