Top Things to Do in Pisa

Journey into Tuscan hills where medieval skyline is defined by stone towers. Travel first to Volterra, fortress city of austere alabaster workshops perched above deep valleys shrouded in morning mist. Then continue to San Gimignano, its famous towers creating silhouette against sky visible from miles away, where narrow streets echo with footsteps and small cafes offer glasses of local vernaccia wine tasting of dry hills and minerals.

This tour immerses you in classic Tuscan idyll, beginning with towering stone skyline of San Gimignano where you can taste world-champion gelato made with local saffron. You then descend into Chianti region, driving along cypress-lined roads to two distinct wineries, where you will walk among rows of Sangiovese grapes smelling warm, earthy soil, enter cool, barrel-lined cantine filled with oaky scent of aging wine, and sit down to leisurely lunch featuring crostini with chicken liver pate and pici pasta, all paired with winery's own strong reds.

This guided walk confronts and unravels curious local reputation of Pisa, often playfully maligned by other Tuscans, by taking you to sites of historic rivalries and contemporary civic pride. You will hear stories of medieval battles and modern football clashes, see graffiti and monuments that speak to defiant identity, and visit neighborhoods where real daily life of Pisa, in its cafes and markets, contradicts outsider narrative. It is intellectual and sensory exploration that adds layer of social understanding to stone and brick around you.

Focusing on organic vineyards around Volterra, this experience is deep examination of sustainable viticulture, beginning in vines where you can feel crumbly, mineral-rich soil and hear rustle of leaves, followed by visit to cellar where only smells are fermenting grape must and clean oak. The tasting itself is lesson in terroir, as you sip several wines, noting differences imparted by altitude and exposure, and taste them alongside local pecorino and honey, feeling contrast on your palate.