Your comfortable bus will get you there and back. This excursion gives you the option to explore on your own with transportation only or to include a guided walk in Lucca - see order form. You’ll meet the guide close to your La Spezia cruise ship port. There you’ll board the luxury air-conditioned shuttle with free Wi-Fi onboard. You can browse through the free map on the 60-minute drive to Pisa.
Here you will have 2 hours to explore, the bus will be parked and waiting for you at Pietrasantina, just a few minutes walking distance from Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles), the heart of Pisa. The city was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 and has a history that dates back to the city's Etruscan and Roman periods. The monuments which make a common name of the square into the "Piazza dei Miracoli" are: the Cathedral, the Baptistery, the Bell or Leaning Tower. Don’t forget your camera, as this trip to Pisa would not be complete without the famous selfie photo with the Tower of Pisa in the background! NOTE: Entrance into the tower is not included nor might there be time on your own due to long lines. You’ll meet back at the pre-arranged time and place to drive to the city of Lucca, about 30 minutes from Pisa. You will have about 3.5 hours to get to know the city whether you choose to explore on your own or add-on the guided walk with an experienced guide (see the order form). The bus staff will tell you exactly when to meet back at the bus which will be parked near Porta Santa Maria, in the historical center of Lucca. The Porta Santa Maria is a gateway to the walls of Lucca, it was established between 1549 and 1592. This is part of the Renaissance walls and was designed by architect Cinese Bresciani and built by Michelangelo Gabrielli. It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and at the entrance, there is a beautiful marble statue of the Madonna. While in Lucca you will have some free time to grab a great lunch at any of the local restaurants or cafes in downtown. If you add-on the guided walk, your knowledgable guide will take you to the most interesting places in this historic city, such as the Guini Tower, Piazza dell'Anfiteatro and San Frediano Church! The amphitheater, Piazza dell’Anfiteatro, is a unique elliptical-shape plaza and is the very symbol of Lucca. When the plaza was created, for spectacles and gladiator games, the amphitheater of Lucca was an imposing structure, with fifty-four arches and an enclosure able to hold as many as ten thousand spectators. There is lots to see and your guide will make it much easier to see the best sights. When your time in Lucca comes to an end, you'll meet your driver at the pre-arranged time and spot to return to your La Spezia starting point and head back to your cruise ship.
