After a 45-minute drive from the port of Livorno, we'll arrive in Lucca. You will be welcomed by the city's amazing ancient wall, and we'll take a drive around the city's perimeter so you can appreciate its beauty and scale. Among the best-preserved Renaissance fortifications in Italy and standing 40 feet (25m) tall, the wall still encircles the entire city. The top of the wall has been transformed into a beautiful pedestrian green space lined with shade trees, where you can stroll or cruise around on rented bikes.

There has been a church on the site of the present Basilica of San Frediano since the 6th Century. Its Romanesque esthetic came about in the 12th Century and the impressive mosaics on the facade were created in the following centuries. In addition to the mosaics, which draw numerous visitors with their detail in the Byzantine/Medieval style, there is a novel attraction within the church: the mummified body of St. Zita. Zita, who lived during the early 12th century, is the patron saint of domestic workers. Her life was marked by acts of kindness to the poor, including a plethora of miracles, according to legend.

Via Fillungo is Lucca's shopping street. Lined with boutiques and famous-brand stores of all sorts, its the perfect place to shop til you drop while you surrounded by a marvelous Renaissance environment.

Piazza Anfiteatro sits on the site of the Ancient Roman amphitheatre, which is evidenced by its elliptical shape. The houses that now line the perimeter of the piazza were built on the ruins of the amphitheatre, and you can see some of the original stone blocks on the exterior of the piazza. Piazza Anfiteatro is a lively place filled with restaurant terraces and excellent gelaterias.

The story of the Basilica of San Michele in Foro goes back about 1200 years. with some reconstruction and restyling along the way. The church is dedicated to Michael the Archangel and sits on the site of the Ancient Roman forum. The facade of the church, with its intricate and diverse columns and sculptures, is an impressive work of art from the 13th Century. If you're looking for a scenic spot to sit and have a refreshment, there are a number of cafès with patios nearby that look onto the church.

Giacomo Puccini, born in Lucca in 1858, is one of Italy's best-known composers from the 19th Century (the storyline and characters from his opera "La Bohème were the basis of the hit musical "Rent".) With your driver, you'll pass by the home where he was born. You can return later during your free time to visit the museum dedicated to his life, if you're interested.

Piazza Napleone has historically been the political centre of Lucca. During the Napoleonic occupation of Italy, the emperor's sister, Elisa, governed the Principality of Lucca. It was she who commissioned the restyling of the piazza that resulted in its present appearance, an elegant but simple square lined with plane trees, highlighting the ducal palace.

The cathedral of San Martino is another ancient church, with sections of it dating back almost a thousand years (the apse and bell tower). The church contains some notable works of art, the most precious of which is the beautiful funerary monument of Ilaria del Carretto, sculpted by master Jacopo della Quercia.

The splendid funerary monument of Ilaria del Carretto was sculpted by Renaissance master Jacopo della Quercia. Ilaria died in 1405 at the age of 26 after giving birth to her second child. The tomb, commissioned by her husband, is a sublime work of art to compare with Michelangelo's David. There is a modest fee (3 Euro) to view the sculpture (optional).