Best of Tuscany in a Week Itinerary: Lucca, Pisa, San Gimignano, Siena & Florence

A 8 day trip to Italy

The treasured hills of Tuscany are filled with verdant grasses and vast vineyards. Sprouting out of the hillsides, you can find exceptional medieval towns practically frozen in time. Walls encircle the historic city centers, and Renaissance statues remain in public squares to inspire locals and visitors alike. Marble cathedrals exemplify grandeur on the exterior and interior. Your custom tailored one week Tuscany tour itinerary to Lucca, Pisa, San Gimignano, Siena, and Florence guides you through the picturesque cities and famous landscape of the Tuscan countryside, where the cobbled lanes are as historic and gripping as the artifacts in the museums.

General Information

Photos
Detailed Itinerary

Places Visited 

Lucca, Pisa, San Gimignano, Siena, Florence

Departure Dates 

Dates are flexible and customizable for private departures.

Detailed Itinerary 

Day 1: Finding Florence

The historic streets and churches around Florence have lent the city to be dubbed the 'Cradle of the Renaissance.' Stunning marble sculptures decorate the public square of Piazza della Signoria. The Loggia della Signoria decorates the southern border of the square, filled with images of the Renaissance set beneath the large, open arches and date back to the 14th century. Medici lions look out to Palazzo Vecchio. Perseus holds the head of Medusa, cast in shimmering bronze. The Arno River floats past in the nearby canal. The lush Tuscan hills encompass the outer reaches of the city, emphasized with thin towering cypress trees.

Our Italy travel agent will arrange a private transfer to meet you at the airport . Your private transfer leads you into Florence helping you settle into the beauty and romance of the historic city. Piazzale Michelangelo watches over the historic city center on the Otra Arno, known as the other side of the Arno River. The terrace provides a spectacular view to the entire city, stretching from the banks of the river, past the dramatic dome of the Florence Cathedral, all the way to the hills beyond the ancient city walls. The scent of fresh pasta fills the evening air.

Every evening the monks at the Abbey of San Miniato al Monte, just behind the piazza, perform mass. Their Gregorian chants echo in the gilded church gallery. The scent of frankincense filters out the doors of the church and into the countryside. It is a perfect introduction to Tuscany.

What's Included: transfer, accommodation

Day 2: Precious Pisa

In the morning, the soft light washes over the brick dome of the Florence Cathedral. The gold plated Gates of Paradise on the baptistery shimmer in the sunlight, with the images of the Old Testament, showcased on the east doors. The morning is yours to discover more of the majesty of Florence, savoring the quality of the city that resembles an open-air museum, with historic palaces, a marble cathedral, and priceless artistry for public viewing.

In the early afternoon, you leave the Tuscan capital and make your way into the verdant hillsides, covered in emerald grass and jade cypress trees. Villas speckle the countryside en route to Pisa. When you arrive, you find a principality with a historic Navy that once surpassed that of its northern neighbor of Genoa. Once in the city, you find a vibrant, youthful energy stemming from the student population. The university has been a staple in the city since the 14th century and remains a prized institution across Italy.

At the Piazza dei Miracoli, you find the expansive square home to the renowned Leaning Tower, but also the sensational Pisa Cathedral. The medieval structure was erected in the 11th century with five naves and a Romanesque style. The pointed arches in the interior and the mosaics show a heavy Byzantine influence. The gray marble facade contrasts the white stone and marble disks enveloping the main doors made of bronze. The grandeur of the structure heightens the atmosphere around the Leaning Tower, showing the historic power and wealth of the city.

What's Included: breakfast, transfer, accommodation

Day 3: Remarkable Lucca

In the morning, the remnants of the city's opulent past blossoms out of the quiet streets, surrounding the Piazza dei Miracoli and emerging from the grounds of the Sacred Field made legendary by the Archbishop Ubaldo dei Lanfranchi. After breakfast, you pass the Piazza dei Cavelieri and the 16th century palace of the same name, leaving Pisa behind for the sensational medieval walled city of Lucca. A circuit of walls more than two and a half miles long borders the historic city center. Eleven bastions and six gates have fortified the 39-foot tall walls since the 16th century. Today, a public park surrounds the walls providing lush space for locals to walk, run, and bike.

Flowers blossom and trees glow in the gentle Tuscan breeze, bringing a verdant scent to the city. The massive Guinigi Tower stands at the center of the old walled town adorned with holm oaks. The tower stands more than 145 feet tall and was erected to connect a complex of two mansions belonging to the Guingigi household, a family that brought the city an era of prosperity and peace in the 1400s. The city has an ineffable charm emanating from the Roman Amphitheater, whose oval outline remains in the design of the bordering homes.

What's Included: breakfast, transfer, accommodation

Day 4: More than Quarries

The walls of Lucca practically blend into the scenery, embraced by the organic greenery of the park. The day is yours to enjoy the city and its surroundings at your leisure, taking the time to savor the aroma of the morning espresso and images of the Renaissance structures enlivening the cityscape.

At the northern coast of the city is the town of Carrara, noted throughout history as the quarry site for Carrara marble. White peaks form the backdrop of the city throughout the year and are in fact showcasing the sensational marble terrain around the region, spanning 4,942 acres of marble quarried from the Apuane Alps since the Roman Empire. The marble remains the world's most pure and sought-after shining stone.

For a unique look into the artistry of stonework, symbolizing the masterful allure of Michelangelo's David, you visit the Studi di Scultura Carlo Nicoli. It was in Carrara that Michelangelo chose the gigantic stone from which to carve his masterpiece. In the sculpting school, you find students designing, shaping, marking, and planning their methodology to bring their imagined works into the stone-reality. The studio is the most atmospheric of the workshops in Carrara, filled with dusty air from the chipped and tinkered stone. The studio showcases internationally renowned artists alongside students to remind every one of the possibilities of the marble, and the millennium-old tradition of sculpting.

What's Included: breakfast, accommodation

Day 5: Towering San Gimignano

Today, you leave behind the Lombard region of Tuscany and make your way south to the Chianti region, known for the sweeping vineyards, tasty wine, and the dramatic towers of San Gimignano. Before you even reach the city, you can see the medieval edifices and strongholds standing atop the hillside like a picture in a storybook. Once in the city, you can stroll up the inclined walkway, through the city gates, and enter the historic streets.

In the center of the city, you can see the top of numerous square towers peeking through the top of the buildings and creating the unique skyline. The two Torri Salvucci Towers were erected in the 13th century and overlook the Piazza del Duomo. Each tower in the city was erected to show a family's wealth and prominence in the city, which is shown dramatically in the Torri Salvucci. Legend says the two towers were constructed to bypass a city ordinance defining a tower's height, therefore when the height of towers is combined it would prove taller, and, therefore, prove the family's wealth is greater than another rival family. The antique city is marvelously preserved and fills with the aroma of delicious gelato in the afternoon. The city walls have protected the town since the 13th century and continue to offer tremendous views to the exemplary Tuscan countryside.

What's Included: breakfast, transfer, accommodation

Day 6: Medieval Steps

The picturesque Tuscan town of Siena stands on the hilltops 28 miles south of San Gimignano. The city was a seat of power and wealth in the 12th to 14th centuries competing with Florence for supremacy. The historic city center looks like a medieval city frozen in time. Colorful stone houses line the cobbled streets. The Gothic tower of Torre del Mangia, connected to Palazzo Pubblico, stands 318 feet and is visible from the rolling hills encircling the city, especially its marble crown atop the red brick turret. The scent of fresh pasta filters out of charming restaurants and cafes. Locals and visitors linger under the shady umbrellas decorating the entryways to cafes in the Piazza del Campo, the city's main square.

The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta is a perfect example of Italian Gothic architecture. Dark stripes along the facade create a dramatic contrast with the shimmering white marble and pink hued tripartite entry arches. The cathedral was erected in the 13th century and is filled with the continuation of the black and white marbled motif. Your eyes are drawn to the mosaics on the floor. Fifty-six inlaid marble panels depict various Biblical scenes and popular mythologies, including a representation of Romulus and Remus found in the wild by a mother wolf.

What's Included: breakfast, transfer, accommodation

Day 7: Return to the Renaissance

The morning light shines through the rose window of the Siena Cathedral, washing over the radiant marble panels you witnessed the previous day. After breakfast, you travel across the verdant Tuscan hills once more and return to the vibrant and enchanting city of Florence. Once in the city, the remainder of the day is yours to savor the beauty of the city and its treasured works.

The Galleria dell'Accademia was established in the 18th century and acts as a school for inspiring artists, along with a museum housing Renaissance paintings and sculptures. When you enter the museum, you find a pristine gallery. The sheer white walls around the main hall allow the art to burst from their canvases. A doorway to the left of the entrance leads you into a long hall. Crowning the hall is the original and breathtaking sculpture of Michelangelo's David. The statue has stood in the gallery since 1873 and stands beneath a single dome framing the 17-foot tall marble masterpiece. What separates the statue from others you have seen is not just the size, but the remarkable detail connoting every muscle to create a divine structure of the body. Even David's hair has heft and movement in its added curls. The cool air of the museum adds to the atmosphere surrounding the statue. The wonderment of the artwork created during the Renaissance never ceases.

What's Included: breakfast, transfer, accommodation

Day 8: Tuscan Farewell

The shops along Via dell Corso open their doors to the spreading sunlight. The bells of Santa Maria Novella call to the city. Stores selling leather goods near San Lorenzo Market display their custom shoes and coats. You bask in the morning like a local Tuscan, sipping your espresso and savoring the slight bitterness and strong flavor. The gardens of the Pitti Palace open to visitors, showcasing the exuberant design and decor of classic Italian gardens.

Soon your private transfer will meet you at the hotel to escort you to Florence Airport Peretola. For now, you can enjoy the morning and watch the city come to life around you.

What's Included: breakfast, transfer

Price

Price 

Orient-Travelrecommends the following guidelines for customized Italy tour packages, excluding international flights:

  • 5-star: USD $450 - $1,000+ per person per day
  • 4-star: Minimum USD $350 per person per day
  • 3-star: Minimum USD $300 per person per day

The customized package will include hotels, airport transfers and other transportation within Italy, guided tours or activities, unique experiences, trip planning, and 24X7 support during your trip.

Please inquire for a custom quote. The price is customized based on final hotel choices, travel dates, and other custom preferences.