Pisa, located in western Tuscany, is known throughout the world for its famous Leaning Tower, but there is so much more to Pisa than just this striking landmark. The ecclesiastical city of Pisa began life as a seaside settlement around 3,000 years ago and was first laid out in the mid-eleventh century. Pisa is crammed full of wonderful, historical monuments and buildings dating back many hundreds of years and much of Pisa has retained its medieval appearance. Pisa is also known for its excellent university, which was established in 1343 and has become one of Italy's top schools.

In the north-west of Pisa there is an immense green lawn on which four impressive buildings stand in gleaming white marble. These imposing structures are the enormous, breathtaking Duomo (cathedral) - built almost 1,000 years ago, the cathedral's bell tower - better known as the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the circular Battistero (Baptistery) - the largest of its kind in the whole of Italy, and the Camposanto - also known as the Holy Field, without doubt one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the world. This area of Pisa is known as the Campo dei Miracoli or the Piazza dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles) and these remarkable Pisan buildings combine Moorish, Gothic and Romanesque architectural features.

Situated in the centre of fertile plan , Lucca has preserved within its girdle of ramparts, in many parts tree-topped, a rich heritage of churches , palaces, squares and street witch gives the town a charming air, unscathed by contemporary developments. The ramparts extend all the way round the old town. They built in the 16C and 17C and include 11 bastions, linked by curtain walls, and four gateways. It was colonized by Romans in the early 2C: b.C. and it has retained the plan of the a Roman military camp, with the two principal street perpendicular to one another. During the Middle ages a complicated system of narrow alleys and oddly shaped squares was added to the original network. The street and squares of old Lucca are full of atmosphere with their Gothic and Renaissance palaces ,their towers of the nobility, old shops, sculptured doorways and coats of arms, elegant wrought-iron railings and balconies. Starting from Piazza San Michele follow Via Roma and via Fillungo to Piazza del Anfiteatro situated inside the Roman amphitheatre.