Lucca & Pisa (35 min; 65 min by car)
Some (including us) describe Lucca as their favourite Italian city. It is ringed by ancient defensive walls, and contains a maze of narrow, shaded streets. The prices are not specially inflated for tourists and the Lucchese are friendly and welcoming.

Dominated by its famous churches and towers, Lucca has its famous oval piazza built over the structure of a Roman amphitheatre. Lucca is well known for the Via Filungo (excellent for shopping, cafés), the beautiful churches of San Michele and San Freddiano (to name but two), and the joy of hiring cycles for a few euro to ride around the city and along the walls.

Pisa is famed rightly for its leaning tower, but the other religious buildings it neighbours - the Duomo and the Battisteria - are of great beauty and historical interest. The Piazza dei Cavalieri is also a very beautiful and fascinating visit. Pisa abounds in excellent seafood restaurants.

Florence, Venice and Rome
Europe's Jewel of the Renaissance - Florence - can be reached in under 90 minutes.The stunning hilltop cities of San Gimignano and Siena are also within the scope of a day trip.

Venice and Rome can both be reached by train in about 4 hours. If guests wish to do a day trip, we usually recommend they take the train. Rome and Venice also deserve an overnight stop, we suggest. We are happy to advise on itineraries, timetables and accommodation.