We have two days off our cruise ship (port at La Spezia one day and Livorno on another) and plan on spending one at Cinque Terre,. The second day we would like to visit the towns of Tuscany. I am open to any suggestions to experience this area or perhaps does anyone have experience of a day tour in the area. What inspired you the most?
Posted by
Boston
1806 posts
I suggest also trying a cruise forum: here's a relevant thread https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2830178-la-spezia/
Posted by
Rural Georgia
2208 posts
That's like saying "I have one day and would like to visit the towns of Rhode Island."
Do you like wine? Google and you'll find plenty of wine tours from Livorno. Really, anywhere they take you will be fine and will give you a small taste of Tuscany.
Hopefully it will encourage you to come back and spend a week or two just in Tuscany. You cannot appreciate Tuscany running from here to there, rushing to try to see everything. Tuscany is best experienced by embracing "dolce far niente" - the sweetness of doing nothing. It involves freeing yourself from the slavery of a schedule, to be able to wake up in the morning with no fixed plans of what you will do that day. Our most memorable travel experiences have come about by doing exactly that.
Posted by
Boston, MA
1829 posts
Pick a town and go to it instead of some unenjoyable multi-town speed tour of the area.
Florence
or
Siena
would be my top 2 choices and think you would love either. Siena would be a little more relaxed as there is not as much to see and do and a better day trip town than Florence which is better suited for a multiple day stay but still small enough to enjoy in one day.
Siena really left a strong impression on me. The main piazza there is like nothing else and the duomo is also amazing!
Lucca & Pisa would be another option easily doable in a day but personally prefer Siena or Florence.