This route is more about the attractions than the ride, although there are some great views as it travels through the beautiful region of Tuscany. It's unfortunate that the route starts with a section of toll road, but it really is the quickest way. You will follow the Apennine Mountains on your left and have an occasional glimpse of the Ligurian Sea to your right and a little over an hour from the start and you will be in Pisa.

Pisa is a legendary city and one of the most famous in Tuscany and with a population of just 91,000 it is also one of the smaller cities, but has historically been one of the most important and influential. During the 11th century and onwards Pisa rose to prominence and became one of the major maritime republics of Italy. The city saw great development and it grew in population and investment was poured into the city to improve its infrastructure and build its world famous monuments that still stand today.
The route heads straight to Pisa's honey pot, The Leaning Tower. Passing through an arch in the city wall to RP 8, this takes you to the back door and as close to the tower as a vehicle can get, less than 100m from the tower.
This is by en-large the main reason people visit Pisa and is a structure that is known worldwide. The Campanile or bell tower of Pisa Cathedral is a beautiful structure in its own right, but it has been made famous by its noticeable tilt.
Constructed in the 12th century after the cathedral, it was soon found that the foundations were unstable and the building began to lean. To this day the tower still leans and measures have been taken to ensure it doesn’t collapse.
Aside from posing for funny photos, the architecture of the tower is actually fantastic and the 6 rows of stone arches are simply beautiful. Furthermore, you can climb to the top of the tower for a surreal tilted view of the surrounding city.
From this direction, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta will be behind the tower. This Cathedral is sometimes overshadowed by the leaning tower, but it is a beautiful structure in its own right and is an absolute must when visiting Pisa.
Construction on this amazing cathedral was started in the 11th century and it was completed in 1092. The front façade of the cathedral is truly ornate with a series of beautiful stone and marble arches and three opulent bronze doors.
Just a couple of hundred yards further on is RP 9 and the Bagni di Nerone (Baths of Nero). The ruins were identified in 1548 when they were first defined as a laconicum, a room for sweating; its attribution to Nero goes back to the 13th century, and is part of the longstanding tradition by which relations between Nero and Pisa were very close.
The River Arno is next;
The River Arno is one of the main rivers in Italy and Pisa was built around this waterway. This river stretches for 241km and has its source at Mount Falterona. The section of the Arno that runs through Pisa provides a truly beautiful landscape and is an amazing place to simply walk along. Five gorgeous bridges span the Arno in central Pisa and both the Lungarno Mediceo and Lungarno Galileo Gallilei run parallel to the river. Lungarnos are the streets of the city that pass beside the river Arno. They are well known in Pisa for wonderful buildings that go along with the river bank until they reach the river outlet in Marina di Pisa. The houses and architecture create a gorgeous backdrop and this part of Pisa is truly photogenic.
At RP 17 along the Lungarno Galileo Gallilei, you will find a small church, the Church of Santa Maria della Spina. Although this church is really quite small, it is considered one of the most beautiful in Europe due to its ornate design and riverside location. Originally created in the 13th century, the building features a Gothic style with a series of opulent pointed pediments and several rose windows. The interior is quite reserved in comparison and features white and green striped stone walls and a series of sculptures.
Leaving Pisa behind, the route now heads east for Florence along the magnificently named; The Highway of Great Communication (SGC) Florence-Pisa-Livorno road, also known as FI-PI-LI. Using the FI-PI-LI should get you to Florence in just over an hour and crossing over the river Arno on the Ponte Della Vittoria annonces your arrival.
You will arrive at Florence Cathedral RP 29, about as close as you can get with a vehicle. Just 50m away with a great view of the iconic 8 sided dome that covers the cathedral and dominates the Florence skyline.
There are many sights to be seen in this beautiful city so I suggest parking and having a walk around and maybe some lunch. There is parking as the route joins the river Arno again just upstream from another of Florence's iconic landmarks, the Ponte Vecchio. You'll have a good view of this if you choose to park here. The Ponte Vecchio is noted for its shops built along it, as was once common. Butchers initially occupied the shops; the present tenants are jewelers, art dealers, and souvenir sellers. Travelling past the end of the Ponte Vecchio and over the Arno on the Ponte Santa Trinita. This elegant bridge is composed of three elliptical arches of the utmost elegance – the first of their kind ever used in bridge construction Ponte Santa Trinità was designed in the 1560s by Ammannati, though its arches, reminiscent of the tombs in Cappelle Medicee, have led some to suspect Michelangelo’s hand. Destroyed by the retreating German army in 1944, it was reconstructed from the original stones retrieved from the Arno.
After leaving Florence, you will join the third and final high speed road of the day. The Superstrada Firenza - Siena RA3. This will get you to Siena in an hour and it has a few more twists and turns to enjoy than the other two previous roads.
Hotel Anna on the outskirts of Siena is the end of the route, it's about a 10 minute drive to the old city centre. This is reflected in the price and it also has private parking. There are many other options for accommodation nearby including camping. I would suggest checking into your hotel and getting a taxi to explore Sienna in the evening.
The world class attractions in this route is why I have awarded 5***** stars.