Bologna, one of the best day trips from Florence, is a place of great beauty. It is a city that is well known for its delicious gastronomy as well as for the lovely arcades that border its streets and offer shade from the summer sun. Under the columned corridors are fine ancient shopfronts, eateries, and cafés, making Bologna a popular city for shopping.

Bologna's towering brick towers, though less well-known than Pisa's, lean at more unsettling angles, and the illusion is heightened by their height and thin design. Twenty of the more than 100 original towers are still standing, and you may climb them for views. The expansive Piazza Maggiore and Piazza del Nettuno, named for a 16th-century fountain, lie in the heart of Bologna. The massive Basilica of San Petronius' incomplete facade may be seen from Piazza Maggiore. Santo Stefano is the oldest and most atmospheric of Bologna's intriguing and art-filled churches; this one is only one of them.

• Ticket price: N/A
• Tripadvisor Rating: 5/5
  
• Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 09:00-13:00 and 15:30-20:00
  
• Distance from Florence: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Website: https://www.bolognawelcome.com/

Lucca's wonderfully intact historic district makes it a must-stop on any Tuscan itinerary. The medieval city walls are still there—you can walk or bike on top of the walls. The walls around Lucca, in contrast to other walled cities in Europe, were constructed during the Renaissance, in the 16th century. When the walls were no longer required for defense in the 19th century, they created the ideal promenade. They were built wide to hold heavy cannon, and they were planted with trees to assist maintain the earthwork.

Today, they are among the top attractions in this quaint, little city. There is a lot more to see and do in this area, including an oval plaza encircled by tall buildings that were carved out of the walls of a Roman arena, churches with valuable works of art, Giacomo Puccini's former residence, and some of Tuscany's most stunning Romanesque structures. San Michele in Foro is the leading Romanesque church, and you shouldn't miss climbing the lofty Guinigi Tower, which has a little park at the summit shaded by trees.

• Ticket price: N/A
• Tripadvisor Rating: 5/5
• Opening hours: 12:00 - 21:30 daily
• Distance from Florence: 1 hour 16 minutes
• Website: https://www.visittuscany.com/en/destinations/lucca/

Although St. Francis of Assisi is the reason why most visitors are familiar with Assisi and many travel there as part of a pilgrimage or religious tour, they are frequently shocked to learn that Assisi is much more than just the city named after the well-known saint. Due to his presence and legacy, Assisi drew famous artists who were moved to honor his creations with their own. One of the most significant pilgrimage destinations in the world, the Basilica di San Francesco was constructed over the saint's grave in the early 13th century and has been adorned over the years by painters such as Giotto, Cimabue, and Andrea da Bologna.

Outstanding early medieval stone sculptures of animals, mythological creatures, plants, and saints may be seen in the town's San Rufino Cathedral, which dates to the 12th and 13th centuries. St. Francis is associated with the Santa Chiara Convent as well as the Santa Maria degli Angeli Church from the ninth century. On an Assisi and Cortona Best Day Trips from Florence, you may see both Assisi and the picturesque neighbouring Umbrian town of Cortona while also making stops at the Basilica, the Convent of Santa Chiara, and Santa Maria degli Angeli.

• Ticket price: N/A
• Tripadvisor Rating: 5/5
• Opening hour: Easter to November: Weekdays from 06:30 till 18:50, Sundays and public holidays from 06:30 till 19:15. From November to Easter: From 06:30 till 18:00.
  
• Distance from Florence: 2 hours 15 minutes
• Wbsite: https://www.visit-assisi.it/

Prato is an city and the capital of Tuscany, Italy as well as the capital of the province of Prato. This city is located at the foot of Monte Retaia, the highest peak in the Calvana Mountains. The River Bisenzio, a tributary of Arno, runs through this city. Historically, Prato's economy has been based on industry.

Prato, which is less than 25 kilometers from Florence, is a hub for both traditional and modern art. Two exceptional cycles of paintings painted by Filippo Lippi between 1452 and 1466, when he was at the pinnacle of his creative career, decorate the choir of its cathedral. Agnolo Gaddi painted frescoes in the Cappella del Sacro Cngolo in the fourteenth century to decorate it.

The Santa Maria delle Carceri church houses glazed terra-cotta panels by Andrea della Robbia, while Bernardo Daddi and Filippo Lippi's pieces may be seen at the Museo Civico (Municipal Gallery). The Centro per l'Arte Contemporanea Luigi Pecci (Museum of Contemporary Art) examines painting, sculpture, design, video, and other forms of artistic expression. The Museo di Pittura Murale (Museum of Mural Painting) focuses on the practice of fresco painting.

• Ticket price: N/A
• Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
• Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8:30 - 19:30, and on Saturday mornings from 9:00 to 13:00
  
• Distance from Florence: 40 minutes
• Website: https://www.accasaprato.com/

The Medicis relocated to their summer estates in the nearby hills when Florence's summer heat grew intolerable. To build summer palaces around by miles of meticulously maintained gardens and hunting areas, they hired the greatest architects, artists, and garden designers. The most impressive of these is Villa Poggio a Caiano, which is located approximately 22 kilometers from Florence's center on the road to Pistoia. The villa, which Lorenzo the Magnificent started in 1485, exemplifies many aspects of the new Renaissance architectural concepts, particularly in terms of its connection to the outside world and its natural environs. The house lacks a central courtyard and instead features an open loggia that wraps around each of its four sides. This shifts the emphasis of the structure to the outside, including the environment in the design itself.

The central hall of the villa features early 1500s frescos that continue the theme and include country settings in addition to classical themes and images from Cosimo and Lorenzo de Medici's life. The second level of the villa includes the Museum of Still Life in addition to the opulently furnished flats.

• Ticket price: N/A
• Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
• Opening hours: 8:15 - 18:30
  
• Distance from Florence: 50 minutes
• Official site: polomusealetoscana.beniculturali.it/

The five charming settlements that dot the jagged cliffs and steep hillsides above the Ligurian Sea have gained notoriety. A train connects Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. It also connects with a route that skirts the fields covered in vines and is occasionally dug into the sheer cliffs. The settlements of the Cinque Terre preserve their isolation and their picturesque, narrow roads dotted with colorful homes despite being well-liked by tourists. Small harbors give areas to swim in between treks and provide protection for fishing boats.

The Cinque Terre region and its culture are protected as a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, respectively. The draw of the Cinque Terre is its natural beauty and relaxed mood, not the usual must-see landmarks, churches, or museums. The Cinque Terre Semi-Private Day Trip from Florence is a convenient way to get there. It lasts for a full day and includes round-trip transportation in an air-conditioned minivan, a cruise between Manarola and Vernazza, entrance fees for the coastal walking path, and free time to explore the villages. Eight individuals or less ensures personalized attention. Join the Cinque Terre Hiking Day Trip from Florence for a more strenuous experience and hike a 5.5-kilometer section of the well-known Cinque Terre walking trail between villages with a guide. The excursion includes transportation from Florence on an air-conditioned coach, a 40-minute boat ride along the Riviera, a train ride between cities, time for a swim, and time for swimming.

• Ticket price: € 7,50
• Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
• Opening hours: 8:00 - 15:00
  
• Distance from Florence: 2 hours 35 minutes
• Website: cinqueterre.eu.com/

One of the most well-known symbols of Italy, the Torre Pendente, is one of the city's most well-known landmarks, yet it only makes up a small portion of Pisa's impressive collection of sites that together make up the city's UNESCO World Heritage site. In the Campo dei Miracoli, near the tower, are the Campo Santo, the Baptistery, and the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta (Field of Miracles). The tower, which served as the cathedral's distinct bell tower, was built in 1173 and started to tilt almost immediately. The cathedral was built a century earlier to commemorate Pisa's naval triumph against the Saracens; it has since been expanded and decorated, and it now serves as the quintessential illustration of Pisan architecture.

Its most notable piece of art is the pulpit, which was carved out of marble by Giovanni Pisano. However, you should also look at the Cimabue mosaic in the apse and the bronze doors of the Porta di San Ranieri, which feature scenes from the lives of the Virgin and Christ. Another carved marble pulpit from the 13th century, a masterwork of Romanesque sculpture, may be seen in the nearby baptistery. The Museo dell'Opera del Duomo houses priceless silver artworks, embroidery, tombs, sculptures, and paintings. It also offers the greatest up-close perspective of the Leaning Tower. A Pisa Half-Day Trip from Florence Including Skip-the-Line Leaning Tower of Pisa Ticket allows you to go to Pisa from Florence without having to stand in line to climb the tower. The excursion includes air-conditioned coach transportation through the Tuscan countryside to Pisa under the direction of a knowledgeable guide.

• Ticket price: N/A
• Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
• Opening Hours: 9:00 A.M - 8:00 P.M
  
• Distance from Florence: 1 hour 20 minutes
• Website: https://www.aboutpisa.info/

Throughout terms of riches, power, as well as for its art and architecture, Siena was Florence's main adversary in the 13th and 14th centuries. As seen by the beautiful cathedral, one of Italy's best examples of Gothic architecture, its painters were on par with those of Florence. More magnificent Gothic churches and palaces can be seen all across the city, the majority of which were built using Siena's distinctive red clay. The cathedral in Siena, one of the best day trips from Florence, is covered in alternating bands of dark and light marble, and it also has statues and reliefs that were all created by renowned artist Giovanni Pisano.

The cathedral and its chapels, crypt, library, and museum are all filled with the paintings, sculptures, carvings, frescoes, stained glass, and gold work of artists like Nicola and Giovanni Pisano, Donatello, Lorenzo Ghiberti, Bernini, and others. The city of Siena is situated on hills, so even just strolling through its winding ancient lanes is enjoyable. Even its largest Piazza del Campo, the site of the renowned Palio horse race, dips downward.

• Ticket price: €15
• Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
• Opening hours: (Monday - Saturday) 10:30 - 17:30; (Sundays and public holidays) 13:30 - 15:30
• Distance from Florence: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Website: https://www.sienalv.org/