Beyond the City Walls

Siena

Siena, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most visited cities in Tuscany city. With over 800 years of history it has
incredible medieval architecture and is a must see when you visit Florence. Siena is host to the world-famous Palio horse race.

The best way to get to Siena is by the SITA bus. There is a train station in Siena but it is further from the center than the bus station.
SITA buses leave Florence for Siena 2-3 times per hour starting at 06:30 and the last bus leaves Siena at 20:45 (per latest schedule – but please verify at the station).
Buy your tickets in advance at the station as they cost more on the bus: Latest fare of a one way ticket Firenze-Siena is € 7,80 (€ 12,00 on board). Remember to stamp validate your ticket before getting on the bus.

The SITA bus station in Florence is just next to the Santa Maria Novella Train Station at Autostazione SITA, Via S. Caterina da Siena, 17R

San Gimignano

The small medieval town of San Gimignano, also a UNESCO’s World  Heritage site, is in the province of Siena. This is the home of Vernaccia di San Gimignano wine and saffron.

San Gimignano sits atop a hill 334m above sea level, and its many 14th century towers are visible in the distance as you arrive. Today only 13 towers remain of the 72 towers as every well off family built a tower to show their economical power.

To reach San Gimignano from Florence you must make a change of bus in Poggibonsi. The departing Florence Sita bus station is Via Santa Caterina da Siena 17, near the Santa Maria Novella train station.

You can do San Gimignano in the morning and then take the bus from Poggibonsi to Siena. Then take the Siena bus back to Florence (this time no bus change is necessary even though it will stop in Poggibonsi).

Pisa

Any trip to Florence must include a stop to see the Piazza dei Miracoli (Squares of Miracles) including the famous leaning tower of Pisa but also the Cathedral and the Baptistery. This is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site! Italy is just filled with beauty and incredible sites to visit.

Getting to Pisa is very easy and fast by train. A one-way ticket between Florence SMN and Pisa Centrale will cost $9 in 2nd class or $13 in 1st class (note that some trains have only 2nd class cars). No reservations are needed, therefore there are no assigned seats, so pick any available seat in a car of the same class as the ticket you purchased. Remember to stamp validate your ticket before boarding.

Trains leave Florence S.M.N. for Pisa Centrale at least twice per hour during the day and trains are equally frequent making the return trip from Pisa to Florence.

Lucca

The medieval city of Lucca, encircled by
Renaissance walls, lies between Florence and Pisa.

Founded by the Etruscans and then a Roman colony around 180 BC, Lucca served as an important meeting place for Julius Caesar and Marcus Licinius Crassus. In later years, the city was an independent republic for nearly 500 years as part of feudal Italy. During the 19th century, Lucca was conquered by Napoleon, and it finally became part of Unified Italy in 1860.

The best way to get to Lucca is by train and takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes. The Lucca train station is located right outside the city center so it is easily walkable.