Upon arrival, follow your tour leader to the Field of Dreams (Piazza dei Miracoli), a verdant expanse home to the city’s most important sights: the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Baptistery and the Duomo. Here you will be completely free to visit the main sights independently for 1h30mins

During your free time you can pose for photos by the Leaning Tower and, depending on availability, head inside for a guided tour (own expense). Alternatively, make for the Duomo (own expense) to marvel at its carved pulpit by Giovanni Pisano, or head inside the Baptistery (own expense) to test the unusual acoustics or sit in a local bar for a coffee. If you wish to book in advance your tickets to the Leaning Tower, we recommend the 10:00am entrance.

Meet back with the rest of the group and your tour leader and take a 1h train to La Spezia, the gateway to the famous Cinque Terre, a string of five picturesque fishing villages along the rugged coastline. Once at the train station in La Spezia you will have some time to grab some food in one of the local stores or pop down to the toilet before you board again on a local regional train to reach the National Park of Cinque Terre. Cinque Terre can only be seen by local trains so expect some crowds and some train delays.

Reach Riomaggiore from La Spezia with a 10 mins train ride. Here you will have 1 hour. Wonder at the tightly packed pastel buildings as you stroll along the cobbled streets with your guide. Learn from your local guide that centuries ago in Riomaggiore, the tall, colourful houses were built in rows with alleys, arches, and steps for defence against pirates and that each house till today has two entrances, one at the front and one at the back on the higher road, for easy escape during attacks. In June, July & August the stop in this village is not available due to the crowds in Cinque Terre to allow to spend more time in the other 2 villages which are considered the most beautiful ones.

Continue by train to Vernazza, a seaside town that surrounds a tiny, natural port. Vernazza is perhaps the most beautiful of the five villages of the Cinque Terre. Enjoy 1 hour free time to soak up the sun on the pretty beach, or dive into the cooling waters for a swim. In Vernazza you can enjoy also the elegant houses, the romantic restaurants and breathtaking viewpoints.

Your final stop is Manarola renowned for its breathtaking coastal scenery. The village is perched on a rugged cliff overlooking the Ligurian Sea, with colourful houses cascading down to the harbour. This picturesque setting makes Manarola one of the most photographed locations in Italy. Here you will have 1 hour . Wander along the harbour and spend a few minutes snapping photos of the picturesque buildings that cascade towards the sea.

From Manarola we will take the train back to La Spezia or Pisa. Here we will take the last train of the day to return back to Florence, where your tour concludes. The journey is 2h30m. On the way back you can simply have a nap and rest after a long day or chat with your new travel friends . -------------------- ITINERARY -------------------- Please note: Via dell’Amore is closed to the public due to landslide damage.