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Lucca sightseeing with TM
Pisa visit with TM including the Duomo
· Entrances to the Leaning Tower are never included unless clearly stated in the Group Leader’s itinerary.
· Remind the group of dress code – no bare knees or shoulders
· Bear in mind that guiding by TM’s is prohibited in Pisa and Lucca – do your commentary on the bus.
· Buses require a permit to enter Lucca. The checkpoint is signed as you enter town. Driver pays for the permit.
· Your driving distances are short today, so you can be flexible with your timing. It’s best to visit Lucca first as all the shops close for a long siesta.
· A new entry system is in place for the Cathedral, which is now free of charge. Please read below for details.
Viareggio area – Lucca 45 mins
Lucca – Pisa 45 mins
Pisa – Viareggio area 45 mins
09.00 Depart Viareggio area. Take Autostrada A11, towards Florence. Exit at Lucca, drive to the checkpoint and pick up your permit.
09.45 Arrival in Lucca. Drive to the walls and drop off outside the Porta S Anna in Piazzale Boccherini. Ask the driver to pick you up again at 14.00. Walk through the walls to Piazzale Verdi. The Tourist Office is located here, with free maps and (paying) toilets.
Walk the group down via San Paolino to San Michele in Foro. From there take them to the Duomo and give them time for a brief inside visit on their own. Then take Via Fillungo to the Piazza del’Anfiteatro. Make a rendezvous for departure at San Michele and give free time for lunch. You can suggest they visit the church of San Frediano or go up the Guinigi Tower.
An alternative and fun thing to do is to rent bicycles from the Tourist Office, an easy and different way to explore the town from its walls.
In that case make a rendezvous for departure in front of the Tourist Office.
14.00 Depart Lucca. Rejoin the Autostrada and continue to Pisa. Exit at Pisa Nord and follow signs to the bus park
15.15 Arriving in Pisa follow signs to the bus park. It is a fifteen-minute walk from here to the monuments, well indicated from the far end of the bus park. There are also shuttle buses, which leave at irregular times from the Terminal building (they pay). Be aware that these can get very crowded and can be uncomfortable in the summer. It is always better to walk if you can.
On entering the square, give them time for photos while you go and get vouchers from the ticket office to enter the Duomo. Distribute vouchers, walk your group to the entrance, make a rendezvous for departure and leave them free to visit on their own.
Toilets (paying) are located to the left of the Duomo
N:B This is a new system which allows to visit free of charge but, as a downside, is rather time consuming.
The new regulation allows entry shifts every 45 minutes for up to 50 visitors per shift. Vouchers valid for up to 2 visitors are distributed at the ticket office, eg. for a group of 30 passengers you will have to collect 15 vouchers. In the light of this you might want to plan well ahead of time your visit to Pisa and perhaps call the ticket office in advance to have an idea of the volume of visitors on the specific day.
16.45 Depart Pisa and take the A11 back towards Versilia.
17.30 Arrive back at your hotel.