As everyone knows, Pisa has the famous tilted tower you can climb, but lesser-known Lucca is encircled by an unspoiled Renaissance wall you can bike. These two Tuscan towns, near Florence and each other, make for an easy day trip from Florence. But if you have time for more than a touristy quickie, each offers great Italian city scenes — offering visitors the chance to savor Pisa’s rich architectural heritage, and bask in Lucca’s genuine charm.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of the most iconic images in the world, but it’s not the only sight in town. It leans near the town’s other biggies — the cathedral and baptistery. This creamy white threesome floats regally over the green-grass Field of Miracles. Imagine arriving in Pisa as a sailor in the 11th century — the sea came to just outside the surrounding walls, the church was the biggest in the world, and spread out before you was an ensemble of gleaming white marble.