Florence & Tuscany

Day 1 | Thursday 21 May
Arrival & Orientation
Meeting at the hotel, we have an early evening orientation stroll followed by a welcome dinner of traditional Tuscan food and wines. Overnight Florence (D)

Day 2 | Friday 22 May
The Foundations of Florence
Setting the stage for the week ahead, we make our way up to the “Mons Regis”, one of the highest points in Florence, offering panoramic views across the city and surrounding countryside. We visit the church of San Miniato al Monte, a 1000-year-old showcase for local craftsmanship and a glorious introduction to the Florentine artisan guilds, whose members both patronized and crafted the city’s art and devotional works. After lunch in a local restaurant, we stroll through the historic centre of Florence and end our afternoon with a visit to the renowned restoration workshop of the Opificio delle Pietre Dure. This inspiring atelier, devoted to the art of stone inlay, has been fundamental to Florence’s history since the 16th century. Overnight Florence (B, L) 

Day 3 | Saturday 23 May
The Medici in Florence
Medici patronage encouraged some of the most glorious art and architecture of the Renaissance and today we trace the story of this extraordinary family from the early 15th century, when they first rose in prominence as bankers in the city-state of Florence, to the 18th century when the dynasty – by then Grand Dukes of Tuscany - died out. We begin with the Convent of San Marco, patronized by Cosimo the Elder de’Medici and exquisitely frescoed by Beato Angelico. We then move on to Palazzo Medici-Riccardi, whose private chapel is adorned with the vibrant Journey of the Magi by Benozzo Gozzoli. After a break for lunch, we visit the San Lorenzo complex which houses the impressive Medici chapels. Inside the intimate New Sacristy mausoleum here, we find some of Michelangelo’s most compelling sculptural work. Overnight Florence (B)

Day 4 | Sunday 24 May
Palazzo Pitti | Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera
This morning we delve into the grandeur of Florence’s ducal past with a visit to Palazzo Pitti, the vast Renaissance palace that became the principal residence of the Medici grand dukes. Originally built for the wealthy banker Luca Pitti in the 15th century, it was later expanded by the Medici into a sumptuous showcase of art and power. The palace is filled with extraordinary works of fine and decorative art from the Medici collections, including paintings by Caravaggio, Lippi, Raphael, Rubens and Titian. We’ll also enjoy a leisurely stroll round the Boboli Gardens. Created by the Medici from the 16th century onwards, the gardens are a quintessential example of Italian Renaissance landscape design, combining sweeping terraces, formal avenues, hidden grottos and a striking array of sculptures and fountains. In the afternoon, we’ll head to the impressive contemporary Theatre of the Maggio Musicale whose robust geometric architecture pays homage to Palazzo Pitti. Here, we’ll attend a new production of Verdi’s 1859 opera Un ballo in maschera, a story of tangled love, political intrigue and myriad disguises set amid the spectacle of a masked ball – hailed by poet Gabriele d’Annunzio as ‘the most operatic of operas’. Overnight Florence (B)

Performance
Venue: Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Theatre, Florence
Program: Opera, Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera

Day 5 | Monday 25 May
Fiesole & Settignano
The gentle slopes of the hills just north of Florence are scattered with historic villas set amongst olive groves and vineyards. Today’s tour begins in the gracious hill-town of Fiesole where we’ll enjoy the gardens of Villa Medici – the 15th-century home of Lorenzo ‘the Magnificent’ which, in its setting and layout, exemplifies the ideals of the Italian Renaissance villa. We’ll then go on to explore the Etruscan and Roman roots of Fiesole with a visit to its archaeological site, where the evocative remnants of ancient temples and a well-preserved Roman theatre overlook scenographic hills. After lunch in a local restaurant, we’ll continue to the nearby village of Settignano to visit Villa Gamberaia whose luxuriant gardens are one of the finest examples of Italian landscape design. Overnight Florence (B, L)

Day 6 | Tuesday 26 May
Sacred Monuments
Our focus today is the sacred heart of Florence and the remarkable works that adorn the Duomo complex. We’ll begin with the 11th-century Baptistery, inspired by Byzantine architectural styles (please note that the dome mosaics are currently under restoration and not visible), followed by the 14th-century bell tower, designed by the famous Giotto. Then, in the Duomo Museum, we will enjoy Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise, Donatello’s Penitent Magdalene, and Michelangelo’s poignant and unfinished Pietà, sculpted for his own tomb. After lunch together, we turn our focus to Florence’s iconic Duomo. We’ll descend to the archaeological remains of the original paleo-Christian cathedral, Santa Reparata, which lie underneath the later Duomo. We’ll then explore the interior of the building before a private visit to the glorious terraces that skirt its exterior. From here, we’ll enjoy privileged, close-up views of Brunelleschi’s celebrated dome and views across the entire city. Overnight Florence (B, L)

Day 7 | Wednesday 27 May
The Uffizi Gallery
Today we visit the outstanding collections of the Uffizi Gallery. Originally conceived in the 16th century by Giorgio Vasari as administrative offices (or uffizi) for the Medici, the building was soon transformed into a showcase for the family’s exceptional art collection. Our in-depth guided tour begins with the story of the gallery’s creation and evolution, before tracing the remarkable development of Florentine art from the Middle Ages to the High Renaissance as we examine works by artists including Cimabue, Giotto, Filippo Lippi, Piero della Francesca, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael. Throughout the visit, we set these works within their broader cultural, religious and social contexts – considering the role of patronage, politics and the shifting values of Renaissance Florence. Overnight Florence (B)

Day 8 | Thursday 28 May
From Florence to the Chianti Hills
This morning, we visit the Accademia Gallery, home to Michelangelo’s incomparable David and his epic-scaled, unfinished ‘Prisoners’, still captive in marble. Later, we leave Florence for the ‘sweet hills’ of Chianti, stopping en route at the Badia di Passignano - a Vallombrosan Abbey of 11th-century origin surrounded by a picturesque village overlooking the famous Antinori vineyards. Our guided visit of the monastery includes the cloisters, gardens, and refectory where Domenico Ghirlandaio frescoed a beautiful ‘Last Supper’ in the late 1470s. We’ll enjoy a traditional lunch at a local trattoria before setting off for our winery-hotel, which is immersed in the Chianti hills and vineyards. Overnight Chianti (B, L)

Day 9 | Friday 29 May
Siena
The pink-hued city of Siena was built to reflect the concept that an earthly city should be a mirror of the heavenly city of Jerusalem. Our visit here will explore the philosophical and religious ideas of the ‘civitas terrena’ and the ‘civitas Dei’, which informed the creation of Siena’s civic and sacred buildings. We’ll visit the Duomo and Baptistery, before touring the majestic Piazza del Campo. After an afternoon break, we meet again at the hotel’s restaurant for dinner with matching wines from the estate. Overnight Chianti (B, D)

Day 10 | Saturday 30 May
Abbeys, Castles & Villages
We begin today’s exploration of Chianti at the Castello di Meleto - a turreted castle and winery of medieval origins which was later turned into a Rococo villa complete with decorative frescoes and a charming little 18th-century theatre. We’ll visit the castle, cantinas and gardens and sample some of Meleto’s wines. Following our visit, we’ll drive through classic Chianti scenery to the Badia a Coltibuono. Founded in the 11th century as a Vallombrosan abbey, in the 19th century it was transformed into a private home and has been in the hands of the same family ever since. From its elevated position, it offers incomparable views over the Arno Valley.  After lunch on the panoramic terrace of Coltibuono’s fine restaurant, we’ll visit the abbey’s Renaissance-style gardens and its historic wine cellars. Overnight Chianti (B, L)

Day 11 | Sunday 31 May
San Gimignano
Today we make our way to San Gimignano as we trace the town’s history and the political factions that gave rise to its imposing towers. Thanks to its natural resources and strategic location on the Via Francigena pilgrim route, the castle that formed the original nucleus of the settlement was transformed into a ‘medieval Manhattan’ – whose soaring towers still dominate the skyline. We’ll visit the Duomo, lavishly frescoed by Gozzoli, Ghirlandaio and others, and the medieval city hall. Finally, we’ll climb the Torre Grossa, the town’s tallest civic tower, affording spectacular views across the countryside. Tonight we enjoy dinner together back at our estate. Overnight Chianti (B, D)

Day 12 | Monday 1 June
Monteriggioni, Certaldo & Lucca
Departing Chianti today we travel to Lucca, via the medieval walled fortress of Monteriggioni, built to defend Siena from Florence and unforgettably described by Dante in The Divine Comedy. Our tour continues to the story-book medieval town of Certaldo, a feast of red-brick tower-houses, churches and palazzi. It was the birthplace of the 14th-century writer Giovanni Boccaccio who used his hometown as the inspiration for some of his short stories in The Decameron. After lunch at a local restaurant, we continue to the beautiful walled city of Lucca – rising from the green plains of the Serchio Valley. Overnight Lucca (B, L)

Day 13 | Tuesday 2 June
Lucca
Thanks to its strategic position on the Via Francigena, Lucca grew into one of the most prosperous and magnificent of all of Tuscany’s medieval towns. It remains a jewel of a place, girdled by over 4km of Renaissance walls. On our walking tour, we’ll learn about the city’s growth from an ancient Roman castrum to a vital centre of pilgrimage and trade in the Middle Ages. We’ll then visit the Palazzo Pfanner, one of the most splendid noble residences in the city, surrounded by elegant, bestatued gardens. The reminder of the afternoon is at leisure, reconvening this evening for dinner together in a local restaurant that specialises in traditional Tuscan cuisine. Overnight Lucca (B, D)

Day 14 | Wednesday 3 June
Pisa
Lying near the Ligurian Sea on the mouth of the River Arno, Pisa grew in importance and splendour from the 11th century when it became one of Italy’s four great maritime republics. Today we visit the aptly named ‘Piazza of Miracles’ whose remarkable sacred complex – the Duomo, Baptistery, the leaning campanile and the monumental Campo Santo cemetery – makes it one of the most breathtaking piazzas in Italy. After the tour, there’ll be free time for lunch and the chance to take a stroll through the city. Overnight Lucca (B)

Day 15 | Thursday 4 June
Torre Del Lago
After free time to enjoy Lucca’s lovely shops and cafés, your tour leader will give an illustrated lecture exploring the life and music of the celebrated opera composer Giacomo Puccini, who was born in Lucca in 1858. Afterwards, we’ll head to the sleepy town of Torre del Lago on the shores of Lake Massacciucoli. Here, Puccini built a lakeside villa where he lived and wrote his most beloved operas, including La Bohème, Tosca and Madama Butterfly. Puccini described the place as ‘paradise, Eden’, and the light and natural beauty of the area inspired a group of artists from the Macchiaioli school of painters, who befriended the composer. We trace Puccini’s Bohemian circle at the composer’s villa - now a house museum furnished much as it was when he lived there - and we visit the mausoleum where the maestro and his family are buried. This evening we enjoy a farewell dinner at a chalet-restaurant overlooking the water. Overnight Lucca (B, D)

Day 16 | Friday 5 June
Departure
Our tour concludes after breakfast with a transfer to Florence Airport, arriving in the late morning. Please check individual travel plans for onward transfer arrangements. (B)