PISA AND LUCCA

Pisa is at once the best known and the most mysterious of Tuscan cities.
Its most celebrated attraction has become, along with the Colosseum, gondolas and spaghetti a symbol for the entire Italian Republic.  You can visit the "Field of Miracles" and see the Leaning Tower, the cathedral, the “Camposanto” cemetery, the Baptistery, and the cathedral museum.A Few months ago, after a long restoration, the tower was reopened and now you can go to the top to admire the view. The trek to the top is an experience in itself, as you can feel the “lean” in the structure while you wind your way to the peak.After a few minutes car drive from the square there's the beautiful church of S.Piero a Grado, built on the spot where St Peter is believed to have first set foot on Italian soil in AD 42. According to the New Testament Book of Acts, he arrived at a set of landing steps by the Arno river.
Lucca is a tidy gem of a town encased within its famous walls.On the top of these walls, where the little city's soldiers once patrolled, now the citizens ride their bicycles and walk their dogs.In Lucca you can visit the S. Martino cathedral, S. Michele, Torre Guinigi, Piazza del Mercato and if you want you can also rent a bike and do the “Wall bike” tour around the city (about 2.5 miles).   Lucca is also the birthplace of the opera composer Puccini and you can see his house that now is a small museum.

For food-lovers it is to be mentioned that Lucca is also famous for its olive oil.