Leaving Piazzale Roma (car terminal) after approx 2 and half hour drive south you'll reach the wonderful city of Florence, where the first stop will be the marvellous terrace called Piazzale Michelangelo (named after the artist who sculpted the original David statue). Here you get one of the most impressive views of the city. Nearby you can also see the white and green marble façade of the S.Miniato al Monte church - an example of the Florentine Romanesque style. After leaving the church, we follow an uphill road, bordered by the ancient city walls, until we reach Forte Belvedere, built around 1590 by the Grand-duke Ferdinand to protect the Medici villas. From the Fort, passing the old gate to the city - Porta Romana, we come to the imposing Pitti Palace, which hosts many galleries and museums (Gallery of Modern Art, Costume Gallery, Palatine Gallery, Royal Apartments, Coach Museum, Silver and Porcelain museums, etc) and a magnificent park called the Boboli Gardens. Next we head for the city center, to Piazza della Repubblica, surrounded by the historical literary cafés, where, long ago, important intellectuals gathered together. Following the Via De'Calzaiuoli, which connects Piazza del Duomo (S. Maria del Fiore, the Baptistery, Giotto's Bell tower) to Piazza Signoria (Palazzo Vecchio, Uffizi*, loggia dei Lanzi) you will be able to admire the best masterpieces of Renaissance art, breathing in the magical atmosphere that only Florence can offer. Our driver, completely at your disposal, will be more than happy to take you to Piazza Santa Croce to visit the Santa Croce church, where many famous Italians are buried, and then take a must-deserved rest. For those who would like to shop or the hungry soul, there are also many shops and "trattoria" to dive into, so everyone in the group can satisfy their desires whether it be a leather jacket or a scrumptious plate of pasta! Shopping, can be a unique experience in Florence. Walking through its ancient medieval streets, exploring the city's renowned tradition of crafts and family-run businesses. Few cities of comparable size can boast of such a profusion and variety of high quality goods with Italian design. The most important street for shopping is Via De' Tornabuoni with designer boutiques like Prada, Gucci, Armani, Ferragamo, Valentino, Vuitton, Damiani, Cartier, Trussardi, Eleuteri, Buccellati, Coveri, Versace, Tiffany, YSL, Zegna, Desmo, Chopard, Tod's, Cavalli etc. We can also see what the local craftsmen have to offer in the small local workshops in the Santa Croce or Santo Spirito neighbourhoods, or practice your bargaining skills at the San Lorenzo outdoor market. After Florence we proceed towards the wonderful countryside of the Tuscan region and after a 50 minutes drive, you'll reach Pisa, one of the best known Tuscan cities. The town of Pisa is of Etruscan origin. In 179 B.C. it became a Roman colony and in 89 B.C. a Roman municipium. Pisa was an important naval base for the Romans. In the middle Ages it was an important port, just like Venice, Genoa and Amalfi. Each of these towns had both a merchant fleet and a navy, which controlled all the seas around Italy. Pisa reached its greatest peak of splendour in the XI and XII centuries when it expanded its power over the islands of Corsica, Sicily and Sardinia. In addition, it controlled the entire Tuscan coast from Portovenere to Civitavecchia. It's most celebrated attraction, the Leaning Tower, has become, along with the Coliseum, gondolas and spaghetti, a symbol for the entire Italian Republic. You can visit the "Field of Miracles" and see the Leaning Tower, the cathedral, the "Campo Santo" cemetery, the Baptistery, and the cathedral museum. A few years ago, after a long restoration, the tower was reopened and now you can go to the top to admire the view. The climb to the top is an experience in itself, as you can feel the "lean" in the structure while you wind your way to the peak. (Reservations can be made on-line: http://www.opapisa.it/boxoffice/index.jsp ). Return to Venice in the late afternoon.