Nestled in the glorious region of Tuscany, Pisa is most famous for its leaning tower, yet examples of its rich heritage are everywhere. From Moorish to Gothic and Roman architecture, this small city is crammed full of museums and places to visit such as the spectacular Duomo Cathedral and circular Baptistery, the largest of its kind in Italy. Move out of the city though and there´s a wealth of different experiences to soak up from wine tasting to soaking in a natural mineral spa, catching some fresh air in one of the natural parks or breathing in the unforgettable smell of freshly cooked Italian food, while strolling on a seaside promenade.
Pisa Galileo Galilei Airport is the main point of entry for international visitors into the region and from here, Tuscany is best enjoyed under your own steam. There are several Pisa Airport car hire firms for you to choose from and these are Autoeuropa, Avis, Budget, Easycar, Europcar, Hertz, Liberty, Locauto, Maggiore, Sixt, Targarent and Thrifty.
One of the most obvious ports of call is of course Florence, 100km and roughly an hour and 20 minutes drive east of Pisa Airport. As the capital of Tuscany and the birthplace of Renaissance, it is fittingly spectacular. Its best known landmark it the domed Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral which towers over the city and is the largest brick and mortar dome in the world. Nearby are the Campanile and Baptistery buildings which are similar architectural gems. In fact, the whole of Florence is a visual treat and beauty exudes which is why the old centre of Florence itself, contained within medieval walls as it is, was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.
Head northeast from Florence 120km and you come to Bologna. Very much overlooked by many tourists because of its stunning neighbours, this city oozes a charm all of its own. Expect more grit and general hustle and bustle then the others, but as the youngest city in Italy as the Italians refer to it, it makes up for it with an effervescent energy that is palpable. This is probably in part because it houses one of the largest universities in Europe, attended by 100,000 people. During the day there are some interesting places to visit including the Museo Civico Archeologico which house Etruscan, Roman and Egyptian artifacts and has two burial chambers on display complete with skeletons. On a similar morbid theme there is the Archiginnasio, an anatomy theatre first built in 1647 and entirely out of wood. It was used to dissect human bodies as part of Renaissance scientific investigation but had to be reconstructed after a World War 2 bomb tore it apart. In the evening is when this city really comes to the fore however. As a student town you can expect plenty of clubs and lively bars but there are also a host of great eateries and more sophisticated wine-bars to choose from.
If after all that smoke and noise you crave some clean, fresh air and nature then 105km away, a journey of an hour and a quarter, is Parma. Here there are several parks, the best of which is the Parco Ducale. Originally the private gardens of the Dukes, you can stroll to your heart´s content through this leafy, green retreat full of statues and pond, with a cafe open during the summer months. The elegantly majestic Palazzo Pilotta is close by and although first built in the 16th century, was radically transformed a few hundred years later. Housed within is also the Galleria Nazionale which boasts works of art from Leonardo, Parmigianino, Carracci, Murillo, Van Dyck and Tiepolo. Of course the city is famous for its Parma ham so there´s no better place to sample this moreish treat.
Next stop is La Spezia, 128km from Parma or just 85km from Pisa. Whether you want to luxuriate on the fabulous Monterosso beach or take in the massive harbour, one of the main reasons to visit here is the Cinque Terra, a collection of 5 villages built into the cliffs. Packed full of multi-coloured houses and surrounded by olive groves and vineyards, you can walk the cliff paths or take in the sights and sound of these pretty little villages, while enjoying some of the mouthwatering, local dishes on offer.
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