Day 10, Wed 25 September
A scenic drive by private bus brings us to San Gimignano, a fortified hilltop town notable for its many Medieval era towers. Here we will visit the cathedral’s Cappella di Santa Fina and Baptistery, decorated with frescoes by Ghirlandaio and...
Day 11, Thurs 26 September
This morning, with a local historian as our guide, we will be led on a walking tour focussed on Volterra’s Etruscan, Roman and Medieval past. The tour includes one of Phyllis’s favourite Mannerist altarpieces, located in the Pinacoteca, Rosso...
Day 12, Fri 27 September
In the morning we will drive to Lucca, a town encircled by perfectly preserved Renaissance era walls. Our local guide will lead us on a walk through the centro storico, historic centre, introducing us to some of Lucca’s unique features: the...
Day 13, Sat 28 September
The Alpi Apuane mountain range rises on Lucca’s horizon. Michelangelo and numerous other artists and architects travelled here to select the region’s prized Carrara marble to work with. Today we will go to the source of that same precious stone. In...
Day 14, Sun 29 September
In the morning we will drive to the small town of Pistoia to see the beautifully restored façade of the Ospedale del Ceppo hospital, with its 16th century polychrome terracotta frieze and roundels, its Romanesque cathedral, and the pulpit in the...
Day 15, Mon 30 September
From Lucca we will drive to Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance, home of the Medici dynasty and the last stage of our tour. Our time here begins with an in depth look at the exterior of the cathedral, crowned with Brunelleschi’s masterpiece the...
Day 16, Tues 1 October
The Uffizi Gallery is home to the world’s greatest collection of Italian Renaissance art. We will spend all morning here, expertly guided through the priceless works including those by Cimabue, Giotto, Duccio, Simone Martini, Lorenzo Monaco, Gentile...
Day 17, Wed 2 October
Today’s tour begins in the harmonious surrounds of San Marco convent, a perfectly preserved 15th century monastery paid for by the Medici and designed by their favourite architect Michelozzo. We will see frescoes and panels by Fra Angelico, who was a...
Day 18, Thurs 3 October
The morning is free up until 11am. You might like to use this time to visit the interior of Florence cathedral, and/or Giotto’s campanile (bell tower) and the crypt of Santa Reparata. You will be provided with a combined ticket for all these sites...