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EduKick Adult
Soccer Tour
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EduKick Adult Tour - Italy 2008
Milan – Venice – Rimini - Florence -
Pisa
"Why should the kids get to have all the fun!"
EduKick Adult Soccer Tour
TBA, 2008
Main Distances Traveled in Italy during the Tour:
Milan – Venice (3.5 hours by coach)
Venice – Adriatic coast (4 hours by coach)
Adriatic coast - Montecatini (3.5 hours by coach)
EduKick Adult Tour
Open to Adult Soccer players 18 years of age or older. Maximum 18 players
being accepted in each category! Other interested non-playing friends, and
spouses are welcome to attend also.
Tours feature a minimum of three (3) soccer matches (EduKick uniforms
provided...everyone plays), post-game socials with opposing teams, private
bus, hotel lodging, 24 service of bilingual guide, cultural excursions, wine
tasting, evening bar hoping, and dancing, and much more!
Don't miss this unique opportunity to lace up the boots in "Bella Italia"
with the EduKick Adult Tour.
Price Includes:
- 3 nights in a good 3 stars hotel in Como/Milan area in half board;
- 4 nights in quality good 3 stars hotel in half board in Montecatini (close
to Florence);
- 3 nights in good 3 stars hotel on the Adriatic coast; - Dinners and
breakfast daily; - Free sports gadget for all the participants; - full time
private deluxe bus; - full time EduKick bilingual tour manager;
- EduKick Adult Team Reception Welcoming Party
- "Friendly" matches vs. local opponents
- 1 half day guided visit of Milan; - Parking costs of Milan;
- Tickets for the San Siro Museum and Stadium;
- Tickets for the Coverciano museum;
- Half day guided visit of Pisa (including art city entry fee and parking
costs);
- Parking costs in Montecatini;
- Half day guided visit of Florence (including art city entry fee and
parking costs);
- EduKick Adult Team Farewell Dinner
- Wine tasting tour
- Escort and Driver expenses;
- Uniforms & balls for soccer matches; - Water bottles for matches;
- All Parking costs;
- All taxes included.
Not included:
- drinks at dinners; - lunches; - tips
- other entry tickets at visits;
- everything not included in the “the quotes include”; -Return Airplane
ticket; - Insurance
Price per person:
Single Room - $1957 USD plus $100 application fee Double Room - $1695 USD
plus $100 application fee
Day 1 – Departure from US
Departure from US. Overnight
Day 2 – Arrival in Italy - Milan International Airport
Arrival in Milan airport. Meet our bilingual escort, transfer to the hotel
in Milan / Como area. Check-in at the hotel, reception welcome and tour
presentation. Free time to visit the city. Dinner and overnight at the
hotel. Evening free.
Day 3 – Milan
After breakfast, transfer to Milan for an half day guided visit of the city.
After the visit, lunch on your own an time for shopping in the historical
centre of the most important Italian city of fashion.
After the shopping, transfer to San Siro Stadium for a visit of the
Stadium and museum of A.C. Milan (2003 European Champion) and Inter Milan
F.C.
After the visit transfer to a local sport centre to play the
1st friendly match vs. a local team.
Social with with the local team.
After the match, transfer to the hotel, dinner, evening free and
overnight at the hotel.
Day 4 – Lake Como
After breakfast, transfer to Como. Free time to visit the
historical town centre. Time for shopping and lunch on your own.
In the early afternoon; optional transfer to the lake coast for a boat trip
to Bellagio with public boat (on your own) to taste local culture of Como
lake.
Transfer to Como to play the 2nd friendly match vs. a local team. Dinner and
overnight. Evening free.
Day 5 – Milan – Venice – Adriatic beaches
After breakfast, possibility to transfer to Venice for a full day guided
visit or transfer direclty to Adriatic coast. Arrival in Rimini – Riccione
and check-in at the hotel. Dinner and overnight. Evening free.
Day 6 – Rimini
After breakfast, all day free to visit Riccione or Rimini on your own. In
the afternoon transfer to the famous sandy beaches of the Adriatic Coast.
Sun and swim all day.
Dinner at hotel, evening dancing & partying in local
Discos and Pubs (about 2000 on the Adriatic Coast)
Day 7 – Rimini
After breakfast, full free day on the beach or group visit to swimming pool
museum park.
In the late afternoon transfer to a local sports centre to play the 3rd
friendly match against a local team. Dinner the hotel, disco & pub crawl in
the evening.
Day 8 – Florence
After breakfast, transfer to Florence. Arrival in Florence and half day
guided tour of the city. Time for shopping and to visit the historical
centre on your own.
After the visit transfer to Coverciano to visit the sport centre and
museum of Italian Soccer Federation and
Italian National Teams.
After the visit, transfer to the hotel in Montecatini (close to Florence).
Dinner, evening free, and overnight in hotel.
Day 9 – Pisa
After breakfast transfer to Pisa. Half day guided tour of the city.
Afternoon free. Lunch on your own. Transfer to a local sport centre to play
the 4th friendly match against local team. After the match transfer to the
hotel. Dinner and overnight. Evening social.
Day 10 – Montecatini
After breakfast transfer to the Tuscany Coast to visit on your own the
Italian VIP seaside beaches. All day on the beach, lunch on your own, dinner
and overnight at the hotel. Evening dancing, pubs, etc.
Day 11 – Montecatini
After breakfast enjoy a free day. Lunch on your own and in the late
afternoon transfer to a local wine house to taste the best in Italian wine
and Tuscany food.
 In the evening
farewell dinner in a Pizzeria and Pizza for After the dinner transfer to the
hotel. Dinner and overnight.
EduKick farewell party!
Day 12 – Departure
After breakfast transfer to Milan airport and depart.
Travelers' Tips: Italy
Customs Regulations
Luggage is examined on entering and leaving Italy. Free entry is allowed for
personal effects: clothing (new and used), books, camping and household
equipment, fishing tackle, 1 pair of skis, 2 tennis racquets, portable
typewriter, record player with 10 records, tape recorder or dictaphone, baby
carriage, 2 still cameras with 10 rolls of film for each camera, 1 movie
camera with 10 rolls of film, binoculars, personal jewelry, portable radio
set (subject to a small license fee), 400 cigarettes and a quantity of
cigars or pipe tobacco not exceeding 500 grams (1.1 lb).
All items mentioned above may be imported duty-free only on condition that
they are for personal use and are not be sold, given away or traded. A
maximum of two bottles of wine and one bottle of hard liquor per person may
be brought in duty-free. The bottles must be opened. A maximum of 4.4 lbs.
of coffee, 6.6 lbs. of sugar and 2.2 lbs. of cocoa are allowed duty-free.
Overseas tourists arriving in Italy after visiting other countries are
allowed to carry with them souvenirs purchased in other countries up to a
total value of $500 and only a verbal declaration is required. Purchases may
include up to a half litre of perfume.
Exports from Italy
There are no restrictions on gifts purchased in Italy except for antiques
and works of art. These require the authorization of the Ministero dei Beni
Culturali e Ambientali.
Canadian Regulations on Purchases Abroad
Any person residing in Canada returning from a trip abroad can qualify for
personal exemption. All articles acquired abroad, whether purchased or
received as gifts, or purchased at a duty free shop, either abroad or in
Canada, must be declared by the traveler on return to Canada.
U.S. Regulations on Purchases Abroad
Each U.S. tourist may bring back to the U.S. duty-free $400 worth of goods
purchased abroad. The goods must accompany the traveler. A flat rate of 10%
is assessed on the next $1,000 worth of goods purchased. Parcels containing
gifts may be sent from abroad to the U.S. duty-free, providing the total
value of such parcels received by one person, one day does not exceed $50.
Each package should be marked "Unsolicited Gift". The amount paid and the
contents of the package should be declared.
Passport Regulations
A visa is not required for a U.S. or Canadian citizen holding a valid
passport unless he expects to stay in Italy more than 90 days and/or to
study or seek employment. If, after entering Italy, the tourist decides he
would like to stay more than 90 days, he can apply, once only, at any police
station (questura) for an extension of an additional 90 days. he will be
asked to prove that he is a bona fide tourist with adequate means of support
and that he does not request the extension for study or employment. As a
rule, permission is granted immediately. Non-American citizens should check
current visa requirements with the nearest Italian Consulate before
departure.
Pets
A traveler entering Italy with a dog or cat must have a veterinarian's
certificate stating the animal is in good health and has been vaccinated
against rabies between 20 days and 11 months before entry into Italy. It
must also give the breed, age, sex and color of the pet and the name and
address of the owner. The certificate is valid for 30 days. The forms are
available from all Italian diplomatic and consular representatives. Parrots,
parakeets, rabbits and hares also require health certificates and in
addition are subject to an examination upon entering Italy. A dog must be on
a leash or muzzled when in public. Custom officials may require a health
examination of any pet if they suspect it is ill or has come directly from
tropical regions.
Registration for Tourists
The formality of registering with the police within 3 days of a tourist's
arrival in Italy is attended to by the hotels one stays with. If staying
with friends or in a private home, the visitor has to register in person at
the nearest police station within a 3-day period. In Rome there is a special
police information office to assist tourists. (Interpreters are available)
telephone: 461-950 or 486-609.
Vaccination Certificate
No vaccinations are required to enter Italy or to reenter the U.S. and
Canada.
Emergency Telephone Number
For Medical Emergency dial 118
Healthcare and Medical Assistance
Tourists requiring urgent medical care should go to the nearest hospital
emergency room (airports and many train stations also have medical teams and
first aid facilities). Those with serious illnesses or allergies should
always carry a special note from their physicians certifying in detail the
treatments in progress or that may be necessary. Pharmacies (Farmacia),
generally follow shops times (approx. from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from
3:00 to 7:30 p.m., Monday to Saturday, but in large cities many are open
no-stop. Night-time service is provided on a shift basis. Business hours and
night shifts are displayed outside of each chemist's (they are also
published in local papers). Before departure, it is advisable to procure a
document certifying coverage by the national health-care service.
Health Services and Insurance Policy
Italy has no medical program covering U.S. and Canada citizens. Therefore,
U.S. and Canadian tourists are advised to take out an insurance policy
before traveling. First Aid Service (Pronto Soccorso) with a doctor on hand
is found at airports, ports, railway stations and in all hospitals.
Medicines can be obtained only from the pharmacy, whether they are on
prescription or over the counter.
Tax refund for purchases made in Italy by nonresident visitors
According to the Italian law, based on the European Community provisions, as
a non-resident visitor, you can claim a refund for goods and services tax
paid for goods intended for personal or familiar use purchased in Italy. For
more information see:
Agenzia delle Dogane [Italian Customs Agency] official web site
www.agenziadogane.it/italiano/dcagp/iva/iva-inglese.htm
Companies specializing in refunding sales tax
Cashback
Global Refund
Travelers Checks
Will shops in Italy accept traveler's checks?
In major Italian cities and tourist areas traveler checks are accepted. The
rate of exchange is calculated on the daily rate of exchange shown on the
newspapers.
ATMs and Debit Cards
Can I use my Credit Card/Debit Card in Italy?
Yes. Most reputable establishments will accept major credit cards. Those
establishments accepting credit cards will post the logos in their front
windows, just as they do in the USA and Canada.
Are there ATMs in Italy? Will I need to know Italian to use the ATMs?
Yes. The ATM (Automatic Teller Machines) in Italy are known as Bancomat.
There are many to be found in the large cities and even in small towns. The
machines operate just as they do here; at the beginning of the transaction,
it prompts the user for the preferred language. Using a credit card, or even
better, a debit card or your local bank ATM card is very easy. One must
first locate either the Cirrus or BankMate symbol (on the Bancomat and on
your card) to insure the card is usable on that particular unit. Cirrus and
BankMate are the two most popular and widespread banking systems in the
world so they are the best to have. If you are unsure about the
compatibility or the banking systems, contact your credit card company or
local bank.
After discovering the system is compatible, simply withdrawal money as you
would at home. Of course, in Italy the money will be dispensed as Euros, but
when you return home, your bank will have converted the Euros into dollars
using the most beneficial exchange rate possible. Be careful though when
using credit cards, as many banks are now charging large fees of 2.5% to 4%
for cash advances which negate any advantage of using the Bancomat in the
first place. One's best bet is to use your regular ATM card and simply
withdraw money from your account just as you would do at your local bank.
Banking Hours
Banks in Italy are open Monday through Friday from 8:35 a.m. to 1:35 p.m.
and from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.; in many tourist areas they are open no-stop from
8.30 a.m. to 4p.m. and closed all day on Saturday and Sunday and on national
holidays. The afternoon one hour opening may vary from city to city.
Travelers checks can be exchanged for Italian currency at most hotels and
shops and at the foreign exchange offices in main railway stations and at
the airports.
 EURO
The new monetary currency is the Euro which is divided as follows: bills of
5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500; coins of 1, 2, 5, 10 Euros, 20 and 50 cents.
Welcome to the Euro Official Site of of the European Union (EU) Your
Euro-Calculator On-line
Currency Conversions
What is the exchange rate?
To find the current exchange rate between US Dollars, Canadian
Dollars and Euros, please visit
The Universal Currency
Converter
How to Get Euro
Once in Italy, how do I convert my dollars in euros?
Tourists reaching Italy without foreign currency can obtain
Euros through any bank, ATM machines, or exchange office
(Ufficio di Cambio) at airports, seaports and railway stations in
the main cities.
It is advisable to keep receipts of currency exchanged in case it
be necessary to reconvert euros back into dollars before leaving
the country.
Money Belt
Maybe. Crowded tourist sites all over the world are at
pickpocket and gipsy risk and Italy is no exception. One should
always be on alert for these petty thieves, but a good offence is
the best defense. Keep your money hidden preferably in an
inside pocket or money belt.
 Emergency Telephone
Numbers
12 Phone Directory Assistance
112 for Carabinieri's service
113 for Emergency Police Help
115 for the Fire Department
116 for the A.C.I. (Italian
Automobile Club) - for road side assistance
118 for Medical Emergencies
176 International Inquires
Public Telephones
Public telephones are available throughout Italy. Either local or
international calls require the use of a phone card (Carta
Telefonica) which may be purchased at any newsstand, tobacco
shop or "bar" (coffee shop).
Long distance Calls (Interurbana)
Both local and long distance call require the proper area code
before dialing the number. Ex: to place a call within Rome you
must dial 06 + phone number.
To call Rome from Florence : 06 + phone number; to call
Florence from Rome : 055 + phone number.
When calling a cellular phone, drop the zero of the area code, ex:
397 + phone number of the cellular.
To call USA or Canada from Italy: 001+area code+ phone
number.
Country Direct Service
From phones in major cities, to
 connect
to a US long distance
service, dial:
1721011 for AT&T
1721022 for MCI
1721877 for US Sprint
The numbers above work for Rome, Milan, Florence, Naples, Venezia, Torino,
Catania, Vicenza, Livorno, Olbia, Bologna, Brindisi, Cosenza, Formia,
Genova, Latina, Padova, Palermo, Perugia,Pescara, Pordenone, Pisa, and
Trieste.
When calling from pay telephones, just insert 200 lire coin. You
automatically reach an operator in the country of destination, avoiding all
language difficulty.
Canada can be reached by dialing 1721001.
Internet Cafes
No matter how responsible you try to be with your phone card,
you can run up quite a bill when you call your parents/ your kids/ your
significant other. E-mail may be an alternative and less expensive mean of
communication.
Whatever e-mail service you use in your daily life, I would set up
web-access mail for your trip (like the mail offered by
Yahoo!,
Hotmail, etc.). It is
the easiest to use abroad since the only software
and configuration you need are built right into the browser. Set
account up before you leave home, so you don't waste valuable
time abroad. It is getting easier and easier to find Internet cafes
and clubs in Italy. Some, among many:
Directory of the Italian Internet Cafes
http://www.ecs.net/cafe/
Cybercafes Guide
http://www.netcafeguide.com/textindex.htm
TheNetGate
http://www.thenetgate.it
Postal Service
General Delivery Service Mail can be addressed c/o Post Office by adding
"FERMO POSTA" after the name of the town. The addressee can claim mail at
the Central Post Office upon identification by passport.
 Example:
Mr. John Smith
c/o Ufficio
Postale Centrale
FERMO POSTA
00187 Rome, Italy
Stamps
Stamps may be purchased only at tobacco shops and at the Post Office. Always
check at the counter for the exact fare to the country of destination
 Post
Office Hours
Post Offices are open from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. On Saturdays they close at
12:00. Post Offices at airports and main Post Offices in large cities are
open 24 hours a day for registered mail and telegram services.
Electrical Appliances
 The
electrical current in Italy is AC - the cycle is 50Hz 220 V. A tourist
carrying electrical appliances to Italy should have a transformer, either
obtained before leaving your country or bought at an electrical appliance
shop in Italy. Plugs have round prongs, not flat, therefore an adapter plug
is needed.
Laundry and Dry Cleaners
 Most
hotels have laundry and dry cleaning facilities. If the hotel does not
provide these services, the desk clerk can direct you to the nearest shop (
tintoria ) or you can look in the Classified Telephone directory under
Tintorie ( cleaning and pressing ) and Lavanderie ( laundry ).
 Shopping
Although normally shops are open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3:30/4 p.m. to
7:30/ 8 p.m., in large cities and tourist areas there is a tendency to stay
open from 9.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. with possible variations from town to town.
Department stores such as La Rinascente, Coin, Upim are found in many
Italian cities and towns and are open from 9.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m.
Some excellent purchase options are: Clothes for men and women (dresses,
shoes, gloves, silk ties, shirts); lacework, jeweler, leather goods
(handbags, cases, boxes, luggage), ceramics, gold and silver items,
alabaster, woodwork, straw, embroidery, glass and crystal ware.
Como Touristic info
From its podium at the foot of Lake Como, the small city of Como
orchestrates the comings and goings around the lake as it has since
first-century Romans chose it as their summer resort of choice.
The Romans couldn't have found a prettier lake. Long and narrow, Como cuts a
deep gash into the mountains that rise steeply on either side. The
mountains, whose snow-clad peaks are reflected in waters the color of
sapphires, protect the lakeside settlements from the harsh Alpine climate
and frequently murky skies of the Venetian plain. Even in winter, Lake Como
is mild-tempered, its shores clothed in green and its afternoons often warm
enough to enjoy from a table in one of its terrace cafés.
The town of Como is the largest spot on the lake, and many people use it as
a base for exploring the surrounding area. Boats carrying locals and
travelers to the idyllic steep-set shore towns begin here, all of them close
enough for a day's excursion. The town itself does have its own attractions,
most notably the cathedral, architecturally important due to its combination
of Gothic and Renaissance styles.
It is the small villages and sights nearby that make up the majority of the
area's attractions though. Glamorous villas grace the shores of the lake,
their elegant landscaped gardens backing onto the towering mountains behind.
Two of these are located in Bellagio. Long an upmarket sort of place, the
small town has a Hollywood feel to it, its pastel hued houses looking too
perfect to be real. The lake's only island, Comacino, has a whole medley of
ruins from different periods, creating a slightly eerie feel to the deserted
streets (apart from other tourists).
Como and the villages around the lake offer a stylish country retreat with
the added bonus of some delightful restaurants serving fresh fish and
locally grown produce.
 Milan Touristic info
Culturally, fashionably and socially Milan is undoubtedly one of Europe's
most charming and one of Italy's most vibrant cities.
The most famous designers on the globe have their headquarters here and the
shopping streets of Milan attract the bold and the beautiful from every
corner of the earth. But it's not all fashion and haute couture, Milan has
all the style and cultural pedigree you'd expect of an Italian city, and its
streets are lined with trees and art treasures.
In the Duomo, Milan has the world's third largest Catholic church; a
fantastically ornate gothic conception that sits in the centre of the city.
Meanwhile Milan's piazzas and art galleries boast sculptures and canvases
from the most famous Italian artists of the Renaissance. But the piece de
resistance, and the reason why many people flock to the city, is just a
single painting - Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper.
Milan though didn't get its reputation for being Italy's most dynamic city
just off the strength of its artworks. The city is very much forward
thinking, and, while the Italians might only joke that the Milanese aren't
really Italian, it's not that hard to believe.
The city is a lot less pedestrian than Rome and Venice, and its inhabitants
are more energetic than those of other Italian cities. In the day the
loafing around is left very much to the tourists and it's only in the
evening that the Milanese themselves let their hair down or, more
accurately, coiffure it up.
When they do indulge in leisure the Milanese take it seriously, which in
Milan means looking good. There is nowhere better in the world for people
watching and picking up fashion tips as the most elegant people in Italy
stroll in the piazzas and the cafés fill up with the well-dressed denizens
of the city.
If you don't leave Milan more cultured, more refined and discernibly better
dressed than you arrived then maybe you should consider staying a little bit
longer - and that's no bad thing.
Venice Touristic info
In the rich cultures of Europe and celebrated cities of Italy, few places
capture the imagination as much as Venice. Its fabled canalled thoroughfares
and gilded palaces create a magical place of beguiling beauty.
No-one can forget their first view along the Grand Canal, Venice's main
artery that bisects the city. Grandiose buildings in fabulous colours lean
at crazy angles over dark water and the place has an air of ageing elegance
- at any moment you feel the waters could rise and this most precious of
cities disappear forever. It is this air of finiteness that makes visiting
Venice so magical. The city is a huge carpe diem, where living is for the
moment as tomorrow it might all be gone.
And this is why Venice has grown as the talisman of romance throughout the
world. Here there is a sense of spontaneity like no other. People come to
celebrate anniversaries, honeymoons and it is the backdrop to many a
proposal. It has an all-pervading inspirational magic where the world is
turned on its head - priceless art is commonplace and the bland is the
exception.
In truth Venice has been like this for centuries. In its imperial heyday the
city spent vast reserves of money on trinkets to augment its already
beautiful architecture. It is a heritage which tourists now reap
unashamedly. Everywhere you go you'll find works of art - in the
architecture or within the sumptuous houses, palaces and basilicas that are
liberally sprinkled in every area of the city.
Venice is an ever-changing, living canvas. No other place has such a mutable
geography where you can discover delightfully peaceful piazzas and deserted
canals seemingly unmarked on any map. No two wanderings through its back
alleys are ever the same, even if you follow your route as carefully as
possible.
Flooded with tourists in summer and literally with the waters of the lagoon
in autumn, Venice endures with the patience of a noble and bejeweled
dowager. The city permanently teeters on the edge of disrepair but most will
forgive these flaws - because there is nowhere else quite the same.
Rimini Touristic info
Rimini is Italy's favorite family-oriented resort town and is founded on a
venerable Roman pedigree coupled with a prestigious location on the Adriatic
Riviera.
The focal point for visitors is undoubtedly Rimini's manicured swathe of
broad beach with its calm sea and multitude of umbrellas. It's all about
beach games and sun tanning under the reliable sunshine, with games for the
children and cocktails for mum and dad. Scattered about the region there are
several world-class water theme parks, purpose built for a family day out.
There is another side to Rimini though, and one which holidaymakers seldom
encounter. The Old Town is a compact and charming agglomeration of
historical buildings organized around the majestic Corso d'Augusto, anchored
at either end by two striking Roman relics.
Tiberius Bridge is remarkably preserved and still used today as a major
conduit into the city, while the Augustus Arch remains an evocative reminder
of the power wielded by Rimini's Roman founders over two millennia ago.
More recently Rimini has developed a reputation for night clubbing and is
increasingly attracting discerning party people, jaded by the more
established European clubbing scenes of Ibiza and Aya Napa.
Ultimately the city's success is based on its welcoming attitude to visitors
from all walks of life, and a carefully cultivated reputation for safe
enjoyable family holidays without the elitism of other European mainland
resort towns.
Pisa
Touristic info
Anyone playing a word association game is bound to come up with the same
response to the name "Pisa". A true icon if ever there was one, the Leaning
Tower of Pisa is a symbol not just of the city, but of the whole of Italy.
Who would have believed in the 12th century that this rather dodgy bit of
architectural engineering would become such a well-loved building all over
the world?
You can't help but smile when you first set eyes on the tower - there is a
sheer comic aspect to this magnificent structure stooping over the elegant
cathedral and surrounding Piazza dei Miracoli. Ill-fated right from the
start, the campanile, or bell tower, has defied numerous attempts at
correcting its wobbly aspect, though recent engineering has proved
successful in shoring it up so that it stands at a less precarious angle
than before, and it is now deemed safe for ascent - good news for the
thousands of visitors that come to see it every year.
The leaning tower is by no means Pisa's only attraction, though, even if it
is the one that pulls in the crowds. With its collection of magnificent
white marble buildings, the aptly-named Piazza dei Miracoli, or "Square of
Miracles" - in which the tower stands - is easily one of the most striking
squares in Italy. The other edifices in the piazza are all worthy of
exploration and you could spend the best part of a day in this corner of the
town alone: the cathedral, a must-see by any standards, is a unique blend of
architectural styles, its elegant exterior hiding an Aladdin's cave of
gilded ceilings, intricate mosaics and Gothic statuary; and the neighboring
Camposanto is surely the loveliest cemetery in the world. This great wealth
of architecture harks back to the city's heyday in the 11th and 12th
centuries when it was a major European port and influential Italian city.
Elsewhere the city is a labyrinth of winding medieval streets, relatively
unchanged for centuries and full of surprises: wherever you go in the old
town you're likely to stumble upon a piazza with a picturesque old church
apparently undiscovered by any other tourist. And herein surely lies Pisa's
greatest charm; for away from the Piazza dei Miracoli (which is swarming
with tourists from dusk till dawn), Pisa is basically an attractive,
provincial town, lacking in garish pretensions or tourist tat, but just
carrying on with its business as it has done for centuries. Added to that,
it is at the heart of Tuscany, with the stunning cities of Florence and
Siena on its doorstep, as well as the undeniable delights of the charming
town of Lucca and the coastal resort of Tirrenia nearby.
Florence Touristic info
Even among Italy's treasure packed cities Florence is something special.
Although it has long been a destination for the discerning traveler it
continues to grow in popularity as its cultural charms become even more
widespread.
Florence rises from the breathtakingly beautiful landscape of Tuscany like a
living piece of history. Even the most normal street or building is a work
of art in itself and demonstrates the simple classical beauty that defined
the Renaissance. Everywhere you turn you'll see works by Michelangelo,
Donatello, Brunelleschi or any other of the artists of Italy's undisputed
Golden Age.
It is undoubtedly in the museums and galleries of the city that most of
Florence's charms are concentrated. The city's major institutions might not
rival museums such as the Louvre in terms of size but in terms of quality
they are paralleled by few places in the world. However, rich as Florence's
art collections are, one single piece shines above all others -
Michelangelo's David.
It's no exaggeration to say that the sculpture is the focus of the entire
city. The simple majesty of the statue never fails to move even the casual
observer and very few people leave Florence without making the effort to
visit it. Carved by the artist when he was just 29 years old the statue is
among the world's most incredible sculptures.
But even amidst this wealth of culture it is impossible to forget that
Florence is a living city as well - the piazzas are full of fashionable
boutiques and ever more fashionable people, and the café is still central to
Florence social life. In the evening the city lights up and its squares and
streets are thronged with visitors and locals who walk the streets as the
denizens of the city have done for thousands of years.
Email us
today to express your interest!
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