Once you have satisfied your curiosity and visited every corner of Florence, devote yourself to exploring the surrounding area on day trips: Tuscany is a generous land that offers endless interest in terms of nature and culture. Just a few kilometres from the hu Firenze Camping in Town, marvellous cities of art such as Siena, Pisa, Lucca and Pistoia are treasure troves of history and beauty and preserve an extraordinary artistic variety.
Siena, pearl of the Middle Ages
Little more than an hour from Florence, Siena beckons with its historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and atmosphere that sweeps you into the past, bringing the Middle Ages to life. After strolling through the alleys lined with aristocratic palazzos and craft workshops, the perfect geometry of Piazza del Campo suddenly opens up before your eyes. It is noted as one of the most beautiful piazzas in the world due to its distinctive shell shape. The piazza is where the legendary Palio takes place, which runs twice a year and is the most eagerly awaited event by the locals. Overlooking the piazza is the impressive Palazzo Pubblico with its vertiginous Torre del Mangia: take the time to climb the steps up to the terrace with its a stunning view of the city and the surrounding hills. Make sure the Duomo is on your to-visit list, it’s one of the greatest masterpieces of Italian Gothic art. It is a unique work of art, with its polychrome marbles, pendentives and, in particular, the exceptional mosaic decoration on the floor. A great place for a quick lunch is Gino Cacino, a grocery shop that is an institution in the city and makes panini with every kind of filling.
Siena
Pisa: not just the tower
Everyone knows Pisa for its famous leaning tower and the Piazza dei Miracoli, an architectural masterpiece of exquisite beauty, where the Tower, Duomo, Baptistry and Camposanto grace an emerald green meadow in perfect harmony, yet the city has much more to offer. It is home to the oldest university in Tuscany (called the ‘Normale’ a name that belies its exceptional reputation, it was founded in 1810 to train secondary school teachers according to the educational ‘norms’ of the time). It boasts splendid Lungarnos (streets flanking the Arno) along which the city's life unfolds, Romanesque churches and historical palazzos that are well worth a visit. If, after all the monuments you need a breath of fresh air, drive out to the San Rossore Park, which offers a host of outdoor activities and several green trails that take you to the sea shore.
Pisa
Lucca: city of a hundred churches
A pearl surrounded by perfectly preserved Renaissance walls, Lucca is a treasure waiting to be discovered. Start your visit with a walk along the top of the walls in the shade of monumental trees, looking over the roofs of medieval palazzos on one side and meadows on the other. Then dive into the historic centre’s tight network of narrow streets that encircle airy piazzas such as the Piazza dell’Anfiteatro, built on the ruins of a Roman amphitheatre, and churches of disarming beauty, such as the Basilica of San Michele in Foro with its stunning façade, Basilica of San Frediano and the Duomo of San Martino. Before climbing up to the lofty terrace of the Torre Guinigi, stop for a snack at the Forno Giusti, a historic steam bakery that makes focaccia and schiacciata.
Lucca
Pistoia
