In Transit: Flight to Pisa

Note: Minimal exertion, a walk around town and class room time for a lecture.

Arrive To: Transfer from airport to the hotel in Lucca

Lunch: Early arrivals will find ample local eateries in which to sample Tuscan cuisine. Suggestions will be provided.

Afternoon: Late afternoon, Lecture Introduction to Tuscany, Program overview and Welcome reception.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: Explore briefly the area around the hotel or stroll around the city.

Lodging: Hotel Ilaria

Meals Included: Dinner

Note: Not a strenuous day, transportation provided to the traffic free city center, which is not a large area.

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet in the hotel.

Morning: Explore Lucca’s city planning from its origins in 180 BCE to the present. See the piazza which conforms to the old Roman amphitheater, the piazza that was once the Forum. Stroll through the elegant shopping district on your walk back to the hotel.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Lecture: Medieval Lucca and the Walls, visit the Basilica of S. Martino and see the Volto Santo a statue of devotion. During the middle ages, Lucca was a destination for pilgrims who wanted to see this statue. Another noteworthy sculpture is the tomb of Ilaria del Carretto, executed by Jacopo della Quercia. The young woman rests on a pillow and his ability to "mold" marble had an influence on Michelangelo. The sides are adorned with winged Putti holding garlands. Castruccio Castracani was a lord of the city and Machiavelli wrote an essay about his political ingenuity.

Dinner: Dinner at a local restaurant.

Lodging: Hotel Ilaria

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Coach one hour to Carrara and the quarries. Not a strenuous day. The expert led walk in Carrara might take 30 minutes to see the city center.

Breakfast: In the hotel dining hall.

Morning: Visit the city of Carrara and the marble finishers and quarries. Opportunity to visit an artist workshop and to ride up the hill to see the massive machinery used to extract the marble, then wonder how it was accomplished since antiquity prior to the invention of mechanized machines.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Lecture: Marble as the Medium, visit artists workshops. Return to Lucca mid-afternoon.

Dinner: Opportunity to seek out a special place to eat.

Evening: At leisure.

Lodging: Hotel Ilaria

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Free Time in Lucca / Piazza dei Miracoli, Duomo, Baptistery, Leaning Tower of Pisa

Note: Travel to Pisa to visit the Piazza dei Miracoli, the Duomo complex comprised of the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Baptistery. Unfortunately reservations are required to climb the tower. Light exertion.

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet in hotel.

Morning: Free time to explore Lucca on your own, suggestions will be available. The defensive walls surrounding Lucca date back to the 16th and 17th centuries. These are the third set of walls--the city having outgrown the others. The circumference is just over 3 miles and the lanes were once large enough for cars to drive upon. The walls are about 40 feet high and 30 feet thick at the bottom. The walls never were breached and for that matter never attacked. They provide a wonderful panorama of the city and one can easily pick out the landmarks. There are various places where one may start and end the walk, so do not feel compelled to complete the whole journey in one day.

Lunch: Lunch on your own

Afternoon: Afternoon excursion to Pisa expert led visit of the Duomo complex (Baptistery, Campo Santo, Tower--sorry no time to climb the Tower, it requires reservation.) Until the port of Pisa silted up, it was a strong maritime republic (along with Genoa, Amalfi and Venice) and the wealth of the city is demonstrated by the civic and religious pride the inhabitants had by funding such a grandiose construction. The Duomo is one of the few Romanesque churches to have a dome built over the apse. The Baptistery has a double dome and one solo voice sounds like a choir. At times the custodian will sing the scale and the echo reverberates the whole chord. Students of Dante will recognize a similar baptismal font described in the Inferno. Dante refers to the one in the Baptistery of Florence, but it has since been removed.

Dinner: Local restaurant.

Evening: Some musical entertainment featuring Lucca’s native son, Puccini or other entertainment.

Lodging: Hotel Ilaria

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Note: Coach travel and minimal walking.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: An expert leads a visit to the Villa of Lorenzo de'Medici at Poggio a Caiano. Designed by Giugliano da Sangallo, he incorporated elements of classical antiquity: an arched portico which served as a porch and a shaded area around the building; an entrance inspired by an Ionic temple flanked by grand staircases leading to the main entrance. The mail halls are decorated with frescoes by Pontormo and Andrea del Sarto. Near by are many wineries with tasting rooms, like Tenuta Capezzano (or one similar) which we will visit for a light lunch.

Lunch: Enjoy a lunch and wine tasting at a winery in the Chianti region. One of the winery's staff explains the process of wine making and olive oil pressing.

Afternoon: Coach south to Siena through the Tuscan countryside and check into hotel located in the historical section of town, on top of the hill. After settling into your room meet for a city orientation walk that points out the location of banks, pharmacies, stores, major landmarks, etc.

Dinner: At hotel restaurant to sample a variation of typical Tuscan cuisine. Each area of the region prepares its own specialties.

Evening: Leisurely walk to Piazza del Campo or Church of San Domenico. Saint Catherine of Siena belonged to the Dominican Order, and the church contains some of her relics. At some point during your stay you will pass by her family home.

Lodging: NH Excelsior

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Negotiating the inclines and descents in Siena will require more effort. The historical city center is restricted to car traffic, so that you can walk freely.

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at the hotel.

Morning: Expert led visit: Campo, Palazzo Pubblico and Duomo Complex. The Campo is built over the original location of the Roman forum and the theater, which utilized the natural shell contours of converging hills. Not having a near by river, the inhabitants of Siena paved the Campo as a way to direct rain water into city cisterns. The perimeter is the site where the famed Palio horse race takes place. The course is layered with dirt and over 100,000 people crowd into the middle to witness the three lap race. The Palazzo Pubblico with its tall bell and observation tower offers a commanding view of the countryside and allowed the citizens to prepare for any approaching army. The Palazzo is still used as the town hall, and contains an important fresco cycle depicting an allegory of Good and Bad Government by Lorenzetti. You will probably recognize the fresco by Simone Martini of Guidoriccio da Folignano riding on horseback. The Duomo is one the most famous in Italy, the floors are decorated with incised inlaid marble figures religious and allegorical scenes. The striped interior results from the use of white marble from northern Tuscany, green marble from Prato and red from near Siena.

Lunch: Opportunity to sample Sienese cuisine on your own. Suggestions will be provided.

Afternoon: Lecture: Sienese Art, followed by a self guided visit of the Pinacoteca Art Gallery to see masters of the Sienese school, (entrance provided.) Representatives of the Sienese school are Simone Martini, Duccio di Buoninsegna, Pietro Lorenzetti, Giovanni di Paolo among others. Once in Florence, you will be able to discern the difference between the Sienese and Florentine schools.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Lodging: NH Excelsior

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Note: Coach to San Gimignano and walk around the small town. Some part is up hill. Not a strenuous excursion. During free time, those with stamina may choose to climb one of the open towers to gain a commanding view of the countryside below.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Excursion by coach to San Gimignano for an expert-led visit to the medieval city. An original Etruscan town, this town retains much of its medieval aspect. At one time 77 towers were standing in the city. They were used in family rivalries in order to attain the advantage of higher ground. In the Duomo there is a fresco cycle depicting scenes from Dante's Inferno as a way of visually entreating the people to repent from their evil ways. Vernaccia di San Gimignano is a distinctive white Tuscan wine with full body and rich overtones was one of the first Italian wines to receive the DOC designation in 1966, indicating the Denominazione di Origine Controllata, i.e. that the area of origin of the grapes is controlled. In 1993 it obtained the DOCG designation guaranteeing its denomination.

Lunch: At a local winery or olive oil mill, the host explains the cultivation and production process. San Gimignano produces one of the few Tuscan white wines, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, imported to the USA.

Afternoon: Return to Siena. Lecture: Contemporary Italian and Tuscan Society. Like every country there are national and local concerns and this lecture focuses on regional aspects of Italian society.

Dinner: Enjoy the evening dinner at a restaurant of your choosing to try some of the local specialties. You will find menus posted at the door so that you can determine what you want to eat and how much you can anticipate spending.

Lodging: NH Excelsior

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Note: One hour coach ride to Pienza, a small hill town, not a difficult walk.

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet in the hotel.

Morning: Coach excursion to the town of Pienza. Pope Pius II Piccolomini (1458-1464) was born in the village of Corsignano, and once he became pope he began a building project to transform his home town into an idealized Renaissance city. He built his palace near the main piazza renamed the town after himself. He was a humanist scholar and poet.

Lunch: Lunch in the southern region of Tuscany and sample the Chianti wine and local food products.

Afternoon: Excursion continues on the coach ride along the back roads in Tuscany

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: Enjoy a leisurely stroll to the Campo and search out some of the city's panoramic views of the surrounding countryside below the hill.

Lodging: NH Excelsior

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Leisurely walk around town to visit some of the Contrade, districts of the city.

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast in the hotel.

Morning: The Palio: More Than a Horse Race. Even though there is one race in July and another in August, the competitive spirit between the Contrade is manifest all year round. In an unusual ceremony prior to the race, the horse is brought into the Contrada's church to be blessed by the priest.

Lunch: Lunch on your own to try out another local restaurant.

Afternoon: After lunch, a local expert leads a walk through a few neighborhoods, or 'contrade'.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel restaurant.

Lodging: NH Excelsior

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Note: Transfer to Florence by coach, minimal exertion.

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at hotel.

Morning: Coach to Florence

Lunch: Lunch in the market area of the city

Afternoon: Check into Florence hotel, and enjoy a walk around the historical center. Return to the hotel for an illustrated lecture on Medieval and Renaissance Art, to prepare you for the self guided visit at the Uffizi Gallery the next day. Florence is a pedestrian friendly city and a center of jewelry production. Be sure to walk over Ponte Vecchio to see the latest in fine jewelry design.

Dinner: Dinner at a local restaurant.

Evening: Leisurely walk around the city, enjoy the traffic free pedestrian zone that stretches from the Duomo to Ponte Vecchio. Stroll past the designer shops on Via Tornabuoni, or through the markets of San Lorenzo Market and the Porcellino a.k.a. the Straw Market prior to reaching Ponte Vecchio.

Lodging: Hotel Corona d'Italia

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Minimal exertion, the historical center if Florence is closed to traffic and the terrain is level.

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet in the hotel dining hall.

Morning: Market walk in the area of Brunelleschi's church of S. Lorenzo. Along the streets vendors set up carts with leather goods, pottery, scarves, souvenirs, etc.; in the late 1800's the Central Market was built. On the ground floor stalls sell fresh and cured meats, cheeses, breads, and in addition there are some fast food places that sell sandwiches, pizzas, and some hot meals. On the top floor is the produce section where fruits, vegetables, herbs etc. are sold. You might want to try one of the eateries for an excluded lunch to have an idea of how some Florentines eat if they do not have time to go home.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: We reserve an entrance time to the Uffizi Gallery and allow each participant to walk through at his/her own pace. Stay as long as you like. There is a coffee shop at the end corridor that you can purchase refreshments and enjoy a commanding view of the bell tower of Palazzo Vecchio and the Cupola of the Duomo. It is located over the Loggia dei Lanzi at Piazza della Signoria. In the Gallery works are arranged in an order that illustrates the progression from the International Gothic style to Mannerism and examples of Baroque art with pieces by Caravaggio and Artemisia Gentilleschi.

Dinner: Dinner on your own to explore local specialties. Suggestions will be made available

Lodging: Hotel Corona d'Italia

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Note: Minimal exertion. The Bargello has a flight of stair to reach the second floor, but an elevator is available.

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at hotel.

Morning: Expert-led visit of the Bargello National Museum of Sculpture. The 13th c. palace itself served as the magistrate's headquarters and civic court. Now you will find sculptures by Donatello (St. George, David), the competition pieces between Brunelleschi and Ghiberti for the north doors of the Baptistery and sculptures by Michelangelo, Giambologna and Cellini. In addition to sculpture there are rooms with fine examples of decorated pottery and armaments: swords, lances, early pistols, and suits of armor. In the Chapel is a fresco by Giotto and his school; on the right side one can see what is considered to be an early portrait of Dante.

Lunch: Select from the many restaurants where you want to sample local specialties. Suggestions provided.

Afternoon: Meet at the appointed time to enter the Accademia delle Belle Arti to marvel at Michelangelo's David. Do not neglect his unfinished pieces called the Prisoners, because they seem to be still imprisoned in the Carrara marble. There are other collections in the museum, for example musicians will want to visit the examples of early string instruments. The Accademia is part of the School of Fine Arts of the University of Florence and in a hall to the left of David are plaster casts of some of the most important sculptures of the western world. This affords the students an opportunity to observe them and become inspired.

Dinner: Farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Evening: After your evening stroll for a last cup or cone of gelato, pack for the morning's departure.

Lodging: Hotel Corona d'Italia

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at hotel, continental breakfast for early departures.

Meals Included: Breakfast