From Pisa’s Campo dei Miracoli, with its famous Leaning Tower, to the center of Lucca, enclosed by a circle of walls and with little medieval streets, Romanesque churches, and the picturesque Piazza del Mercato, where the Roman Amphitheatre once stood.Day 1
The Ancient Seafaring Republic
Arrival in Pisa and check-in at hotel. Visit to the Campo dei Miracoli, which holds all the most famous monuments: the Cathedral, begun in 1064 by Buscheto, the Baptistery, begun in 1152 by Diotisalvi, the Campanile or Leaning Tower, begun in 1173 and resumed, after the sinking of the ground, in 1275, and the Churchyard. Near the Campo dei Miracoli we will visit
Piazza dei Cavalieri, dominated by the 16th-century Palazzo dei Cavalieri and the coeval Church of Santo Stefano, designed by Vasari, and the Romanesque-Gothic Church of Santa Maria della Spina, which once held a thorn from Christ’s crown of thorns, today kept at Santa Chiara. After lunch, visit to the Carthusian Monastery of Calci, founded in 1366 but rebuilt between the 17th and 18th centuries. Then a visit to the National Museum of San Matteo, featuring sculptures and paintings of the Pisan school from the 12th to the 15th century and the Reliquary Bust of San Rossore by Donatello, and the Museo di Palazzo Reale, once the official residence of the Medici and the Lorraine and later the Savoy families. Transfer to Lucca, check-in at hotel, with dinner and overnight stay.
2
The Historic Center of Lucca
After breakfast, tour of the historic center of Lucca, surrounded by 16th-century walls: the Romanesque Cathedral holds the “Holy Face”, the ancient wooden crucifix mentioned by Dante. Inside, in addition to paintings by Ghirlandaio and Tintoretto, there is the famous Tomb of Ilaria del Carretto, by Jacopo della Quercia. Typical examples of the Pisan-Lucchese Romanesque style are the churches of San Frediano and San Michele in Foro: near the latter is the Puccini Museum, in the house where the composer was born, and the 2nd-century Roman Amphitheatre, which survives in today’s Piazza del Mercato, situated in the ancient arena.
After lunch, a visit to Palazzo Mansi: the monumental apartment, its original appearance intact, is the most precious nucleus of the palace, which also has a Picture Gallery containing works from the collections of the Medici and Grand Duke. Dinner and overnight stay.3
The Villas of the Countryside of Lucca and Viareggio
After breakfast, visit to the National Museum of Villa Guinigi, housed in the famous 15th-century abode. In addition to the archaeological section, the collection includes works of art dating from the early Middle Ages to the 18th century. After lunch, tour of Villas Mansi and Torrigiani, in the countryside of Lucca, and transfer to Viareggio, a wellknown sea resort and the site of numerous events, including the famous CCarnival. Departure as planned.
