Lucca and Florence

Your day begins as you take the quick port shuttle from your ship to the cruise terminal exit, where your professional English-speaking driver greets you in a premium luxury vehicle. Setting off southeast through the foothills of the Apuan Alps (~50 minutes), you will make your way smoothly to Lucca, one of Italy's best-preserved Renaissance walled cities.
Begin your morning within Lucca's formidable sixteenth-century red-brick ramparts, which encircle the historic town with a lush, tree-lined promenade. Step into the peaceful, pedestrianized core to admire the Romanesque Cathedral of San Martino (Duomo di San Martino), renowned for its intricately sculpted asymmetrical marble facade, Jacopo della Quercia’s marble tomb of Ilaria del Carretto, and the venerated eighth-century Volto Santo crucifix. Take time to stroll down quiet stone-paved lanes, view the ancient holm oaks atop the medieval Guinigi Tower, and peek into the oval-shaped Piazza dell’Anfiteatro, built directly upon the foundation of an ancient Roman arena.
Leaving Lucca, your driver escorts you east through the scenic Tuscan countryside (~1 hour) to the cradle of the Renaissance: Florence (Firenze). Your arrival begins atop Piazzale Michelangelo for an unforgettable panoramic overlook. From this celebrated vantage point, take in a sweeping vista across the Florentine skyline—beholding Brunelleschi’s terracotta dome, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the battlements of Palazzo Vecchio, and the historic bridges spanning the Arno River.
Descending into the city center, explore the monumental heart of Florence. Walk past the Basilica of Santa Croce—the resting place of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli—and stand before the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore to marvel at its polychrome marble facade and the gilded bronze doors of the Baptistery of San Giovanni. Stroll across the medieval stone arches of the Ponte Vecchio, lined with historic goldsmith ateliers, and gaze upon the imposing Renaissance facade of the grand Pitti Palace (Palazzo Pitti). Midday brings time to pause for an authentic Tuscan lunch at a local trattoria, savoring handmade pasta, artisanal antipasti, and regional Chianti wine.
In the afternoon, your cultural journey culminates at the world-renowned Accademia Gallery (Galleria dell’Accademia). Step inside to stand face-to-face with Michelangelo’s towering masterpiece, the David, sculpted from a single block of Carrara marble, alongside his evocative, unfinished Slaves (Prigioni). Following an extraordinary day balancing provincial Tuscan charm with high Renaissance genius, sit back and unwind on a smooth, punctual return drive across northern Tuscany to the Port of La Spezia, arriving comfortably ahead of your cruise ship’s departure.

Important Shore Excursion Details & Custom Options:

Port of La Spezia Meeting Instructions: Due to strict port authority security regulations and physical space limitations at the Port of La Spezia, private vehicles are not permitted directly along the ship’s gangway. Guests must take the complimentary port terminal shuttle directly from shipside to the main cruise terminal exit, where your private driver will be waiting holding a personalized name board.