Livorno Private Siena and San Gimignano Sightseeing Excursion

Description

Round-trip private transportation from your Livorno Cruise pier!
Air-conditioned and fully licensed private transportation!
English-speaking private certified driver/guide!
Free time in Siena's Historic District!
Free time in San Gimignano's Historic center!
Escape the cruise ship shore excursion crowds and enjoy the unique sights of Florence and the surrounding area!

See the best highlights of Siena and San Gimignano with your private driver and private transportation! Explore these unique towns in central Tuscany!

This excursion is for up to 8 participants. For larger groups, please see our Livorno Siena and San Gimignano with Private Guide Excursion.

You will meet your English-speaking driver who will serve as your narrator/guide and then hop aboard your air-conditioned transport for the 1-hour and 45-minute journey to your first stop, the town of Siena. Enjoy the countryside as you head into central Tuscany to experience the medieval-style buildings of this quaint town.

On arrival at the city's historic area, a UNESCO World Heritage site, your driver will give you a commentary on the must-see attractions before setting you free to explore the town for approximately 4 hours on your own. The town is rich with history and sites to see.

The main sights include the Piazza dei Campo, the shell-shaped, main square that is home to the famous Palio horse races each year. The city hall, Palazzo Pubblico stands over the piazza with its Tower, Torre dei Mangia, visible from miles.

The Italian Romanesque-Gothic Cathedral dates from the 1300's and is a masterpiece of architecture. The Piazza Salimbeni is home to the Piazzo Salimbeni, once a private palace from the 1300's. The Sanctuary of Santa Caterina and the Siena Synagogue attract many visitors. A stroll down the Via di Citta will take you past the Palazzo Chigi-Saracini as well as other intriguing architecture from the 12th century.

You might want to take time to sample some of the traditional Tuscan cuisine and local wine. Your driver will be able to offer suggestions for lunch spots. Food, beverage, and admissions to any museums or sites are at the guest's expense.

Meeting up at the transportation, you will then set out for the approximately 40-minute drive to the town of San Gimignano. The area has been inhabited since the 3rd century BC. San Gimignano is known for its unusual homes within the walled city. Due to feuding families in the 1200's, tower houses began to spring up. In an attempt to have the showiest, families continued to build and add on until there were more than 70 tower homes looming over the town, the tallest being 230 feet tall. It is easy to see why in 1990, UNESCO added the entire Historic Center to its World Heritage List.

You will have free time to explore the Piazza della Cisterna, the main square of the town. The Piazza Duomo is home to the Collegiate Church, whose frescoes were saved from the Nazis in the 1999 film "Tea with Mussolini." You may recognize the locations of the many scenes that were filmed here. You can also see the Palazzo Communale and the mayor's Palazzo Podesta. The approximate time in the historic district is 75 minutes.

When your exploration time comes to a close in San Gimignano, you will rejoin your transportation for the 90-minute drive back to your Livorno cruise pier.

What is included?

Air-conditioned and licensed roundtrip private transportation from the Transportation Hub at your Livorno Cruise pier
English-speaking private driver/guide
Free time in Siena's Historic District
Free time in San Gimignano's Historic center

Excursion Notes

Excursion prices shown are quoted in US dollars.
As you may be visiting a religious or memorial site, shoulders and knees must be covered on men and women.
We suggest you have cash (Euros) on hand for refreshments, excursion staff gratuities, shopping, etc.
Sensible, rubber-soled walking shoes are highly recommended along with sun protection.
Please be aware that due to security measures, the Port of Livorno may delay excursion vehicles from entering the pier area all at once, or may space ships out at 5 different piers which are a distance from each other. Quite often, these changes are done on the morning of the excursion and are not announced until they happen. We will do everything we can to work around this but please understand we have no control over the port authority and we appreciate your understanding and patience. All sites mentioned on the excursion will be seen and if the port authority causes any delays, (and time allows), any lost time at the beginning of the excursion will be included at the end of the excursion.
Please pay attention to the restrictions and requirements for this excursion, no refund will be granted if the requirements are not met.
Guides are available in English, Spanish, French, and German at no extra cost. Please indicate when ordering if you require a foreign language.

Where we meet

For this Livorno excursion, you will meet your local excursion staff at the Livorno Cruise Port. All necessary details will be printed on your Electronic Shore Excursion Ticket.

Excursion Restrictions

This excursion is not wheelchair accessible.
Guests must be able to step in and out of the transportation.
Guests must be able to walk on paved, gravel, and cobblestone surfaces, some on inclines.
There are steps required to enter several of the sites as well as steep curbs in some areas.

Excursion FAQ

Will they cancel the Livorno Private Siena and San Gimignano Excursion if it is raining?

The Livorno Private Siena and San Gimignano Excursion operate rain or shine, within safety guidelines. The local cruise excursion operator will decide at the time of departure if there is a reason to postpone or cancel the excursion.

Will I see the Palio horse race on this Livorno Private Siena and San Gimignano Excursion?

Unfortunately, the Palio is only run two times a year, On July 2 and August 16. Souvenirs of the Palio are sold year round though.

Will I visit inside the Cathedral on this Livorno Private Siena and San Gimignano Excursion?

That is up to you. There is a small admission to the church and guests wishing to visit inside may do so during their free time at their expense.

Will there be restrooms?

Restrooms are located throughout both villages. In Europe, a small package of tissues is suggested as public restrooms may or may not have toilet paper. Most public restrooms require a small fee. Having a few local coins is highly recommended as they do not always make changes.

Is there shopping time included on this Livorno Private Siena and San Gimignano Excursion?

Shopping time is possible during your free time.

Can I use US dollars?

Most large stores and restaurants will take major credit cards and some may take other currencies besides the Euro. Small stores restaurants or sidewalk vendors will usually only take local currency. The best exchange rates for currency are usually at major bank ATMs. The worst rates are at the airport, train stations, or exchange bureaus located in major excursionist areas. Before leaving home, please check with your credit card companies and banks on what transaction or other fees they may apply if you use a debit or credit card abroad. These are in addition to the fees applied by the vendor or host bank where you are using the card.

Do I need to take my passport with me on the Livorno Private Siena and San Gimignano Sightseeing Excursion to show with my Electronic Shore Excursion Ticket?

No, it is not necessary to take along your passport unless noted by your cruise line or listed in the Restrictions or Notes tab for the excursion. Your local operator has your booking noted. Please arrive with a printed copy of your eticket or digital copy if applicable.

Cancellation

For the Livorno Private Siena and San Gimignano Sightseeing Excursion, we issue full refund for your deposit or full payment to us if: Canceled by client prior to excursion date with a minimum of 4 days prior notice by email to reservations@shoreexcursioneer.com.

For cancellation reasons below, you must contact us via email within 14 days after your excursion:

Your ship arrives into port late and you cannot make it in time to the meeting location (we will verify with the tour operator).
Your ship skips/misses the port.
Weather conditions or equipment failure prevents the operator from running the excursion.
A medical problem prevents you from safely participating in the excursion (we will verify with the excursion operator and the guest may send doctor's note). This applies to individuals only and not the remainder of the group.
Cancellations/deposit refund requests that do not comply with the above may not be subject to refund.
Refunds may be subject to a service charge fee as determined by the payment processor, please refer to Terms and Conditions for more information.

Livorno Private Siena and San Gimignano Sightseeing Excursion

Florence, Italy (Excursion ID S2100)

Description

What is included?

Excursion Notes

Where we meet

Excursion Restrictions

Excursion FAQ

Cancellation

Excursion out of stock

Livorno Private Siena and San Gimignano Sightseeing Excursion Experiences

This excursion is available to everybody and specially designed to accommodate passengers of the following cruise lines

Livorno Private Siena and San Gimignano Sightseeing Excursion Reviews