Livorno is a regular for cruisers, we’ve been at least four times in the last twenty years. On previous occasions we have walked around the area, or hired cars to go further afield. This time we decided to take the ship’s tour and revisit Pisa and Firenze. 

It may seem crazy to only get an hour in Pisa, but realistically, it’s a photo opportunity and a spectacular one at that. Yes it would have been nice to ascend the tower or go into the Cathederal but these aren’t deal-breakers. Actually being there on the ground and whitenesssing the tragic architecture from below is probably the right thing to do. 

Leaning Tower of Pisa against a clear blue sky with scaffolding on the left and visitors in the foreground.
Leaning Tower of Pisa beside the cathedral complex against a blue sky, with visitors walking on the lawn in the foreground.
Group of tourists posing for a selfie with the Leaning Tower of Pisa in bright sun behind them; everyone wears lanyards and smiles.
Stone cathedral with rounded arches and a large striped dome, set against a clear blue sky; foreground lawn and stone walkway with visitors nearby.
Dome of Pisa Cathedral with ornate stonework, visitors on the lawn in Piazza dei Miracoli under a clear blue sky.
Interior of a grand stone cathedral with tall columns and arched vaults leading to an ornate altar and illuminated mosaics.
Front façade of a historic cathedral with multiple arches, statues, and a small crowd at the entrance on a clear day.
Leaning Tower of Pisa beside a stone building with scaffolding on a sunny day, people on a green lawn preparing equipment.
Tourists near the Leaning Tower of Pisa on a sunny day with a Carabinieri car in the foreground
Courtyard with pale peach walls, arched colonnade, and a central statue fountain beneath a clock tower.

Our guide Katia is a formidable mixture of Italian and German, one half is flighty and singing, the other is stern and scary. The Teutonic side repeatedly makes it clear that anyone who disobeys her timetable will be excommunicated at once, but the Latin side gives our missing three customers an extra fifteen minutes to find us, which they do by the skin of their teeth. We enjoy our wander around Pisa but we’re most definitely back on time for her schedule. 

Then it’s another hour as we head further inland to Firenze / Florence, our first stop is to dump the bus in Piazzale Michelangelo, and walk around the beautiful gardens on the wrong side of the Arno, not far from the imaginary Pensione Bertolini in A Room with a View.

Talking of views, the vista taking in the Ponte Vecchio and Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, otherwise known as Il Duomo, is glorious. 

Panoramic view of a historic Italian city along a river, with orange rooftops, arched bridges, and a tall brick tower under a blue sky.
Aerial view of a European city with red-tiled rooftops, a river, and stone bridges across the water, under a blue sky.
Florence cityscape with the Duomo dome and Palazzo Vecchio against rolling hills and blue sky.
Rusty metal frame framing a cityscape with terracotta rooftops and a tall tower under a blue sky with clouds.
Man in sunglasses sits on a bench beside a tall carved wooden statue wearing a hat in a sunny outdoor area behind a railing.
Marble statue group on a pedestal under a glass and iron pavilion in a square, with green trees and yellow buildings in the background.
Riverside cityscape with a stone arched bridge over a calm river and pastel-colored buildings on both sides under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.

We cross the river and move on to another location significant to our heroine Lucy – the Basilica de Santa Croce, which is quite magnificent. We enjoy a detailed discovery of the tombs of Rossini and Michelangelo as well as significant artefacts dating back to the 1300s. 

Front façade of the cathedral with white and green marble, a large circular window, and decorative arches in a busy square.
Interior of a historic cathedral with ornate frescoed walls, stone arches, and stained-glass window panels along the aisle outside pews and railings.
Interior of a grand Gothic church with ornate arches, frescoed walls, and tall stained-glass windows surrounding a lit altar.
Interior of a historic church: hanging crucifix, dark wooden pews, stone walls, and tall arched stained-glass windows.
Interior of a historic church with colorful stained-glass windows, decorative arches, and a statue in the foreground.
Interior of a richly frescoed church with arched ceilings and ornate stonework, visitors admiring the art.
Interior of a historic gallery with marble columns, an ornate frieze, and a large framed painting on the left.
Interior of a grand church with a central ornate altar and stone sculptures, flanked by tall columns and large framed paintings on either side.
Interior of a grand cathedral nave with tall arches, ornate columns, and a wooden vaulted ceiling; visitors seated along pews.

We also get to visit a traditional leather tooling enterprise, but it’s just a boring gimmick for the tourists. Next we continue on to the Borghesi Palace, previously Napolean‘s sister Pauline’s home now an hotel with a delightful ballroom. Today we have an excellent pasta lunch here, Katia having warned us that in Italy pasta is served al dente and don’t complain!

Stone neoclassical building with arched entrance, columns, and decorative façade under a bright blue sky.
Luxuriously gilded church interior with ornate ceiling panels and a large crystal chandelier.
Opulent ballroom with gilded walls, ornate carvings, and crystal chandeliers; round cocktail tables covered in green cloths set up for an event.
Opulent gold chandelier with numerous candles hangs over a richly carved, gilded interior room with burgundy walls and ornate trim.
Narrow cobblestone street lined with historic stone buildings under a bright blue sky; pedestrians walk, some with umbrellas, and parked cars along the curb.

Firenze was the capital of Italy for a brief period in the 1860s but it didn’t last long. The doorway is the entrace to the building where Da Vinci painted Mona Lisa. There is still a huge collection of stunning imperial buildings and some naked men which we enjoy, particularly David, whom Katia insists is the most exquisite male form. 

Facade of a historic stone building with ornate carvings, statues atop, and wide steps leading to the entrance under a clear blue sky.
Historic town square with medieval stone buildings and a tall church spire under a blue sky; people walk and outdoor cafes line the street.
Arched stone doorway with a large wooden door; two people entering a historic-looking building beneath the arch.
Central marble statue rising from a historic fountain, surrounded by other sculptures in a bustling square under a blue sky.
Stone historic building with flags on a balcony, a prominent marble statue in the foreground, and visitors nearby.
Bronze statue of Perseus holding Medusa's severed head aloft, standing on a carved pedestal in a pale courtyard.
Historic stone church with arched windows on a sunny plaza, flags hanging along the facade as pedestrians pass by.
Facade of Florence Cathedral with green‑white marble stripes, red dome in the background, and a scaffolding‑wrapped bell tower; people in the square.
Ornate metal door with gold relief panels depicting scenes, framed by carved vines and two stone columns
People walk across a sunlit city square with ornate historic buildings and a small carousel in the center under a blue sky.
Colorful ornate carousel with horses in a city square, set against beige neoclassical buildings on a sunny day, with pedestrians nearby.

Our return journey is uneventful and we’re back just in time to shower and dress for pre-dinner drinks followed by dinner at Sakura, the only restaurant with outside seating. 

Four adults in business attire dining at a waterfront cruise, sunset over a harbor in the background, wine glasses on the table.
Bowl of braised beef with red peppers and yellow veggies in a dark glossy sauce.
Plate with sesame-covered bread rolls and a small bowl of chopped vegetable dipping sauce, sesame seeds scattered on the plate, and pink sauce dots around the edge.
Blue ceramic plate holds a herb-packed salad with greens, quinoa, and crispy onion strands.
Blue ceramic bowl with fried dumplings and bright green edamame beans in a rustic dish.
Sunset over a waterfront rooftop bar with blue-lit lounge seating and glass railings.
Sliced crusted ribs with pink center on a dark plate, garnished with a sprig of rosemary and a red chili sauce on the side in a small bowl
Plate with seared white fish pieces topped with green herbs and yellow sauce under blue lighting.
Lobster tail rests on a plate beside pasta with lime wedge and cilantro garnish.
Dark bowl of vegetable soup with carrot ribbons, broccoli, potato chunks, and cilantro on a table, with cutlery nearby.
Outdoor rooftop dinner party at dusk with purple lighting and guests seated at tables with wine glasses and platesedible? (rephrase) No—corrected: Outdoor rooftop dinner party at dusk with purple lighting and guests seated at tables with wine glasses and plates.
Chocolate lava cake in a round pan topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and red sprinkles.
Close-up of a yellow pastry or scoop in a blue ceramic bowl with orange-red specks on top.
Round chocolate cake in a pan topped with upright chocolate sticks and sprinkled seeds on glossy frosting
Dessert plate with white frosting, bright green sponge cake, dark chocolate cookies, and a large blue round cookie with a crown design in the background.

We enjoy an excellent Asian fusion dinner before returning to Explora Lounge to spend time catching up with the wonderful Sophie and Claudio, who manage to keep us up well beyond our normal bedtime!

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Neil
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