Lucca is a magnificent medieval city, surrounded by completely intact Renaissance walls. The best way to take in the sites, sounds and smells of the city is to take a walk or bicycle round the top of the walls. It is also the perfect setting for a medieval reenactment.

Disney Cruise Line in conjunction with their tour operator and Lucca officials have created a shore excursion that will not be offered anywhere else — a medieval parade complete with drummers, troubadours, dancers, flag throwers, and a cross bow contest. This is a shore excursion that’s sure to please kids of all ages. Watch for yourselves:

If you are a fan of medieval history, come to Florence. The Renaissance in Florence is one of the most intriguing cultural manifestations in Western history, in which religion, philosophy, and politics played an important part in the development of the arts. So, how do you get an 8-year-old interested in all this? Disney Cruise Line has developed a tour in conjunction with their Italian tour operator to take kids beyond just talking about history — they will actually experience it.

The cruise line is offering an exclusive “Disney Experience” at the 14th century palace — Palazzo Vecchio.
“This tour is something no other cruise line has ever done in Florence,” says Disney Cruise Line’s creative director David Duffy. The tour is actually part of a program aimed towards Italian students, but Disney was able to work with the museum to come up with an English-speaking version.

The tour will allow kids to enjoy works of art Michelangelo, wander through secret passageways, talk with actors portraying Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici or his Spanish wife Duchess Eleonora di Toledo, try on medieval clothing, and paint a fresco. Cool!

A picture is worth a thousand words and when it comes to Florence, Italy there are never enough adjectives to describe its unique beauty. Enjoy some photos of my city tour today. Tomorrow read all about Disney Cruise Line’s unique shore excursion at the Palazzo Vecchio that has kids meeting a Duchess and painting frescoes.