Compare Italian Classics: Rome, Florence & Venice With Your Grandchild by Road Scholar vs Premium Tuscany by Intrepid Travel

Day 1
In Transit Overnight
In Flight

Day 2
Arrival & Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Rome L,D Hotel Pace Helvezia
Activity note: Hotel check in from 2:00 p.m.

Morning: After clearing customs, proceed to the first public area of the Arrivals terminal where a representative with a Road Scholar sign will lead Road Scholars to a motorcoach for transfer to the hotel. The Group Leader will be in the hotel lobby to greet arriving Road Scholars. In the late morning, leaving luggage with the desk clerk, we will join the Group Leader for an introductory walk in the neighborhood to identify ATMs, pharmacies, stores, restaurants, etc.

Lunch: Lunch at a local café. Choose from a select menu. Water is included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: After checking in at the hotel, take some time to freshen up before our Orientation session. Orientation: 4:00 p.m. 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. This is a Road Scholar Intergenerational program. Grandparents are responsible for their grandchildren. If/when separate age group activities are conducted concurrently, program staff will supervise. Children are never to be left unsupervised. Except for breakfast, and unless specified otherwise, meals will be plated and served from a set menu with water included; other beverages will generally be available for purchase. Transportation in Rome will be primarily by motor coach; in Venice by vaporetto, or public boat. We will have vaporetto passes valid for our stay in Venice. Periods in the daily 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. We’ll join our Group Leader in a welcome toast before dinner.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, we’ll have a plated set meal; water included, other beverages available for purchase.

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

Day 3
History of Rome, Piazza Walk
Rome B,L,D Hotel Pace Helvezia
Activity note: We will be on our feet most of the afternoon Piazza Walk along uneven paths and original pavement of cobblestone.

Breakfast: At the hotel, the breakfast buffet offers choices such as an egg dish, sliced cold cuts, cheeses, cereal, muesli, yogurt, fresh fruit, breads and pastries, jams, honey, butter, and a selection of hot and cold beverages.

Morning: In the hotel meeting room an illustrated lecture on the History of Rome prepares us for our explorations in The Eternal City. Short walk to Piazza Navona.

Lunch: At a restaurant near Piazza Navona a set menu with plated table service. Water is included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We’ll walk to the long, oval Piazza Navona in an area of the city that is totally traffic free and meet a local expert. We’ll learn how it was built from 81-96 CE by the Emperor Domitian for track and field games. The buildings lining the piazza have the footprint of the bleachers. Now the quintessential Baroque piazza, it is home to artists and performers. Bernini's fountain of the Four Rivers — featured in the movie “Angels and Demons” — sits in the middle and Borromini's church of St. Agnes is on the west side. Walking on, we’ll visit the Pantheon, the best-preserved monument from ancient Rome. Conventional history says it was commissioned by the Emperor Hadrian to replace two previous buildings and constructed circa 118-125 CE, but more recent studies have suggested it was earlier. The design achievements and original purpose continue to baffle archaeologists, architects, and historians today.

Dinner: At at a restaurant in the vicinity of the hotel. Set menu, plated table service. Water is included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 4
Vatican Treasures, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica
Rome B,L Hotel Pace Helvezia
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; drop-off point for Vatican Museums is about 500 feet along stone paved sidewalks to entrance; standing in line while museum-issued listening devices are distributed; walking 2 long corridors (1/2 mile each); riding an escalator; climbing 3 flights of stairs: one at entrance, one to access corridor to Sistine Chapel, one to enter Sistine Chapel; marble floors; crowded conditions; extensive standing throughout field trip, no public seating.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: Coach to the Vatican Museums where a local expert will lead our exploration as we see portions of this vast collection that contains masterpieces of painting, sculpture, and other works of art gathered over centuries. There could be unannounced closings of some galleries, so our expert will make the best use of the time and discuss the most significant works available. We will then move on to the Sistine Chapel, one of the most renowned structures in the world, with Michelangelo's frescoes on the ceiling illustrating scenes from the book of Genesis and the Last Judgment behind the main altar. From there, our expert will lead us down a back staircase to the Basilica of St. Peter. In a side chapel — now behind protective glass — we can see the famous Pietá, Michelangelo's early masterpiece and the only one he signed. Above the altar stands Bernini's bronze baldacchino (canopy), more than 100 feet high. Stepping out onto the front porch, we will admire the colonnade designed by Bernini, evoking the embracing arms of the Church.

Lunch: Short coach ride to the Mosaic Workshop for a light buffet lunch. Water is included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: This morning inside Saint Peter's Basilica, we learned that what appear as paintings are actually micro-mosaics. We’ll come to appreciate this art form even more as we create our own mosaic under expert supervision at the mosaic workshop. Keep your decorated piece as a memento! We’ll then ride back to the hotel.

Dinner: On your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: At leisure. Easy walk from the hotel to Campo de'Fiori which comes alive in the evening as people meet and enjoy refreshment, a meal or gelato in the outdoor cafés and restaurants.

Day 5
Forum and Colosseum
Rome B,D Hotel Pace Helvezia
Activity note: Walking up to 3.5 miles throughout the day; extended periods of standing; uneven paths, original cobblestone pavement. At Colosseum, steep, uneven steps to reach upper level; elevator available but requires walking about 250 feet.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We will set out on foot for the Forum, the civic, religious and political hub of ancient Rome. Our expert will build mental pictures of the walls now lacking from the foundations. We will see the two remaining triumphal arches of Septemius Severus and Titus. The Arch of Constantine contains friezes and bas-relief sculptures recycled from other arches and monuments. Short walk to the Piazza del Colosseo.

Lunch: On your own. The Group Leader will have suggestions for cafés and restaurants in the area.

Afternoon: Free afternoon.

Dinner: At a restaurant near the hotel. Set regional menu, plated table service. Water is included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: Re-grouping at the hotel we’ll walk to the Forum of Augustus and learn about daily life in ancient times through a spectacular laser light show with English narration. The show begins at sunset and lasts about an hour. During the show, we’ll sit on bleachers in front of the suggestive ruins of the Forum, then walk back to the hotel.

Day 6
Train to Florence, Neighborhood walk
Florence B,L,D Grand Hotel Adriatico
Activity note: Bags will be picked up early morning outside rooms for delivery to hotel in Florence. 1/2 mile walk to Piazza Venezia. Long low rise steps to reach to top of the Capitoline Hill. Enjoy the comfortable high speed train ride. High speed train to Florence 1.5 hours. In Florence, short walk (less than 1/2 mile) from train station to hotel. Neighborhood walk approximately 1/2 mile.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We will check out of our rooms and leave our luggage for pick-up and transfer to the hotel in Florence; keep your carry on bag with you. We’ll set out on foot for Piazza Venezia and the Capitoline Hill where we’ll meet a local expert. At the Capitoline Museum we can see up close masterpieces of ancient art, portrait busts of prominent Romans, and the famous bronze She Wolf that has become the symbol of Rome. Great photo op in front of the giant feet and hands of the remains of Constantine's colossal statue. Passing through the Tabularium, we’ll reach the Palazzo Nuovo wing where the emotionally charged Dying Gaul and Capitoline Venus marble statues are on display.

Lunch: At the conclusion of the visit we have lunch at a café near the museum. Choose from a sandwich, salad or slice of pizza. Soft drink or water is included.

Afternoon: Coach to the train station. Our adventure begins when the high speed train leaves Roma Termini station and reaches speeds of 120 mph on the way to Florence. The ride is 95 minutes. Short walk to the Florence hotel. Check in and settle in. At the appointed time, meet the group leader in the lobby and set out for a neighborhood walk.

Dinner: At the hotel restaurant. Set menu, plated table service. Water is included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: With the group leader, stroll the historical section of Florence for an introduction to the layout of the city, locate landmarks, point out ATMs and pharmacies.

Day 7
Accademia & The David, Fresco Technique
Florence B,L Grand Hotel Adriatico
Activity note: Walking 1 mile from hotel to Accademia; 1 mile from Accademia to Palazzo Vecchio in the Piazza della Signoria; 3 flights of stairs to reach the main rooms of Palazzo Vecchio.

Breakfast: At the hotel, the buffet includes an egg dish, cold cuts, cheeses, cereal, yogurt, fresh fruit, bread, pastries, cakes, and a selection of hot and cold beverages.

Morning: We set out on foot — passing stately late Renaissance palazzi — to the reserved entrance at the Accademia for our scheduled visit. We will meet a local expert who will give us a presentation on Michelangelo's statue of David, who stands steadfast under his own cupola. In addition to this extraordinary figure, we’ll also see the unfinished statues known as the “Prisoners.” It has been suggested that Michelangelo left them in their incomplete state to symbolize the struggle of humankind to free spirit from matter. We’ll then have some time for independent exploration in the Accademia that includes works by other great sculptors and artists — many of which were collected by the Medici and donated to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany — and a Museum of Musical Instruments.

Lunch: At a nearby restaurant. A set Tuscan menu, plated service. Water is included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: At the Palazzo Vecchio in the Piazza della Signoria, an art teacher will teach us the steps involved in painting a fresco; from creating the lines with a sack of coal dust, to spreading the fresh plaster, mixing the pigments, and applying the watery colors. We’ll then fresco our own 6"x 9" tiles to keep (or recycle if you choose not to take it with you). Next, we’ll begin an expert-led exploration of the Palazzo Vecchio, Florence's city hall and former residence of the Medici, to see original pieces of art by Donatello and Michelangelo. Our expert will relate stories of the Medici family and rulers who lived here centuries ago. The Group Leader will walk back to the hotel with those who wish to return. You are welcome to stay out on your own if you prefer.

Dinner: On your own to enjoy what you like.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 8
San Lorenzo Market, Gates of Paradise
Florence B,D Grand Hotel Adriatico
Activity note: The walk from the hotel to Mercato di San Lorenzo is less than 1 mile; from San Lorenzo to the Duomo is less than .5 mile over flat narrow sidewalks paved with stone.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We’ll set out on a walking field trip with a local expert with our first stop at the Mercato di San Lorenzo. Outside, vendors sell leather goods, clothing, and souvenirs. Inside, it’s an amazing food market with a dozen sections of local and regional produce and specialties as well as a food court to enjoy farm-to-table meals. “Duomo” is the Italian word for cathedral. We’ll continue walking to the newly renovated Duomo Museum, part of the complex that includes the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, the Baptistery of San Giovanni, and Giotto’s Campanile. A local expert will lead our exploration as we see highlights of the collection that 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. Among the masterpieces is a Pietá by Michelangelo and the original, newly restored, gilt bronze panels of the Gates of Paradise by Lorenzo Ghiberti. You are welcome to stay on in the historic center of Florence or return to the hotel independently.

Lunch: Lunch on your own.

Afternoon: Free time. Take this opportunity for independent exploration to see and do what interests you most, or return to the hotel and relax by the pool. The historic center of Florence is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From the UNESCO inscription: “Florence was built on the site of an Etruscan settlement and the later ancient Roman colony of Florentia (founded in 59 BC). This Tuscan city became a symbol of the Renaissance during the early Medici period (between the 15th and the 16th centuries), reaching extraordinary levels of economic and cultural development.”

Dinner: At a restaurant near the hotel. Set menu, plated table service. Water is included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 9
Renaissance Art, Uffizi Gallery
Florence B,L,D Grand Hotel Adriatico
Activity note: The walk to the Uffizi is .6 mile over flat sidewalks paved in stone. Multiple floors, long flight of stairs to reach exhibition rooms; grand staircase leads to 3rd floor painting collections; separate staircase at end of gallery's long corridor leads back to ground floor. Small elevator (cap. 4 persons) for disabled visitors may be available; crowded conditions.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We’ll have some “down” time before a late morning presentation by a local expert on Renaissance art in preparation for our visit of the Uffizi Gallery.

Lunch: At a restaurant in the heart of the city, we’ll have a plated set meal; water included, other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We will walk to the reserved entrance of the Uffizi Gallery for our self-directed field trip. You are free to see what interests you spend as much time as you wish. This is the most extensive collection of Renaissance art in the world, tracing the development from Gothic to medieval to Renaissance to Mannerist paintings as well as architecture and sculpture. You will find many recognizable masterpieces, including Leonardo da Vinci's “Annunciation,” Botticelli's “Birth of Venus” and the “Primavera,” some Titians, Michelangelo's “Holy Family,” and a few Caravaggios as well as Artemisia Gentileschi. There is a suggested guide to seeing some of the most famous masterpieces at www.Uffizi.org. There is a coffee bar at the end of the second corridor, on top of the Loggia, with a wonderful view of the watch tower and Duomo where you can get a refreshment and rest.

Dinner: Dinner at a nearby restaurant. Set menu, plated table service. Water is included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check out and departure tomorrow.

Day 10
Train to Venice, History of Venice, the Serenissima
Venice B,L,D Hotel Principe
Activity note: Bags will be picked up early morning outside rooms for delivery to hotel in Venice. Walk to Florence train station less than 1/2 mile over stone and cobblestone paved sidewalks and streets. High speed train to Venice takes 1.5 hours. Upon arrival in Venice, we walk the short distance to the hotel - about 300 yards. Brief neighborhood walk covers about 1 mile.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We will check out of our rooms and leave our luggage for pick-up and transfer to the hotel in Venice; keep your carry on bag with you. We’ll set out on foot for the train station and board a high speed train to Venice. Upon arrival, we will walk to area of the hotel.

Lunch: At a restaurant near the hotel we'll have a set menu, plated table service. Water is included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Check in and settle into the hotel. The group leader will set the time to meet in the hotel meeting room where a local expert presents Welcome to Venice, an introduction to the city known as the Serenissima, the 'Most Serene.' Neighborhood walk follows and circles back to the hotel.

Dinner: At a nearby restaurant to savor Venetian cuisine that features seafood dishes. Water is included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 11
Artisan Workshop, S. Mark's Basilica
Venice B,D Hotel Principe
Activity note: Venice has no vehicular traffic. In addition to the Grand Canal, there are 177 smaller canals and about 400 bridges. Vaporettos (bus boats) travel up and down the Grand Canal as it winds from the Santa Lucia train station to Piazza San Marco. There are 15 stops along the route. All walks in Venice, even the shortest, entail crossing bridges, some of which have ramps and others steps. As the only alternative to walking, vaporettos are frequently crowded with both tourists and locals.

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room, the daily breakfast buffet offers sliced cold cuts, cheeses, cereal, muesli, yogurt, fresh fruit, breads and pastries, jams, honey, butter, and a selection of hot and cold beverages.

Morning: We will use our vaporetto passes and ride down the Grand Canal to a workshop where we will learn about a Venetian craft tradition and make our own keepsakes. It might be a mask — Venice is famous for them — or a glass bead project. Details will be posted on the Road Scholar website under this program number when available and included in preparatory materials sent following enrollment.

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 and will announce a time to re-group at the vaporetto stop.

Afternoon: We’ll travel via vaporetto to the Piazza S. Marco — St. Mark’s Square — for an expert-led visit to the Byzantine style S. Mark's Cathedral, built during the 13 C. There are more than 45,000 square feet of mosaics adorning the church, giving the impression of streets of gold. On the second floor is the original "Quadriga" — a team of four gilded bronze horses that was looted from the fall of Constantinople. Replicas now stand in the elements above the entrance to the Basilica. The loggia has display cases with illuminated manuscripts and other documents related to the church.

Dinner: At a local restaurant. Set menu features Venetian seafood dishes, plated table service. Water is included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 12
Doge's Palace, Gondola Ride
Venice B,L Hotel Principe
Activity note: Getting on/off vaporetto. Walks in Venice involve crossing multiple bridges that span the canals. The visit through many rooms of the Doge’s Palace requires climbing a few flights of stairs, one of which is a monumental staircase. Low, narrow passages through cells of the Prisons and over Bridge of Sighs. Assistance offered getting on/off gondola.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We will meet a local expert who will lead our exploration of the Doge’s Palace that was the seat of civic and political power. “Doge” in the Venetian dialect was equivalent to duke but the Doges of Venice served as head of state for more than a thousand years. They embellished the residential quarters and ceremonial chambers of the Great Council with lavish artwork, including murals by Tintoretto and Veronese. We will see the spacious courtrooms and the Prisons, connected by the Bridge of Sighs. Those convicted of crimes walked from the courtroom to prison across the infamous bridge, so called because of prisoners’ reaction knowing it was their last glimpse of light and air.

Lunch: At a local restaurant, we’ll have a plated set meal; water included, other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Next, we’ll walk to an artisan's workshop to learn about the carving techniques involved in making gondola oars and oar locks. We’ll then experience the city from another point of view as we enjoy a gondola ride through back canals of Venice.

Dinner: On your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 13
Rialto Bridge, Guggenheim Collection
Venice B,L,D Hotel Principe
Activity note: Getting on/off vaporetto. Distance covered on foot is about 2.5 miles. Walks in Venice involve crossing multiple bridges that span the canals. The permanent collection of the Guggenheim museum is displayed on a single floor of the Palazzo Venier with a few steps at the entrance and leading to the wing with special exhibitions.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: For a dramatic contrast to masterpieces of ancient and Renaissance art and architecture, we’ll take a field trip to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, one of Europe’s premier small museums devoted to modern art. We’ll relax in the courtyard of the Palazzo Venier on the Grand Canal while a docent introduces the life and times of this wealthy American collector. Peggy Guggenheim (1898-1979) was a daughter of wealth. Her father, Benjamin Guggenheim, was lost on the ill-fated maiden voyage of the “Titanic.” Peggy began collecting art at an early age and supported many modern artists in their work. Following World War II, she bought the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni on the Grand Canal in Venice and became a resident of the city, opening her home and art collection to the public beginning in 1951. Adults will explore the museum with a docent, while kids will have their own docent and discover forms and expression in modern art.

Lunch: At a characteristic trattoria, we’ll have a plated set meal; water included, other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Free time. Take this opportunity for 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. You might like to use your vaporetto pass and visit the white sandy beaches of the Lido, stretching 7 miles (11 km). Or the island of Murano, where glass-blowing is a fine art. Or tiny Burano, farther away, where ladies make lace before your eyes.

Dinner: At a nearby restaurant, we’ll have a plated set meal; water included plus a glass of wine for adults, other beverages available for purchase. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner as we bid arrivederci a Venezia!

Evening: At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check out and departure in the morning.

Day 14
Program Concludes
In Flight B
Activity note: Hotel check out by 10:00 a.m. See your program’s travel details regarding transfers.

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at the hotel. Sack breakfast for those with early departure times. This concludes the program. 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. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!

Day 1 Rome

Welcome to Rome! Enjoy a complimentary transfer to your hotel and settle in. If you arrive with time to spare, the city’s magnificent buildings are best appreciated on foot, so perhaps wander in search of an espresso. Your Italian adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm, where you will meet your local leader and fellow travellers. Once the formalities are out of the way, get your first taste of Italy over an included dinner with your group at an excellent local restaurant. Sitting down to dinner in Rome means experiencing generations of culinary know-how and timeless traditional recipes. Once your leader introduces you to some of Italy’s best dishes, you’ll understand why this country is so renowned for great food.

Day 2 Rome

From incredible ancient monuments to glamourous restaurants and boutiques, Rome is a city of great beauty and diversity. Today join a private guide for a trip back in time. Marvel at the Spanish steps, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and Piazza Navona before reaching Campo de Fiori, where a local fresh produce market has been held since 1869. Join your tour leader for a quick stop at a local bar for a granita - an iced Italian espresso and a must when in Rome. Next, visit a local aristocrat at his home close to the Campo de Fiori. Much of the apartment is still in its original state and features a stunningly painted ceiling. Find art and artifacts casually displayed throughout the rooms and chat with the energetic owner before sitting down for an included lunch in the dining room. The afternoon is free for you to explore as you please – perhaps take the chance to follow in the footsteps of gladiators and Roman emperors with a visit to the iconic Colosseum. Please note that tickets should be booked in advance, and before the beginning of your trip.

Day 3 Siena / Monteriggioni / San Gimignano Region

Today you’ll take a private vehicle to the gorgeous city of Siena, where your leader will show you the most interesting sights on an orientation walk. At the city’s heart is Piazza del Campo – home to the biannual Palio horse race, and nearby is the stunning Siena Cathedral. Next you’ll visit Monteriggioni – a charming medieval walled town. Over a dozen towers are spread throughout the town, once used to defend Sienese territory from the Florentines. You will have time to explore this tiny hilltop spot before arriving at your Feature Stay accommodation near San Gimignano. This country hotel with cinematic views of a tree-studded landscape and a refreshing outdoor pool is a fine spot to unwind. Tonight, indulge in an included gourmet dinner at your hotel with your group – the food is made with local ingredients and pays homage to traditional Tuscan dishes, with a modern twist.

Day 4 San Gimignano Region

Start the day with a visit to San Gimignano – the 'Town of Fine Towers'. Explore the medieval Old Town centre and its fine Gothic and Romanesque architecture, with your leader on hand to answer any questions inspired by your explorations. This region is also renowned for its ancient Vernaccia grapes, which are the basis for one of Tuscany's finest white wines. Your group will visit a local agriturismo, where you’ll explore the vineyards and sample some of their celebrated wine, before enjoying an included lunch featuring regional cheese, fine olive oil and bruschetta. Return to your Feature Stay accommodation for another delicious dinner.

Day 5 Pisa / Lucca / Florence

Today you’ll visit Pisa. It’s not always possible to climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa due to its precarious state, but as your leader shares the history of this legendary building, you will have the opportunity to photograph it from the ground. Your next stop is historic Lucca, one of Italy’s most beautiful but underrated cities, where you’ll take a short walk along the city’s beautifully preserved Renaissance walls. From here you’ll take the short journey to Florence where the evening is yours to walk the cobbled streets, eat gelato and soak up the unmistakenly Tuscan atmosphere.

Day 6 Florence

This morning join a private guided walk of Florence you will earn about its Glorious past and the notable families that made Florence an important centre for culture, economy and politics. Your tour includes a visit of the Galleria dell ‘Accademia, an art museum renowned for its collection of sculptures, including the iconic statue of David by Michelangelo. Enjoy a free afternoon at your own pace – ask your leader for some local tips on the best way to spend the day. Visiting the Uffizi while you are here is highly recommended – it is one of the oldest galleries in the world, and a building of great beauty. And be sure to head to Piazzale Michelangelo for sweeping views of Florence’s timeless skyline. Sample some of the culinary delicacies on offer from across Tuscany, with dishes known for their freshness, simplicity and quality. Olive oil, beans and herbs are a feature here. Two standout dishes of the region are bistecca alla fiorentina, a large steak sliced on the bone and shared between multiple diners, and ribollita, a simple, hearty soup of bread, vegetables, and beans. Panforte is the signature sweet treat.

Day 7 Venice

In the morning, head to the railway station and take a high-speed train to Venice. Upon arrival your leader will take you on an orientation walk so you can get acquainted with the city’s maze of canals and learn about its unique history, showing you some extraordinary views over the roofs of Venice. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore. The Grand Canal, the quaint shopfronts that line the Rialto Bridge and the Piazza and Basilica di San Marco are all worthy sights to visit, or simply meander around the tiny, cobbled streets and discover the beautiful markets, cafes, galleries and churches. A Venetian gondola ride down the canals is a must, as is a taste of the region’s dessert speciality, tiramisu. Later in the evening join your tour leader for a nice, included Venetian dinner.

Day 8 Venice

With no activities planned for today, your trip comes to an end after breakfast. Those looking to extend their stay can arrange additional nights' accommodation at the time of booking the trip (subject to availability).