Next stop – Tuscany. This trip was special for me because at that time I celebrated my fortieth birthday.
The beautiful sun greeted us in Pisa – a town located on the Arno River, a few kilometers from the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The main tourist attraction is the Piazza del Duomo, the square where the cathedral is located and the famous Leaning Tower, which construction began in 1173 as the bell towers of the cathedral, however, due to the sandy ground, it began to tilt during construction. Pisa is also home to one of the oldest universities in the world, founded in 1343. On the premises of the university there is a beautiful academic botanical garden, which is open to tourists.
While in Pisa is good idea to take the train to the Cinque Terre. It is a fragment of the Ligurian Riviera, which lies between the Mesco promontory near Levanto and extends to the Montenero cape near Portovenere. Ten kilometers of rocky coast with five extremely picturesque towns – Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. The Cinque Terre is undoubtedly one of the most charming places in Italy.
At the end the capital of Tuscany – Florence. The city delighted me with the richness of art, architecture and history, but also tired with crowds of tourists. Visiting the Renaissance Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens made the biggest impression on me. The richly decorated interiors, paintings and sculptures in the palace took me to another era. A walk through the gardens full of greenery and fountains was the perfect solution to take a break from the crowded city. While in Florence, you must shop at the famous Officina Profumo – Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella perfumery, which was founded in 1221.