Italy

New Year's In Florence

Program No. 19221RJ
Ring in the New Year in Florence, enjoying cuisine, culture, and artistic traditions as you learn about Renaissance architecture and the region’s fascinating history.

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At a Glance

Embrace the birth of a new year in the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, Florence. Absorb the incredible wealth of artistic treasures in the city that Cimabue, Giotto, Donatello, Michelangelo and da Vinci called home. Delve into the Tuscan capital’s fascinating political history from its Roman origins to the Medici dynasty to Machiavelli. And celebrate the dawning of a new year in true Italian style.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to four miles a day. Extended standing during site visits with limited or no public seating. Uneven terrain, limited public handrails, unavoidable stairs, marble and terracotta flooring, cobblestones. Elevator use is limited or restricted in historic sites. Expect crowded conditions in pedestrian centers and museums.

What You'll Learn

  • Discover the collections of the Uffizi, one of the world’s finest museums boasting works by Titian, Michelangelo, da Vinci, Botticelli, and many more.
  • Learn about the genius of Michelangelo at the Accademia and admire the "David."
  • Experience the Tuscan countryside on an excursion to where Chianti wine is produced.

General Notes

Give us a call to combine this learning adventure with, "Christmas in Sorrento" (#23713) or "Christmas in Rome" (#19115) for even more learning in Italy! We'll even transfer you for free between locations.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
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Suzanne Myers
Suzanne Myers originally hails from Lincoln, Nebraska and has been living in Florence since 2011. She has a BA in art history from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota and an MA in art history from Syracuse University. She works as a lecturer for several study away programs in Florence and as a licensed group leader. Suzanne specializes in Italian Renaissance art, but also loves to lecture on a wide range of subjects from the Medici family to the Black Death to Florentine fashion.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Umberto Cattani
Umberto Cattani View biography
Umberto Cattani is a licensed group leader in Florence, Carrara and the Cinque Terre, and has been working with the Trinity College for 15 years. After completing his studies in accounting, Umberto worked in Parma as a sales manager for a clothing manufacturer. At the start of the new millennium, he discovered his real passion for guiding, and completed the required courses in art history, archaeology and history to achieve his new goal. Umberto lives in Carrara with his wife and daughter.
Profile Image of Bianca Obradovic
Bianca Obradovic View biography
Bianca is originally from the former Yugoslavia, but after studying at the American Business School in Rome 30 years ago, she decided to make Italy her home. She is fluent in English, Italian, French, and Arabic among other languages. Bianca has worked as the site coordinator and group leader for numerous educational travel companies in Italy and in the Mediterranean.
Profile Image of Suzanne Myers
Suzanne Myers View biography
Suzanne Myers originally hails from Lincoln, Nebraska and has been living in Florence since 2011. She has a BA in art history from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota and an MA in art history from Syracuse University. She works as a lecturer for several study away programs in Florence and as a licensed group leader. Suzanne specializes in Italian Renaissance art, but also loves to lecture on a wide range of subjects from the Medici family to the Black Death to Florentine fashion.
Profile Image of Elena Cappelli
Elena Cappelli View biography
Elena Cappelli was born in Florence and studied at the Università degli Studi di Firenze where she completed her degree in foreign languages. She worked for a number of years as an event planner for a cultural association. A few years ago, she decided to follow in her mother’s footsteps to showcase her city to visitors, soon becoming a licensed expert in Florence. Elena lives in the Oltrarno neighborhood, an old residential district on the other side of the Arno River, with her teenage children.
Profile Image of Barbara Gigi
Barbara Gigi View biography
Barbara was born in Milan to a southern Italian family. She graduated from a school for interpreters and translators learning French, English and Dutch. She worked as an import manager for a fashion company before deciding to become a group leader. She now leads exclusively for Road Scholar and has decided to devote her life to the social sciences. When she is not leading groups, she is a full-time graduate student in anthropology at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales in Paris.
Profile Image of Emily Moloney
Emily Moloney View biography
Emily Moloney, who is originally from Buffalo, New York, first came to Italy over ten years ago. She holds a master's degree in Renaissance art history and is an officially licensed tour guide. In addition to working as a private guide, Emily lectures as a professor of art history and Italian culture at several study-abroad centers in Florence. In her free time, you can find Emily at the park with her growing family. 
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Year
2024
  • 2024
  • 2025
Date
Dec 27 - Jan 04
  • Dec 27 - Jan 04
  • Dec 28 - Jan 05
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Dec 27 - Jan 4, 2025 Itinerary Differences: For those participants on program #19115-122024 or #23713-122024 continuing onward to Road Scholar program, New Year's in Florence (#19221-122724), a high-speed train ticket to Florence is included at no additional cost. To avail yourself of the hotel transfer and train ticket, please contact Trinity College (cp-italy@trincoll.edu) by December 1, 2024, to make arrangements.
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Select trip year and date
2024
  • 2024
  • 2025
Dec 27 - Jan 04
  • Dec 27 - Jan 04
  • Dec 28 - Jan 05
Dec 27 - Jan 4, 2025 Itinerary Differences: For those participants on program #19115-122024 or #23713-122024 continuing onward to Road Scholar program, New Year's in Florence (#19221-122724), a high-speed train ticket to Florence is included at no additional cost. To avail yourself of the hotel transfer and train ticket, please contact Trinity College (cp-italy@trincoll.edu) by December 1, 2024, to make arrangements.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
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9 days
8 nights
14 meals
7 B 2 L 5 D
DAY
1
Departures
In Flight
DAY
2
Arrive Florence, Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Florence
D
Rivoli Boutique Hotel

Activity note: Hotel check-in from 2:00 p.m. Transfer from Florence Airport to hotel is 4 miles (20-minute ride). Walking less than 1 mile; urban terrain and cobblestones.

Afternoon: Check in and settle in. At 4:30 p.m. we gather in the meeting room for an Orientation session. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will review COVID-19 protocols and will adhere to local COVID-19 guidelines and requirements throughout the program. Breakfasts will be buffets. Other included meals will be plated and served from a set menu unless indicated otherwise; water is included, other beverages will be available for purchase. Evenings at leisure offer opportunities to make the program more meaningful and memorable through personal independent exploration, attending performances or other events, or simply relaxing and making new friends among fellow participants. The Group Leader will always be happy to offer suggestions. Periods in the schedule designated as "Free time" and "At leisure" offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Next, we will join our Group Leader in a welcome cocktail (or fruit juice).

Dinner: At the hotel restaurant.

Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

DAY
3
Medieval Origins, Duomo & Museum, Free Time
Florence
B,D
Rivoli Boutique Hotel

Activity note: Walking up to 4 miles throughout the day, extended periods of standing; mostly level urban stone sidewalks and streets, cobblestones; elevator available at Opera del Duomo Museum, unavoidable stairs. Extent of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will gather in the hotel meeting room for a presentation by a local expert on medieval Florence. We’ll learn of the Roman origins of the city and how, by the end of the 15th century, the Medici family had established a powerful dynasty and went on to rule Florence, transforming it into a cradle of the Renaissance. The Medici rebuilt large areas of the city in Renaissance style; became patrons of the humanities, arts, and science; and collected art treasures. After a short break, we will set out on a field trip and walk to the Duomo where a museum docent will lead our exploration of Florence’s most famous landmark. Known officially as the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, it is called simply the Duomo. It is the third-largest church in the world. The magnificent dome, designed by Filippo Brunelleschi and completed in 1434, was startlingly innovative at the time and is considered one of the wonders of the Renaissance. We will also explore the Duomo Museum complex, recently reopened after a major renovation and modernization. It includes more than 750 works of art covering more than seven centuries of history including medieval and Renaissance statues and reliefs in marble, bronze, and silver by leading artists of the day.

Lunch: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Afternoon: Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
4
Palazzo Pitti, Oltrarno Artisans, Pasta/Gelato Cooking Class
Florence
B,L
Rivoli Boutique Hotel

Activity note: Walking up to 4 miles throughout the day with extended periods of standing during site visits; cobblestones and some uneven urban stone sidewalks. Elevator available in the Palazzo Pitti.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We'll set out on foot for our expert-led field trip to the Palazzo Pitti on the other side of the Arno. This former palace was inhabited by members of the Medici family from 1589 until the last, Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici, died in 1743. The palace was home to Napoleon when Tuscany was under French control and later was a residence of the House of Savoy under the period of Italian Unification. Today, the palace is home to works by Antonio Canova, Artemisia Gentileschi, Raphael, Tiziano, and Rubens.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: From our restaurant, we'll set out on foot with a local expert to explore the Oltrarno, the "left bank" of the Arno River. Along the narrow streets of the residential neighborhood we can observe artisans at their craft. Depending on what shops are open we may encounter potters, furniture restorers, leather workers or bookbinders. After a short coffee break, we will attend a cooking school with a local artisan who will teach us how to make pasta, pizza, and gelato using seasonal and local ingredients.

Dinner: At the cooking school, we will enjoy the foods we helped to prepare.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
5
Art Lecture, Uffizi, Free Time, New Year's Eve Dinner
Florence
B,D
Rivoli Boutique Hotel

Activity note: Walking up to 4 miles total throughout the day with extended periods of standing during site visits; cobblestones and mostly level urban stone sidewalks and streets. Elevator available at the Uffizi.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: In the meeting room of the hotel, an art historian will join us and give an overview of Renaissance Art and, with an illustrated presentation, describe highlighted works of art in the collection of the Uffizi. We walk to the Uffizi and once inside, take in a self-directed visit of the many rooms of artistic treasures at your own pace. In the Uffizi, works are arranged in an order that illustrates the progression from the International Gothic style to Mannerist and examples of Baroque art with pieces by Caravaggio and Artemisia Gentilleschi. There is a coffee bar at the end of the corridor on the upper level where you can relax and purchase refreshments while enjoying a commanding view of the bell tower of Palazzo Vecchio and the Cupola of the Duomo.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like.

Afternoon: Free time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Dinner: Celebrate New Year's Eve at a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
6
San Gimignano, Organic Farm, Chianti
Florence
B,L
Rivoli Boutique Hotel

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach. Coach to San Gimignano is 40 miles, and takes about 1.15 hours. Walking up to 3 miles throughout the day with periods of standing during site visits; uneven paths, cobblestones, mostly level urban stone sidewalks, pedestrian-only roads with inclines and descents. Gravel walkways at the agriturismo.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Late morning we will board a motorcoach and head south of Florence to the hills where Chianti grapes are grown and the famous red wine is produced. A few miles outside of San Gimignano, we will drive to an organic farm where you can visit the farm and wine cellar. The host explains the production of extra virgin olive oil, wine, saffron, and the characteristics of Chianina cattle.

Lunch: Enjoy a farm-to-table lunch at an agriturismo.

Afternoon: We'll board the motorcoach and ride back to our hotel in Florence.

Dinner: On your own to sample the local fare.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
7
Bargello, San Lorenzo, Santa Maria Novella, Opera Concert
Florence
B,D
Rivoli Boutique Hotel

Activity note: Walking up to 4 miles throughout the day with extended periods of standing during site visits; cobblestones and mostly level urban stone sidewalks.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We begin the day in the hotel meeting room with a lecture on Florentine sculpture. The presentation by a local art historian examines the development of the art form from antiquity through the Renaissance with special emphasis on the works of Ghiberti, Donatello, and Michelangelo. We'll walk to the Bargello where an art historian will lead us through the museum and examine the development of sculpture from antiquity through the Renaissance with special emphasis on the works of Ghiberti, Donatello, and Michelangelo. Notable works include Donatello's David and bronzes by Cellini and Giambologna. Our local expert will then lead us back toward the market of San Lorenzo where we'll learn about this imposing structure. Inside the Liberty-style covered market vendors sell fruits, vegetables and all kinds of meat and fowl, gelato, pastries, and coffee.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like.

Afternoon: We'll meet at an appointed time and place to walk to the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella complex, located near the city's main train station, to meet our local art historian. Santa Maria Novella is Florence's Dominican church, built on land assigned to the Order in the early 13th century. The present basilica was constructed in the early 15th century; its famous façade was designed by famed Renaissance man, Leon Battista Alberti in the 1470s. The interior of the basilica contains astounding works of 15th-century frescoes, including Masaccio's Trinity and Domenico Ghirlandaio's (and possibly young apprentice Michelangelo) Tornabuoni Chapel, not to mention works by Lorenzo Ghiberti, Giambologna, Bernardo Daddi, and Filippino Lippi.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At a venue in the heart of the Oltrarno, we’ll attend a performance of opera arias by Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini, native son of the nearby city of Lucca. The live performance is with a solo artist with piano accompaniment.

DAY
8
Accademia, Free Time
Florence
B,D
Rivoli Boutique Hotel

Activity note: Walking up to 3 miles throughout the day with extended periods of standing during site visits; cobblestones and mostly level urban stone sidewalks. Sculptures at the Accademia are on the ground floor; elevator available to the paintings on the first floor.

Breakfast: At the hotel

Morning: Our day begins with a walk to the Accademia delle Belle Arti where we will marvel at Michelangelo's David. A local expert will lead the field trip through the sculpture collection in the main hall which includes the David as well as the unfinished pieces called the Prisoners which seem to be still imprisoned in the block of Carrara marble. There are other small collections in the museum that you might want to browse on your own, such as the collection of early musical instruments or the painting gallery with works from the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and early 17th century.

Lunch: On your own to sample the local fare.

Afternoon: Free time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most.

Dinner: At the hotel restaurant. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

DAY
9
Program Concludes
Florence
B

Activity note: Hotel check-out 11:00 a.m. See your program’s “Getting There” information regarding transfers.

Breakfast: At the hotel. For those with early departures, the hotel will prepare a bag breakfast to take. This concludes our program.

Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!






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