Tour Leader
Tour Leader
Today we depart Miami International Airport (MIA) on an overnight journey to Florence.
Today we arrive in Florence (FLR) in the midafternoon. We will transfer to our hotel for check-in and enjoy a welcome dinner together. D.Â
Overnight Florence
Today we enjoy a walking tour of the highlights of Renaissance Florence, from the splendor of the famed Duomo to the Ponte Vecchio bridge. Other sites we will visit in Florence include the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, which contains numerous works by important Renaissance artists, and the Galleria dell ‘Accademia, where we will see Michelangelo’s renowned statue of David. We will end this day in the early afternoon to give you some free time to explore the city, grab an early dinner on your own, or rest from jetlag at the hotel. B. Dinner on own.
Overnight Florence
Today we take a day trip to the beautiful Tuscan hill towns of Volterra and San Gimignano. In Volterra we will visit the medieval center and the Roman theater. We will enjoy lunch and wine-tasting in a Tuscan Villa before moving on to San Gimignano. San Gimignano is a small, walled town known for its medieval towers, which transports visitors back to the 14th century. We will visit the Piazza della Cisterna and Piazza della Cattedrale, taking time to visit the Cathedral itself and (optional) to climb one of the towns towers: La Torre Grossa. B, L, D.
Overnight Florence
Today we travel to Siena and the Chianti countryside. In Siena we visit the Piazza del Campo, surrounded by palaces, medieval buildings, and Siena’s Clock Tower. We visit the Cathedral which is one of the most majestic and important Romanesque-Gothic churches in Italy. B, D.
Overnight Florence
Today we enjoy our final day in Florence with an optional tour of the Uffizi Gallery, with entry to the Boboli Gardens included. The Uffizi Gallery is world-renowned for its collection of sculptures and paintings, including works by Botticelli, Dürer, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Michelangelo and DaVinci. In the afternoon we will have free time in Florence, before gathering for a farewell group dinner at B-Roof Restaurant, with splendid views of the Duomo, or similar. B, D.Â
Overnight Florence
Today we make our way towards Perugia, stopping at the beautiful, charming hill towns of Pienza and Montepulicano. Pienza is a quintessential Renaissance city known for its pecorino cheese. We visit the historic city center, the Cathedral, and the city walls. In Montepulicano we will enjoy a tasting of some of the wine for which the area is known. B, D.
Overnight Perugia
This morning we will experience a walking tour of Perugia, the capital of Umbria. We will see the medieval town center, the Palazzo dei Priori, the Piazza IV November, and the Roman aqueduct. In the afternoon there will be an optional trip to Cortona, of Under the Tuscan Sun fame, where we will enjoy a walking tour of the city. B, D.
Overnight Perugia
Today we will travel to Assisi, where we will visit the Basilicas of St. Clare and St. Francis. At the Basilica of St. Francis we will have the opportunity to view the crypt, the frescoes, and some of the possessions of Francis of Assisi. Time permitting, we will explore the hill town of Gubbio at leisure this afternoon. B, D.
Overnight Perugia
This morning we visit the magnificent hill town of Orvieto, where we will have a guided walking tour of this dramatically set city. We visit the medieval Duomo which features a chapel frescoed by Fra Angelico and Luca Signorelli’s masterpiece, The Last Judgment. We continue to Rome, where we will have an optional afternoon tour of the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica. B, D.
Overnight Rome
Today we will experience a walking tour of the Roman Forum, the location of ancient Roman government buildings, the Colosseum, the largest of the ancient amphitheaters and the place of the martyrdom of early Christians like Ignatius of Antioch and Telemachus, and the Mamertine Prison, which is believed to be the site of the imprisonments of both Peter and Paul, and the place where they both lived their last days. Paul likely wrote the Epistle of 2 Timothy from here. In the afternoon we visit the Church of Peter and Paul on the Ostian Way. This evening we will enjoy a farewell dinner together. B, D.
Overnight Rome
After breakfast (time permitting) we will transfer to the airport for our flight home. Later today we will arrive back in Miami (MIA).