Ah Tuscany! The northwest region of Italy, Tuscany has been romanticized in movies and music over the last several years. It is a charming and beautiful area rich in history and culture. Unfortunately, much like Rome there is so much to see and do that you invariable miss something on your one day port of call in Livorno. Livorno is the port city that is the gateway to the Tuscan Wine Country and serves Florence, Pisa and Lucca and is also the gateway to the Italian Riviera.
For first time visitors to Italy, Florence, the capital city of Tuscany is probably the best choice for your shore excursion. Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance and houses some of the finest works of art in the world in its museums and galleries. The bustling leather markets aren’t to be missed. Florence is the only city where three of the greatest artist of all times worked simultaneously, Leonardo Di Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael. Florence is a 1 ½ hour ride from Livorno.
A second choice about 30 minutes away is Pisa, home of the famed Leaning Tower, also known as the Bell Tower. Construction on the Leaning Tower began in 1174. When architects discovered the soft soil wouldn’t support the structure, construction was suspended until the 1400’s when it was completed with its 8 arcaded stories.
Since we have visited Florence before, we opted for a visit to Cinque Terre, the picturesque villages along the Italian Riviera. Local residents don’t like the term “Italian Riviera” much because it is very different than the French Riviera. Cinque Terre consist of five hamlets perched along the marble cliffs along the Gulf of La Spezia. The villages of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore either clings to the cliff face or are concealed in miniature inlets perfectly blending into this unique and unspoiled landscape. The area has been turned into a National Park and proclaimed a heritage of mankind by UNESCO.
Our visit to this unique and beautiful area was by combination of ferry and walking. I am convinced that to live in these villages you would need to be half human and half mountain goat. The climbs are strenuous, but the scenery unbelievable. The buildings that house the apartments and shops of the residents have to be painted either pastel yellow, peach or pink with gray slate roofs and dark green shutters by law. It gives the area an incredible appearance and is something you have to see to appreciate. While different in their own way, Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast are two areas that Italy can boast as among the most scenic and picturesque in the world. Cinque Terre rates a definite 10 in my book.
Next stop: Villefranche.
The famed Cote d’Azure, more commonly known as the French Riviera is intriguing and interesting. Our ship docks in Villefranche which is located in between Nice, France and the Principality of Monaco. Villefranche is a neat little seaport with a naturally sheltered bay and the hills lined with beautiful Mediterranean style villas that are of the “trompe l’oeil” style that feature colorful facades. The narrow winding streets and steps have preserved the 14th century ambiance and the most interesting is the arcaded “Rue Obscure.”
A variety of excursions are offered to Nice and Cannes, site of the glamour-laden International Film Festival. On this stop, we opted for a visit to the Principality of Monaco and Monte Carlo for a 4 hour morning tour. In the 1850’s, Monaco was the poorest state in Europe. In 1866, the Grand Casino opened and transformed Monaco into the playground of the rich and famous. Today, if you would like to spend the night in the famed Hotel de Paris next to the Casino, you should be prepared to pay around 20,000 Euro a night. Monaco is just a tiny 1.95 square km and is completely tax free for its 5,800 residents. It is one of the safest, cleanest places you will ever visit and no riff raff is allowed. The extraordinary wealth that frequents Monte Carlo is mind boggling with lavish yachts, Ferrari’s, Lamborghini’s and a variety of other symbols of opulence. Monaco has been under the rule of Grimaldi family since 1297 and is currently ruled by Prince Albert III son of Prince Rainer and Grace Kelly. In order for Monaco to remain a sovereign and independent state, Prince Albert who is 49 must get married and have a male child to assume the throne or Monaco will revert back to the rule of the French.
Our excursion took us on a tour of the ornate and lavish Grimaldi Palace which is actually a living and working palace that the affairs of state are administered from by the resident Prince. We also visited the beautiful cathedral of Monaco site of the marriage and state funerals of Prince Rainer and Princess Grace. The cathedral is extraordinary in its beauty.
After concluding our tour and returning to Villefranche, we hopped on the local city bus and visited the old town section of Nice. This is a very easy and inexpensive way to see Nice at 1.30 Euro per person each way as compared to an expensive tour. If you want to learn more and see more of the area, you can hop aboard a local double decked bus tour of the city for 25 Euro per person. With a map, a self-guided walking tour is quite easy if you are up to it.
Our next and final port of call Barcelona will conclude our extraordinary journey.
For first time visitors to Italy, Florence, the capital city of Tuscany is probably the best choice for your shore excursion. Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance and houses some of the finest works of art in the world in its museums and galleries. The bustling leather markets aren’t to be missed. Florence is the only city where three of the greatest artist of all times worked simultaneously, Leonardo Di Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael. Florence is a 1 ½ hour ride from Livorno.
A second choice about 30 minutes away is Pisa, home of the famed Leaning Tower, also known as the Bell Tower. Construction on the Leaning Tower began in 1174. When architects discovered the soft soil wouldn’t support the structure, construction was suspended until the 1400’s when it was completed with its 8 arcaded stories.
Since we have visited Florence before, we opted for a visit to Cinque Terre, the picturesque villages along the Italian Riviera. Local residents don’t like the term “Italian Riviera” much because it is very different than the French Riviera. Cinque Terre consist of five hamlets perched along the marble cliffs along the Gulf of La Spezia. The villages of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore either clings to the cliff face or are concealed in miniature inlets perfectly blending into this unique and unspoiled landscape. The area has been turned into a National Park and proclaimed a heritage of mankind by UNESCO.
Our visit to this unique and beautiful area was by combination of ferry and walking. I am convinced that to live in these villages you would need to be half human and half mountain goat. The climbs are strenuous, but the scenery unbelievable. The buildings that house the apartments and shops of the residents have to be painted either pastel yellow, peach or pink with gray slate roofs and dark green shutters by law. It gives the area an incredible appearance and is something you have to see to appreciate. While different in their own way, Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast are two areas that Italy can boast as among the most scenic and picturesque in the world. Cinque Terre rates a definite 10 in my book.
Next stop: Villefranche.
The famed Cote d’Azure, more commonly known as the French Riviera is intriguing and interesting. Our ship docks in Villefranche which is located in between Nice, France and the Principality of Monaco. Villefranche is a neat little seaport with a naturally sheltered bay and the hills lined with beautiful Mediterranean style villas that are of the “trompe l’oeil” style that feature colorful facades. The narrow winding streets and steps have preserved the 14th century ambiance and the most interesting is the arcaded “Rue Obscure.”
A variety of excursions are offered to Nice and Cannes, site of the glamour-laden International Film Festival. On this stop, we opted for a visit to the Principality of Monaco and Monte Carlo for a 4 hour morning tour. In the 1850’s, Monaco was the poorest state in Europe. In 1866, the Grand Casino opened and transformed Monaco into the playground of the rich and famous. Today, if you would like to spend the night in the famed Hotel de Paris next to the Casino, you should be prepared to pay around 20,000 Euro a night. Monaco is just a tiny 1.95 square km and is completely tax free for its 5,800 residents. It is one of the safest, cleanest places you will ever visit and no riff raff is allowed. The extraordinary wealth that frequents Monte Carlo is mind boggling with lavish yachts, Ferrari’s, Lamborghini’s and a variety of other symbols of opulence. Monaco has been under the rule of Grimaldi family since 1297 and is currently ruled by Prince Albert III son of Prince Rainer and Grace Kelly. In order for Monaco to remain a sovereign and independent state, Prince Albert who is 49 must get married and have a male child to assume the throne or Monaco will revert back to the rule of the French.
Our excursion took us on a tour of the ornate and lavish Grimaldi Palace which is actually a living and working palace that the affairs of state are administered from by the resident Prince. We also visited the beautiful cathedral of Monaco site of the marriage and state funerals of Prince Rainer and Princess Grace. The cathedral is extraordinary in its beauty.
After concluding our tour and returning to Villefranche, we hopped on the local city bus and visited the old town section of Nice. This is a very easy and inexpensive way to see Nice at 1.30 Euro per person each way as compared to an expensive tour. If you want to learn more and see more of the area, you can hop aboard a local double decked bus tour of the city for 25 Euro per person. With a map, a self-guided walking tour is quite easy if you are up to it.
Our next and final port of call Barcelona will conclude our extraordinary journey.