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Florence Loaded
6 days from $725
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Port of Livorno - Tuscany including Florence, Pisa & Chianti |
All tours pick up at the pier between 730 to 830 AM and last 8/9 hours returning
to the ship no later than an hour before sailing. Includes local guides where indicated, car/van, english speaking drivers and admissions. Not included are meals and gratuities for guides and drivers.
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We use deluxe sedans and minivans Reservations and entrance fees are always included (no long lines).
Not included are lunches & gratuities for guides and drivers. Important: our vehicles park in the center of Florence. Buses and motorcoaches park remotely and require a 20/30 minute walk each way to the major attractions, Florence: birthplace of the Renaissance has Italy's favorite dessert, gelato: leather jackets, belts, pocketbooks, etc. & master craftsmen creating gold jewelry in front of you. Choose one of our carefully planned tours - see David's statue by Michelangelo, Ufizzi Art Gallery & Museum, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Ponte Vecchio - you can spend time in Florence or for no extra charge visit Leaning Tower of Pisa on the way from or to the ship.
Other tour choices - the wine country of Tuscany, a cooking lesson, a day at the spa or the designer shopping outlets.
New for 2009 - A Taste of Tuscany - Medieval villages,
Pasta Laboratory - Master Cook Teaches Secrets. Tour Winery and see Pisa on way back to ship. (see # 2 below)
If there is a special itinerary or destination that you want prepared, just ask. Group rates available for parties of 10 or more. |
Tuscan Village
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Your day in Florence - Depart from Livorno at 700 to 830 AM |
Tour # 1, Full Day Florence Tour with visit to Accademia Museum - Full Day, english speaking driver, local tour guide in Florence, private walking tour of historic Florence including tour of Accademia Museum and Michelangelo's statue of David
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This tour assures you a reserved visit of a world famous museum and a walking tour with car and driver available for a full day in Florence, the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance - the artistic, literary, and scientific activity ifrom the 14th to 16th centuries.
Your english speaking driver meets you at the pier and take you to our local guide in Florence for a 3 hour Museum/Walking tour including a visit to the Accademia Museum to see many Renaissance masters of art and sculpture including Michelangelo's statue of David , the Piazza della Signoria with its public Statuary and Bartolomeo Ammanati's Fountain of Neptune. Florence bridges, none more famous than the the Ponte Vecchio with its shops built upon its edges, held up by stilts is a tour highlight as the only bridge that escaped bombing in WW II and has remained intact since the 14th century.
No visit would be complete without a visit to the cathedral, Santa Maria del Fiore, known as The Duomo. The magnificent dome was built by Filippo Brunelleschi. The nearby Campanile (partly designed by Giotto) and the Baptistery buildings are also highlights. Both the dome itself and the campanile are open to tourists and offer excellent views; The dome, 600 years after its completion, is still the largest one built in brick and mortar in the world. Your driver joins you after your tour and will recommend a restaurant where you can get a light lunch or a more traditional one, if you wish.
Have a relaxed afternoon in Florence. Walk or your driver will visit take you to the flea market or the high fashion shops for that special gift to take back home or treat yourself, and as you leave Florence and think about the full day in Florence that will be one of the highlights and lasting memories of your cruise.
If you would like to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa, we can accommodate you as long as you are willing to give up time in Florence, leaving there mid afternoon for Pisa. A short stop is possible giving you time for photos, visit the Cathedral and shop for souvenirs. Let us know when you book your excursion |
| Tour #2, Chianti country, Cooking Lesson, Winery (4/8 persons only) - cook, eat, drink, visit a medieval village and a family winery - see the other side of Tuscany away from the tourist paths. Our newest and most unique tour. See the beauty of the rolling hills of Tuscany visiting an ancient and fascinating village dating back to the 8th to the 10th century, enjoy a cooking lesson and prepare your own lunch in a pasta 'laboratory, visit a regional family owned winery and enjoy a tasting of their finest production. |
Our english speaking driver and escort for the day will meet you at the pier and offer the the option to make a short stop in Pisa for photos. Early morning is a good time to see the Leaning Tower as it’s cooler and not as crowded as later in the day or you can go directly into the heart of Tucany.
Your driver will give you an overview of what you will see. Italian law is very strict and the rule of thumb is that drivers can give you overviews, but are not allowed to go inside churches, museums, etc. and do a guide's job. In summary drivers drive and guides, guide. They each have to be licensed to do their specialty.
Visit a small ancient village such as San Miniato, 8th century, San Donato in Poggio dating back to the 10th century or Badia a Passignano with its Abbey built in the 11th century. All have their place in history, churches, mills, museums, art, sculpture exuding history around every corner. You’ll find antique shops where artisans create their jewelry, sculpture, art and other interesting “souvenirs” to bring home with you.
Continue towards Tavernelle Val di Pesa passing vineyards, fields of sunflowers and olive groves and visit Wilma’s gastronomy laboratory for a Pasta cooking lesson
and lunch. In the heart of this small town in in the Province of Florence you’ll discover a handicraft laboratory centering around high quality flavors and ingredients where tradition and experience synergize together to create an art form of culinary excellence. You will find many different kinds of hand-made pasta: gnocchi, stuffed ravioli, tagliatelle, spaghetti, pici, crepes, cannelloni and much more. Your lab chemist is Wilma who instruct you using her knowledge and share recipe “secrets” handed down over generations from mother to daughter.
Wilma, thanks to the love of her profession has suceeded in creating surprising specialities such as: ravioli stuffed with tomatoes and basil, smoked scamorza and ricotta, chestnut flour tagliatelle, spelt flour pici, spaghetti with basil and other tasty morsels. These specialities are used not only by customers, who buy them directly in the shop, but also by many chefs of the area.Beyond her business activity of creating, producing and selling Wilma offers to those who want to learn “the art of hand-made pasta” and create your own exclusive dishes taking thoserecipes and secrets for the making of pasta in your home that will astound your guests. The course takes place, in English, in her laboratory.
During these lessons you will find yourself kneading, rolling out the dough, cutting the most excentric shapes and, at the end, will admire your creations and the best part have them for for lunch and to be tasted with a very good Chianti wine.
Your lesson today is the specialty of the house a fresh pasta class with 4 or 5 different kinds of pasta accompanied with wine, water and soda.If you prefer we can offer you other menu choices either an appetizer (Crostini & Italian Salumi), two first dishes(ravioli & pici, typical Tuscan Pastas), a main course (rabbit alla cacciatore) and desert (cake or biscuites) or a course in Pizza making, 2 or 3 types of Pizza and beverages as above. Inquire for details
Tour # 3, Full Day Tour Pisa, Tuscany, Chianti with Winery Visit and tasting - with english speaking driver/escort, local licensed tour guide in Pisa, visit medieval villages and a local winery for a tour and tasting of the wine. |
Your english speaking driver for the day will meet you at the pier and proceed to the Field of Miracles in Pisa. The Field of Miracles features the Cathedral (built 1064), the Baptistery (1152), the Camposanto or Public Square (1275), the Walls themselves surrounding the Field (1150) & of course the Bell Tower or Leaning Tower of Pisa constructed in 3 phases between 1172 and 1386. The Tower, due to its construction and the groundwater outflow of the land under it resulted in “leaning” and its restoration and fix up has taken place from 1838 to 2008, just 170 years.
In January 1990, after over 20 years of work the tower was closed to the public. The bells were removed to relieve some weight, cables were used to stabilize the third level and anchored several hundred meters away. Apartments and houses in the path of the tower were vacated for safety. The final solution was to straighten the tower to a safer angle, by removing soil from underneath the raised end. The tower was returned to the exact position that it had in 1838 and reopened to the public on December 15, 2001.
In May 2008, after removal of another 70 metric tons of earth, engineers announced that the Tower had been stabilized and it had stopped moving for the first time in its history and would be stable for at least 200 years.Leaving your ship, go directly to Pisa and meet your local guide for a climb of the Tower. This is easier said than done because of the popularity and the massive crowds that have the same desire. Reservations are required and subject to confirmation, made and paid for in advance, none accepted under 15 days before. Tickets sold first come, first serve and the earlier booked, the better the chance of being approved.
The climb process means check-in, confirmation with identification in hand 30 minutes before your reserved time. The climb is guided and limited to 30 people every 40 minutes. No children under 8 and you must to be able to climb the 296 steps.
There is much more to be seen and understood in Pisa In addition to the Tower. The Cathedral and Baptistry other areas of interest are the Monumental Cemetery, Opera Museum and Sinopie Museum that can be included in your tour.
After your visit to Pisa it's time to drive into the heart of Chianti and your driver will show you the rolling hills, the vineyards and olive grove enroute to lunch (not included) in either a medieval village or outdoors, weather permitting at a local family restaurant
or pizzeria.You'll then continue to a regional winery for a tour of the vineyards and the processing and bottling procedures and have a tasting of their wine, olive oil, etc. Returning to Livorno and your ship, a stop will be made in a nearby village where you'll have a chance to have an espresso and visit some local artisans and shop for momento's to bring home and remind you of your day in Tuscany for years to come. |
Tour # 4, Full Day full day "Do it Yourself" for 9 hours including Florence with english speaking "savvy" driver who will show you the way or if you want to shop the discount stores, have lunch (not included) at your favorite eatery, etc. let us know we'll make reservations.
Note: Your driver is available at all times during the day & and on request will stop in Pisa on way back to the ship.
If you want to include Chianti in your day there is a $50 premium or to visit Siena & San Gimignano $100. That is for the vehicle, not per person |
Tour |
Excursion |
2 |
3 |
4 |
6 |
8 |
1 |
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$650 |
$450 |
$375 |
$265 |
$200 |
2 |
Pisa, Tuscany, Lunch Cooking Lesson, Lunch, Winery Visit NEW |
n/a |
n/a |
$420 |
$325 |
$295 |
3 |
Climb, Leaning Tower, Chianti & Winery NEW |
$725 |
$500 |
$425 |
$330 |
$260 |
4 |
Full Day w/Driver- "Do it Yourself" |
$450 |
$295 |
$235 |
$160 |
$130 |
If there are more than 8 persons in your party or group OR you have a different itinerary we will be glad to quote those rates. Please email or call.
Included: Deluxe transportation, english speaking drivers, private guide & admissions for included tours
Not Included: Lunch, except where noted, and gratuities to drivers and guides.
Important: Wear comfortable shoes. You must be able to walk over cobblestone surfaces and climb steps and sloping paths in historic areas and gardens. Most churches impose a dress code and admission can be refused. Shorts, tank tops & revealing clothing is not acceptable. Knees and shoulders should be covered. In case of inclement weather or in the event that an attraction is closed (Ufizzi & Accademia are closed on Mondays in Florence) another event will be substituted.
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For reservations email with name(s), number in party, name of ship, name of port and
excursions and sailing date(s) to info@crystal-tours.com
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