Later this year my wife and I will be on a Mediterranean cruise. We stop in Livorno for one day (next stop is La Spezia with access to Cinque Terre). We have a full day and plan to join others for a private tour. The question is to where. This will be our first time in Italy. Time of year will be mid-October. I understand that personal interests dictate what people often do, but if one had a day to spend in New York, most would recommend that the day be spent in Manhattan and not Queens. Hence, my admittedly broad question to those with experience in Italy: Where from Livorno with a day to spend would you go? Would it be Florence (though travel to Florence for six or so hours there seems much too rushed), Siena and a small town, the Chianti country, or something else? Thanks in advance for any help that can be provided.
Posted by
Boise, ID, USA
2302 posts
My husband and I have taken many day trips that require an hour to an hour and a half travel each way (which is the train time from Livorno to Florence). Our first trip to Florence was one of these, and I would say that six hours in Florence is better than nothing. On a private tour, you might get there in less time than the train takes. If, however, you believe you will return and would have more time to spend in Florence, then I would choose Volterra and/or San Gimignano for a private tour from Livorno. These are both wonderful towns to visit and are not so far from your dock.
Posted by
Boise, ID, USA
2302 posts
Another pair of towns you might consider is Pisa and Lucca. The major sights in Pisa can be seen relatively quickly, and Lucca is a town I find fascinating, with its old walls and the promenade on top of them.
Posted by
San Diego, CA, United States
864 posts
In May we're taking a repositioning cruise from Ft. Lauderdale that eventually ends up in Rome. We love Florence so much we're departing the ship in Livorno in order to spend a few days in Florence. The train from Livorno to Florence is o/a 1&1/2 hours. Cost o/a $11 second class ($16 first class) each way. (Check out www.raileurope.com for schedules, costs etc. Take a direct train only. Ticket purchase is easy at the window or from a machine.) Train station in Florence (Santa Maria Novella) is within easy walking distance of all the major sites. I highly recommend street wise maps (www.streetwisemaps.com) for places like Florence, Paris etc. Easy to use even for the directionally challenged (that is, ME). With only 6 hours (make it 5 to be safe in getting back to the ship on time) I'd, gulp, skip the Uffuzi unless someone in the group is a die hard art fan. Allow 2 full hours. (Tickets to the Uffuzi are available on-line and will be mandatory in your case. Ditto Accademia - M's statue of David. Allow 1 hour max.) All that said for a group a van is a good bet. Get dropped off somewhere central and plan on meeting up somewhere very specific. Rush hour traffic is a nightmare so factor that in...talk to the driver. Historic Florence is made to be walked.