Car travel in Italy: an itinerary from Cinque Terre to Tuscany

Would you like to travel by car in Italy to discover enchanting landscapes and picturesque villages? The long and exhausting restrictions due to the state of emergency caused by the Covid-19 pandemic have only increased the desire to travel. However, as far as finally possible, it is perhaps less prudent to travel by public transport at this historic moment, whereby travelling by private vehicles is more advisable. Hence, it seems to be the right moment to organize that on-the-road trip everyone has dreamed of doing at least once in life. Do not be discouraged by long distances: sometimes they are shorter than we think. The itinerary we report below that starts from the magnificent coastal Ligurian area of the Cinque Terre (Five Lands) to the charming Pisa in the beautiful Tuscany is the perfect example. 

Here are some of the advantages of travelling by car in Italy:

-You can travel with the whole family, your partner or a group of friends and create adventurous moments that will be part of the trip memories as much as the trip itself;

-Flexibility: you can stop at any time and whenever you want;

-Planning the stages you wish to take along the way;

-Especially in high season periods, a car trip can be cheaper than booking a plane ticket or other public transport. One con: the luggage. You would better travel light so as not to risk exploding the trunk.

Travelling by a private vehicle means enjoying every piece of the road, and it is synonymous with freedom. No schedules, no limit of stops to visit, sudden changes or additions of the route without upsetting the plans.

You could start your holiday among the most picturesque locations and beautiful landscapes of the Cinque Terre, a popular destination, by taking advantage of the sensational opportunity offered by Visit Italy. Get your ticket for an unforgettable experience by taking part in a guided tour of the beauty of Portovenere, Vernazza, and Monterosso.

Would you like to explore with an adventurous on-the-road tour in complete autonomy some of the most enchanting locations dotting the splendid area stretching from the Cinque Terre to the rolling hills of Tuscany? 

What about taking advantage of the wide range of possibilities made possible by the innovative and convenient car rental service to move at your own pace and the travel itinerary you have always dreamed of?

The so-called Leaning Tower is an iconic symbol of the whole of Italy. It is stormed every year by tourists who rush to take a photo in which, through a studied game of perspectives, it seems that they are supporting the spire in apparent free fall. The tower is part of a larger archaeological complex located in Piazza del Duomo and UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. The complex includes three other monuments: the cathedral, the baptistery, and the holy field. 

The Leaning Tower construction works started in the second half of the twelfth century. It owes its slope to a subsidence of the land that began at that time. It is 55 meters high and houses seven bells, each one playing a specific musical note.

The cathedral is a church with five naves surmounted by a dome. In its internal spaces, a rich and unusual fusion of different styles (Byzantine, Arabic, and classical) testify to the power that had reached Pisa as a maritime republic in medieval times.

The Baptistery is the largest in Italy, measuring over 100 meters in diameter. Its construction lasted 200 years. In its internal spaces, visitors can find a rich collection of great artworks, including the famous pulpit of Nicola Pisano.

Finally, the Campo Santo is a monumental cemetery. It was built to house the tombs of the imposing Pisan personalities, previously buried around the cathedral. In the Campo Santo, the famous chandelier that inspired the Galilean theories on the isochronism of small oscillations known as the lamp of Galileo is kept.

Visit Italy offers an exciting opportunity for art history enthusiasts and all travellers eager to discover the masterpieces and monuments that embellish the historic city centre of Pisa and the well-known Square of Miracles.

You can purchase a ticket at an advantageous rate to explore the famous Leaning Tower, Baptistery, and Cathedral with a guided tour.

The streets along the Arno River, known as the lungarni, are a typical meeting place for the Pisan nightlife. The lungarni are rich in constructions of the medieval age, such as palaces, towers and churches. The Medicean is one of the most prestigious lungarni. Its buildings date back to the time when the noble Medici family reigned as masters of Florence. Lorenzo Medici lived in the Medici Palace, which today houses the Prefecture of Pisa.

Here is a fun fact: Pisa celebrates the Luminara of San Ranieri on the 16th of June yearly. The citizens love and await this festival where thousands of wax lamps are affixed on all the riverside buildings, outlining their architectural design. The evocative effect is sharpened by the flashes reflected in the river waters, creating a fabled atmosphere due to the play of lights.

The magnificent Piazza dei Cavalieri was commissioned by Grand Duke Cosimo I Medici and designed by the great Italian architect Giorgio Vasari. The square houses the statues of the Order of the Knights of Santo Stefano and some relevant buildings, including the church of Santo Stefano and the Palazzo dell'Orologio. 

At the centre of the square, the statue of Cosimo I stands proudly. 

The square once represented Pisa's civil power. Today, it is a place of cultural interest since it houses the Scuola Normale di Pisa, one of the most prestigious Italian universities.

Passing through Pisa in 1989, the American artist and social activist Keith Haring left his artistic imprint on the Sant'Antonio Abate church outer wall. In an explosion of vitality and colour, Haring paints 30 figures who seem to live in a harmonious game of joints, almost forming a puzzle. With the famous mural Tuttomondo, the artist wanted to represent his idea of harmony and peace in the world.

It is one of the few Haring works that can be admired in Italy.

If you have a few more days at your disposal, we advise you to get comfortably back in your car and take a mini-tour of Tuscany.

-In Florence, the city of art par excellence, you will be enchanted by every single glimpse. From the mammoth Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore to the immeasurable prestige of the works of art preserved in the Uffizi Gallery, from the panoramic Piazzale Michelangelo to the romantic Ponte Vecchio, Florence reveals at every step the great history of the Renaissance and the eternal beauty of Italian art and culture.

Loyal readers of Visit Italy articles can save precious time by purchasing a ticket with the Skip the Queue option, valid for 72 hours, to avoid long hours of waiting.

You'll have the opportunity to take part in a guided tour of the architectural wonders of Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square), the exquisite Byzantine mosaics, the Baptistery of San Giovanni (Saint John), and the majestic Florence Cathedral.

-Surrounded by the Tuscan hills, Siena is a jewel of medieval origin. The famous Palio is an annual horse race whose roots trace back to the seventeenth century. It takes place in the unusual shell-shaped Piazza del Campo.

The imposing Duomo Cathedral in Italian Gothic style will leave you breathless. Its facades are painted in black and white to honour the horses of the legendary founders of the city. Inside, you will find a walkable astonishing artwork: the Duomo floor is a mosaic depicting several historical and legendary scenes by forty artists. The entire flooring is almost always covered, except for 6/10 weeks per year. For this reason, it is preserved in its original state.

Explore the artistic, architectural masterpieces and precious historical and cultural treasures on a fascinating tour, which will also guide you to discover the works held in the majestic Duomo with the ticket made available by Visit Italy.

-Tuscany is a land rich in gastronomic excellence. The cold cuts and the high-quality meats are typical autochthonous products. The famous bistecca Fiorentina (Florentine steak) is a high and soft beefsteak obtained from the sirloin cut. A series of delicious local wines, including Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, Montepulciano accompain the meals. Finally, the typical almond-based dry pastries cantuccini accompanied by the dessert wine Vin santo is a must-taste.

For those with refined culinary tastes, we recommend le Strade del Vino, dell’olio & dei sapori (the Roads of Wine, Oil & Flavors). Twenty different roads officially recognized as food and wine route that cover the entire Tuscan territory. You can taste and buy the product you like most, walking an itinerary that, from the hills to the valleys, from small villages to big cities, guards the gastronomic and culinary heritage of the region.

Other similar itineraries can be found on our partner MAGELLANMAG, a Spanish travel magazine!

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