Compare Italy: Classic Tuscany and the Treasures of Florence by Road Scholar vs ITALY IN 10 DAYS - LUXURY TOUR - Venice, Florence, Rome and Amalfi Coast by Vitor Italy Tours

Day 1
In Transit to Program
In Flight

Day 2
Arrive Lucca, Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Lucca L,D Albergo Celide
Activity note: Hotel check-in from 2:00 p.m. Drive to Lucca is 25 miles, and takes about 30 minutes. The orientation walk in Lucca is less than 1 mile.

Lunch: At the hotel restaurant. Water, wine, and coffee included.

Afternoon: After checking-in at the hotel and getting your room, take some time to freshen up and relax. Orientation: 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. Except breakfast, meals will be plated (each dish served to guests by waitstaff) from a set menu unless otherwise specified. Water is included with all meals and other beverages including wine, tea and coffee will be available for purchase unless otherwise specified. Unless indicated differently, transportation will primarily be provided by motor coach. 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. Set out for a neighborhood walk to locate ATMs, pharmacies, grocery stores, restaurants, etc. Return to the hotel for a Welcome Reception to get to know your Group Leader and fellow Road Scholars.

Dinner: At the hotel restaurant, we’ll have a plated and served meal. A glass of wine or beer is included.

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

Day 3
Basilica of San Martino, Tuscan History Lecture
Lucca B,L,D Albergo Celide
Activity note: Walking up to 2 miles exploring Lucca with extended periods of standing during site visits.

Breakfast: At the hotel, the buffet choices include an egg dish, fresh fruit, yogurt, breads, pastries, sliced cold cuts, an assortment of cheeses, cereals, muesli, jams, honey, butter, and a selection of hot and cold beverages including juice and water.

Morning: We’ll begin by meeting our local expert at the hotel and setting out on foot for a walking field trip to visit the Basilica of San Martino and admire its marble facade decorated with Romanesque statues and motifs. In the Middle Ages the city was a destination for pilgrims traveling to view relics housed within the basilica. Our walk back to the hotel will conclude with a stroll along a segment of the wide walls that surround the city. From the time Lucca was a Roman colony, a protective wall fortified the city within from invaders. With urban expansion the original walls were extended in the 17th century. Today, the 2.5 miles of the wall that encircle Lucca have been turned into a wide tree-lined path—the favorite promenade of local residents of all ages.

Lunch: Lunch at a characteristic trattoria in the heart of Lucca where the featured dish is farro soup and other traditional local dishes.

Afternoon: In the hotel meeting room, learn about the region of Tuscany through a presentation given by a local expert.

Dinner: At a charming restaurant in Lucca. Water and wine are included.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 4
Carrara Marble, Cucina Povera, Puccini Recital
Lucca B,L Albergo Celide
Activity note: Coach to Carrara is 28 miles, and takes 30 minutes. Short walk along a dusty dirt path with a slight incline from the coach drop-off area to the observation terrace overlooking the marble quarry.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We will travel by motorcoach with a local expert on a field trip to the quarries above the town of Carrara where we will see the massive machinery used to extract the marble and learn how excavation has changed with mechanized equipment.

Lunch: At an wine bar and restaurant in the center of Carrara, enjoy some local Tuscan dishes and wine.

Afternoon: Coach back to Lucca in the mid-afternoon for an illustrated presentation about rustic cooking in Tuscany given by a local expert.

Dinner: On your own. The group leader and local expert will have suggestions.

Evening: At a venue in the heart of Lucca, we’ll attend a recital of arias from operas by Giacomo Puccini, native son of Lucca, and Giuseppe Verdi.

Day 5
Piazza dei Miracoli, Duomo, Tower of Pisa
Lucca B,D Albergo Celide
Activity note: Getting on/off a train. Walking up to 4 miles total throughout the day on mostly level urban stone sidewalks and streets; small rise on a grassy knoll to reach the path on our morning walk. Train ride to Pisa is 22 miles, a ½ hour ride. Admission to the Leaning Tower is not included in the program cost.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: A local expert will meet us at the hotel and lead us on a discovery of Roman Lucca. In the center of the small city an oval piazza clearly marks the shape of the 1st century CE amphitheater. The foundations of the houses were built on the fortified walls of the ancient structure. Today the piazza is a lively mix of shops and houses.

Lunch: On your own.

Afternoon: We set out on foot for the station and take a train to Pisa where our local expert meets us. A short walk to the Piazza dei Miracoli, also known as Piazza del Duomo, leads us to the Duomo and Baptistery. The famous Leaning Tower is also part of the same Duomo complex. The lacy white marble tiers of the buildings contrast with the wide green lawns, which is unusual for a city cathedral. Until the port of Pisa silted up, the city 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. We’ll then have some free time in Pisa. If you choose to climb the 300 spiraling steps of the famous Leaning Tower, you can purchase a ticket for 18 euros per person. The group leader can assist in securing a reserved entrance time a few days before the Pisa field trip. Train back to Lucca.

Dinner: At Ristorante Celide next to the hotel. A glass of wine is included.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 6
Siena, Winery, Duomo, Museo dell'Opera del Duomo
Siena B,L,D NH Siena Hotel
Activity note: Coach to Siena is 90 miles and takes 2 hours. Walking up to 2 miles in Siena; some stairs in front of the Duomo; pedestrian only roads with inclines to the main square.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: Check out of the hotel. Board the coach to Siena along a scenic route through olive orchards and vineyards in the Chianti hills near Siena.

Lunch: At a winery we visit the vineyards and cantina before enjoying bruschetta, local cured meats and cheeses, wine and biscotti.

Afternoon: We continue to Siena. Check into the hotel. After settling into our rooms, we’ll meet a local expert who will lead us on a walking field trip to Siena's elaborately decorated cathedral (il Duomo) where the floors are paved with inlaid marble depicting figures in religious and allegorical scenes. The field trip will continue to the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo to admire Duccio di Buoninsegna's Maesta'.

Dinner: At a restaurant in the Piazza del Campo, enjoy some traditional Tuscan dishes with a spectacular view. Water and wine included.

Evening: With our Group Leader we’ll walk back to the hotel along the pedestrian only streets of Siena.

Day 7
Life in Italy Today, Piazza del Campo, Palazzo Pubblico
Siena B,D NH Siena Hotel
Activity note: Walking up to 2 miles on hilly terrain over stone paved streets of Siena; negotiating the inclines and descents of the hill town of Siena will require more effort than the walks in Lucca or Florence. The historical city center is restricted to car traffic so that you can walk freely, but every walk is up or down an incline.

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

Morning: In a classroom session led by our Group Leader at the hotel, we will explore the regional aspects of Italian society and the national institutions that shape the lives of residents today. After a short break, we’ll meet for an expert-led city orientation walk that will end up in the Piazza del Campo. The perimeter of the wide square is the site where the famed Palio horse race takes place in July and August. After, we will continue to the Palazzo Pubblico, still serving today as the town hall. One of the rooms contain an important fresco cycle depicting The Allegory of Good and Bad Government by Ambrogio Lorenzetti and a fresco of Guidoriccio da Fogliano on horseback. Scholars have long attributed the work to the 14th-century Sienese painter Simone Martini and our local expert will explain the controversy that has arisen about re-attributing the fresco to a much later artist.

Lunch: On your own to sample local fare.

Afternoon: Our expert-led field trip will continue to part of the collection in the museum complex of Santa Maria della Scala. Originally a hospital offering shelter and support to people in need, it was eventually converted into a museum complex containing some of the most iconic work in Siena.

Dinner: At the hotel restaurant. Water, a glass of wine and coffee are included.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 8
Palio Walk & Lecture, San Gimignano, Organic Farm
Siena B,D NH Siena Hotel
Activity note: The drive from Siena to San Gimignano is 27 miles, and takes 1 hour. Walking up to 1.5 miles in the small town; not strenuous but the town roads are inclined.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: Set out on foot to get an intimate look at the pride and sense of community during an exclusive visit to a contrada meeting hall, chapel and small museum. Learn first hand about the Palio, the race held twice in the summer months where each of the city's districts, called contrade, sponsor a horse to represent their neighborhood. A local expert explains how the shame of losing the Palio is enough to encourage cheating. Even though there is one race in July and another in August, the competitive spirit among the contrade is manifest all year round.

Lunch: On your own.

Afternoon: Excursion by coach to San Gimignano for an expert-led visit of the medieval city. An original Etruscan village, 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. Board the coach for a short ride a few miles outside of town 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 Chianino cattle.

Dinner: Enjoy a farm to table dinner at the organic farm's restaurant. Sample Vernaccia di San Gimignao, one of the few Tuscan white wines produced in the area.

Evening: Coach back to the hotel.

Day 9
Pienza, Free Time, Tuscan Hills
Siena B,D NH Siena Hotel
Activity note: Drive to Pienza is 35 miles, and takes 1 hour. Walking up to 1.5 miles in Pienza, a very small hill town.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We’ll begin our day with a field trip via motorcoach to the town of Pienza. Pope Pius II Piccolomini (1458-1464), a humanist scholar and poet, was born nearby and, once he became pope, he began a project to transform Pienza into an idealized Renaissance city, built his palace near the main piazza, and renamed the town after himself. 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 for independent exploration of the main street, village square of Pienza, and a panoramic road with spectacular views of the rolling Tuscan hills. While in Pienza, we’ll have some free time to explore the cheese shops, wine bars, and small elegant church or just relax on a bench along a scenic path in the heart of the town.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like. In the small town of Pienza there are many wine bars, cafés, and restaurants from which to choose.

Afternoon: On the coach ride back to Siena, sit back and admire the rolling hills of vineyards dotted with isolated farmhouses. Once in Siena, we will have some free time prior to dinner.

Dinner: At the hotel restaurant. Water, a glass of wine and coffee are included.

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

Day 10
Poggio a Caiano, Galleria dell'Accademia
Florence B,L,D Hotel Berchielli
Activity note: Drive to Florence is 42 miles, and takes 1.5 hours. Walking up to 1.5 miles. The sculpture gallery is on the ground level at the Accademia; the picture gallery on the upper level; there is a small elevator for those who require it.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We’ll begin our transfer to Florence but stop en route in Poggio a Caiano for an expert-led field trip to the Villa of Lorenzo de' Medici. The architect Giuliano da Sangallo incorporated elements of classical antiquity: an arched portico which served as a porch and a shaded area around the building as well as a glamorous outdoor entrance flanked by grand staircases leading to the main entryway. The main halls are decorated with frescoes by Pontormo and Andrea del Sarto. Afterwards, we’ll continue our transfer to Florence and check into the hotel.

Lunch: At a pizzeria near the hotel in Florence, choose from a limited pizza and salad menu. Water and a soft drink are included.

Afternoon: From the hotel, we will set out on foot for the Accademia delle Belle Arti to 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 string instruments or the painting gallery with works from the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and early 17th century.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, enjoy traditional Tuscan cuisine. Water and a glass of wine are included.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 11
Renaissance Art Lecture, Free Time, Galleria degli Uffizi
Florence B,L Hotel Berchielli
Activity note: The walk from the restaurant to the Uffizi Gallery is about 400 yards (3 minutes).

Breakfast: At the hotel, buffet choices include an egg dish, sliced cold cuts, an assortment of cheeses, cereals, muesli, yogurt, fresh fruit, breads and pastries, jams, honey, butter, and a selection of hot and cold beverages including juice and water.

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. 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. Perhaps visit the area of Filippo Brunelleschi's church of San Lorenzo. The Central Market was built in the late 19th century and, even today, vendors still set up their carts along the streets with leather goods, pottery, scarves, souvenirs, etc. Stalls also display and sell fresh and cured meats, cheeses, breads, and other foods. In addition, there is a fresh "fast food" court where you can get sandwiches, pizza, focaccia, or hot dishes. This gives you an idea of how some Florentines eat when they do not have time to go home.

Lunch: At a restaurant in Piazza della Signoria.

Afternoon: Reserved entrance time to the Uffizi eliminates the wait to enter. Once inside, visit the rooms of art treasures at your own pace. In the Uffizi, 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. There is a coffee/refreshment 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.

Dinner: On your own to enjoy what you like.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 12
Bargello, Free Afternoon, Farewell Dinner
Florence B,D Hotel Berchielli
Activity note: Walking up to 2 miles. The Bargello has a flight of stone stairs to reach the upper floor; a small elevator is in service for those who require it.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: Meet the local expert for a Walk of Discovery to learn about Renaissance Florence before commencing our expert-led visit of the Bargello National Museum of Sculpture. The collection includes sculptures by Donatello (St. George, David), the competition pieces between Filippo Brunelleschi and Lorenzo Ghiberti for the north doors of the Baptistery, and sculptures by Michelangelo, Giambologna, and Cellini. In addition to sculpture, there are also rooms with fine examples of decorated pottery and armaments including swords, lances, early pistols, and suits of armor. There is also a fresco by Giotto and his school in the Chapel—on the right side one can see what is considered to be an early portrait of Dante.

Lunch: On your own.

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: At a local restaurant, recap your adventures and share your favorite memories with your fellow participants over our plated and served farewell dinner. Enjoy a glass of wine to toast new friendships.

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

Day 13
Program Concludes, In Transit From Program
In Flight B
Activity note: Hotel check out by 11:00 a.m. Assistance is offered loading and unloading bags from the van or coach. Wheel your own bag luggage to the check in counter. See your program's travel details regarding transfers.

Breakfast: Buffet at the hotel; a bagged breakfast with a fruit, a roll or pastry, and fruit juice for participants with very early morning departure. 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!

DAY 1 – VENICE
Welcome to the “unique” Venice, the “city on the lagoon”! You will be astonished by its beauty and charm!

You will start your visit with Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square) and the interior of the Basilica, a 900 years old marvel of architecture! The church is unique in Italy for its golden Byzantine and Medieval mosaics, its intricate stone and marble traceries and exuberant Middle Eastern domes. Near St. Mark’s Basilica is Palazzo Ducale, the most impressive secular building in Venice and once the official residence of the supreme authority of Venice, the “Doge”. A masterpiece of Gothic architecture, the Doge’s Palace is an impressive structure composed of layers of building elements and ornamentation, from its 14th and 15th-century original foundations to the significant Renaissance and opulent Mannerist adjunctions.

Then you may visit Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari (Saint Mary’s of Friars), striking for its huge size and for the quality of its works of art, including masterpieces by Titian, Giovanni Bellini and Donatello, and several grandiose tombs. Also, you may explore the streets and savour everyday life in an intricate maze of ancient narrow alleyways, lively squares with magnificent buildings and meandering canals, and finally walk on the Rialto Bridge, the busy "heart" of Venice. Last but not least, you will enjoy a Gondola ride on the city’s canals: a jump back in time, when Venetians moved only on the water.

At lunch, relax by tasting wine and savouring delicious ”cicheti”, the Venetian version of finger food. There is tremendous variety, and options include anything from simple cheese or salami to almost any kind of seafood, fried and grilled vegetables, sweet and sour sardines, creamy codfish and much, much more!

Rich in traditions, Venice presents a wide selection of unique artisan products. In the city of the Italian carnival, the typical Venetian masks are a must. The cost of the original ones is relatively high, but it is really worth it! Also, don’t miss an authentic Murano glass object: each product is made and painted by hand, but be sure you buy an original product from Murano, guaranteed by a label or a signature (and the seller), not a Chinese copy!

A must-see is the fruit and vegetable Mercato di Rialto, the Rialto fish Market in Venice! The market is buzzing with life. Scour the stalls of the Pescaria for glistening mountains of moscardini (baby octopus), moeche (soft-shell crabs), and inky seppie (squid) and take as many pictures as you want! Those who love sweets can go to a bakery and buy the famous Carnival “fritole”, “baicoli” or “spuncioti de caramel”.

Venice
At dinner, you will be delighted by the flavours of the regional cuisine of Veneto, boasting delicious recipes such as“Sarde in saor”, Risotto with seafood, the typical “Baccala' mantecato”, to finish with a fantastic “Bussolà” (for an overview of the regional cuisine of Veneto see the article in our BLOG).

DAY 2 – MODENA
Modena is renowned worldwide for the famous people - Enzo Ferrari and Luciano Pavarotti above all - who were born and lived here, and for some of its gastronomical products. The city is the capital of the so-called “Motor Valley”: actually the factories of the famous Italian sports car makers Ferrari, De Tomaso, Lamborghini and Maserati are located here.

In Maranello, you will visit Museo Ferrari, not just a collection of the past, but an extraordinary experience of the world of Ferrari and sports car racing! How exciting to see the most beautiful cars in the world, exceptional artworks made by modern mechanic artisan masters.

Afterwards, you will move to the estate of a Balsamic Vinegar of Modena Producer to delight in the unique, enticing taste of traditional balsamic vinegar. Balsamic Vinegar of Modena is obtained from partially fermented, cooked and concentrated grape must. The grapes come exclusively from the area's vines, and the most critical processing phase is refinement, inside containers of fine wood, such as oak, chestnut, oak, mulberry and juniper. Want to know more about this unique delicacy? Read the article in our BLOG.
Maranello

DAY 3 – FLORENCE
Welcome to Florence, the symbol of the Italian Renaissance!

Despite its international fame and greatness, Florence is also a small city, whose history has been interwoven with that of its passionate citizens for more than one thousand years

In Piazza Duomo you will be astonished by the Duomo, with the incredible Brunelleschi’s cupola, a masterpiece of art and architecture whose building techniques building are still covered with a veil of mystery. Beside it, Giotto’s Campanile (Belltower) and the Baptistery, one of the oldest buildings in the city, with its famous bronze doors made by Pisano and Ghiberti in the 14th and 15th centuries. In Piazza della Signoria we will walk in the middle of bronze and marble masterpieces by Giambologna and Cellini inside the marvellous Loggia dei Lanzi, and will admire the imposing Palazzo Vecchio, one of the symbols of Florence and still the seat of government of the city. We may also spare some time to relax, visiting a typical market for shopping, strolling through the pedestrian streets of the city and crossing the oldest bridge in Florence, “Ponte Vecchio” (Old Bridge), rich of jewellery shops.

Your itinerary will include Galleria dell’Accademia, hosting Michelangelo's David, the most famous sculpture in the world. The David was uncovered and shown to the Florentines on September 8, 1504, and with its height of 4 meters, the impeccable physical features and the political significance that the iconography of David had taken over the previous century left the Florentines of the time speechless and has done the same ever since with visitors from all over the world.

Florence is also the main Italian centre for the production of high-quality leather goods. The Florentine artisans are so famous that many fashion brands have opened their factories in the city or close to it, due to the high skill of the artisans involved and to the continuous inspiration that designers take from the town’s masterpieces. The area around Piazza Santa Croce, in particular, hosts numerous leather shops and workshops.

Thanks to the tradition of Tuscan tanneries, there is no better place to find shoes for all tastes than Florence: from the creations, designed and produced by hand by skilled craftsmen, to the large collections available in stores, renewed every season. Above all, for refinement and elegance, Ferragamo (also worth seeing the museum), Gucci and Prada. If you prefer a simpler style, across the river Arno there are many shops specialized in handmade shoes and sandals.

At dinner, taste the simple yet unforgettable recipes of the Tuscan tradition, such as "Crostini", "Panzanella" and "Peposo". And remember, Florence is the home of "Fiorentina" steak! In case you are a vegetarian, don’t worry: Tuscan cuisine offers tasty alternatives like “Pappa al Pomodoro” or “Ribollita” (for an overview of Tuscan cuisine see the article in our BLOG).

Florence

DAY 3 – PISA
Pisa is famous all over the world for its “Torre Pendente” (the Leaning Tower), but its wonderful square, Piazza dei Miracoli, set over an ample green field, hosts three other whiter-than-white masterpieces of grandiose Medieval art: the renowned Leaning Tower (also the Bell Tower), the Camposanto (or graveyard), the Baptristy and the Cathedral itself. They are so unique that their creation gave origin to a new style, "Pisan Romanesque".

This area was chosen to construct the Duomo of Santa Maria Assunta exactly for its centrality; founded in 1064, it was intended to celebrate the grandeur of Pisa during the Marine Republic’s epoch of power. "The temple of marble white as the snow" is how the structure is described on the gravestone of its architect, Buscheto di Giovanni Giudice. Consisting of five naves with its transept divided into three naves, it is surmounted by a splendid dome encircled by a loggia. The Duomo’s façade and exterior lateral sections feature elaborate decoration in marble (which can also be seen on its interior), mosaics, and bronze.

In front of the Cathedral stands the Baptistry, also in a particular version of the Romanesque style. Initiated in 1152 by Diotisalvi, the Baptistry was finally completed in the 14th century; at that point, Gothic elements were also added. Of cylindrical form and circled by arcades of columns, this structure in white marble even boasts amazing acoustics.

The Camposanto closes the northern end of the piazza in which the complex lies. This monumental cemetery, begun in 1278, is bordered by a fence of marble and houses a cloister at its centre. The majority of the frescoes that once coloured its walls were, unfortunately, destroyed in a fire in 1944 during the battle for Pisa.

Ultimately, the real symbol of Pisa is the Campanile, that is the Leaning Tower, that completes the image of this city. Because of land sinkage beneath it, the Tower stands at a significant incline – this sinkage impeded its very construction to a great extent. It was started in 1173, taken up again in 1275, and not completed until the second half of the 1300s. In cylindrical form, the blind arcades of its lower part mutate into six floors of loggias, repeating motifs from the Duomo. Inside, a spiral staircase of 294 steps leads to the heights of one of the most famous towers in the world, where the lovely belfry and a spectacular view of the surrounding landscape await.

Pisa

DAY 4 – SIENA & SAN GIMIGNANO
In Siena, the city of the Palio, you will walk on the famous Piazza del Campo, the concave square where horses run twice a year in a dangerous race that symbolizes the city’s freedom. On the days of the Palio, the whole town goes crazy; read about it in our article in our BLOG).

But, maybe, the thing that you are going to remember better is the colour of frontages and roofs, the renowned colour “Sienna”, a pigment first produced during the Renaissance, that makes the city lovely and warm. And don’t forget to taste the Senese sweets: “cantucci” (biscuits with toasted almonds), “ricciarelli” (soft biscuits with icing sugar), “panforte” (cake with fruit nuts and spices) and “cavallucci” (biscuits with honey, walnut, candied fruits and spices. Travellers who love dessert will be delighted!

Siena
In the afternoon, you will stroll with our head upwards along the streets of one of the most beautiful cities in Tuscany, San Gimignano, also known as the "Medieval Manhattan", thanks to its very old and impressive 14 towers that dominate the town skyline. Originally the towers were 72, built by patrician families probably to demonstrate their wealth and power. Seven of San Gimignano's towers are around Piazza del Duomo, the tallest one is Torre Grossa, 54 meters high, dating back to 1298.

San Gimignano

DAY 5 – VAL D’ORCIA
Val d’Orcia is one of the most fascinating places in Italy, included by UNESCO in the list of World Heritage Sites. The landscape of Val d’Orcia is a part of the agricultural hinterland of Siena, redrawn and developed when it was integrated into the territory of the city-state in the 14th and 15th centuries to reflect an idealized model of good governance and to create an aesthetically pleasing picture. The landscape’s distinctive aesthetics, flat chalk plains out of which rise almost conical hills with fortified settlements on top, inspired many artists. Their images have come to exemplify the beauty of well-managed Renaissance agricultural landscapes.

In Montepulciano, our friend Francesca will lead you to discover this beautiful town full of stories, legends and thousand flavours. She will walk with you in the historical centre to find its origin and products with itinerant tastings of olive oil, pecorino cheese and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.

Then, you will get to Montalcino, one of the prettiest hill towns in Tuscany. Around the village, rows of olive trees, precious grapevines and yellow fields create an enchanting landscape. Here you will visit a Brunello di Montalcino winery, to taste the most famous Supertuscan wine, probably the best Italian red!

Val d'Orcia
Finally, you will stop in Bagno Vignoni, a tiny and charming village where the main square is a pool 49 meters long and 29 wide. Several hot springs, whose therapeutic quality has been renowned since antiquity, bubble up from its bottom! All this creates such a pleasant sensation; it will be hard to leave!

DAYS 6 & 7 – ROME
Here you are in Rome, a place where ancient history, excellent art and religious icons mix in a unique blend!

You will will start from the 2,000-year-old Colosseum, the most famous amphitheatre in the world, and the Imperial Forums, the administrative and monumental centre of the Roman Empire. On the Palatine Hill, the grandiose ruins of the Palaces of Augusto, Tiberius and Domiziano still dominate the Circus Maximus valley, 50-meter-high structures giving a unique view of the city.

Walking from the Colosseum to Piazza Venezia, on our right we may reach the Church of San Pietro in Vincoli, hosting the famous sculpture of Moses by Michelangelo.

From Piazza Venezia, you will head inside “Baroque” Rome, starting with the Pantheon, dedicated to the worship of every god (Pan-every Theon-divinity), now the memorial chapel of great Italian people of the past. After that, you should not miss the Church of St. Louis of the French, famous for the cycle of paintings of the great Caravaggio at the end of the 16th century. Then, Piazza Navona, the splendid oval area corresponding to the underground Domitianus’ Stadium, with the gorgeous Fountain of the Four Rivers by Lorenzo Bernini in the centre of the Piazza. And finally Fontana di Trevi, the biggest and most famous fountain of the city, a Rome icon known all over the world: here statues of travertine marble stand over the cliff and the wide basin, in an epic representation of the Kingdom of the Oceans.

Your Roman experience will include a Roman Cooking Class; here, you will learn the secrets of the typical Roman pasta, fettuccine and bucatini!

At the end of the day, sit down at a local "trattoria" or "fiaschetteria", the typical home-style restaurant, to taste the true Roman cuisine in a popular and cheerful atmosphere (for an overview of Roman cuisine see the article in our BLOG).

Colosseum

DAY 7 – VATICAN CITY
On the other side of River Tevere, Vatican hill is the home of the tiny state of Vatican City. The immense St. Peter’s Basilica dominates the extraordinary Piazza framed by the magnificent four column-deep colonnades, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The Basilica itself is an extraordinary casket for some of the most beautiful works of art in the world, such as Michelangelo’s “La Pietà” and Bernini’s “Baldacchino”, along with works of the most important artists of the Renaissance, from Raphael to Canova.

Inside the Vatican Museums, you will be astonished by the exquisite and unique Sistine Chapel, the sancta sanctorum of the Roman Catholic Church, where cardinals gather to elect the new Pope! The Sistine Chapel takes its name from Pope Sixtus IV della Rovere (pontiff from 1471 to 1484) who had the old Cappella Magna restored between 1477 and 1480. The decoration of the walls was executed by a team of painters, Pietro Perugino, Sandro Botticelli, Domenico Ghirlandaio and Cosimo Rosselli, assisted by their respective shops. Julius II della Rovere (pontiff from 1503 to 1513), the nephew of Sixtus IV, decided to partly alter the decoration, entrusting the work in 1508 to Michelangelo Buonarroti, who painted the Ceiling and, on the upper part of the walls, the lunettes. The nine central panels show the Stories of Genesis, from the Creation to the Fall of man, to the Flood and the subsequent rebirth of mankind with the family of Noah. Again, towards the end of 1533, Clement VII de' Medici (pontiff from 1523 to 1534) asked Michelangelo to paint the Last Judgement on the altar wall. How could he refuse? And, in fact, he did not, but painted his vision of the Judgement, with a powerful and irate Jesus Christ.

To make the most of your visit, you have an exclusive chance to enjoy the Vatican Museums before the crowds. This Vatican Museums guided tour includes VIP early entry before regular ticket holders are allowed inside. You'll wander the almost empty halls and marvel at the Sistine Chapel, with an expert guide to fill you in on the cultural and religious context of the Vatican's famous treasures. Then, as the first regular visitors begin to stream into the museums, you will enjoy a rich American breakfast in the evocative atmosphere of the Cortile della Pigna.

Vatican

DAYS 8 & 9 – AMALFI COAST
Costiera Amalfitana, "La Costiera", is widely considered Italy's most scenic stretch of coastline, a landscape of pastel-coloured villages terraced into hillsides, steep panoramic roads, luxuriant gardens and enchanting vistas over turquoise waters and green mountains. Considered by UNESCO "an outstanding example of a Mediterranean landscape, with exceptional cultural and natural scenic values," the coast has been a World Heritage Site since 1997. You may go from town to town at the discovery of Amalfi, Positano, and Ravello, three of the most beautiful villages in Southern Italy, world-famous for their charm and colourful architecture.

Amalfi has a typically Mediterranean architecture, made up of lanes and characteristic white houses piled one upon the other. In the Middle Ages, it was of Italy's four powerful maritime republics (with Venice, Pisa, and Genoa). All sea trade in the Mediterranean was once governed by the 12th century “Tavole Amalfitane”, one of the world's oldest maritime codes. A must-see in Amalfi is the Duomo di Sant'Andrea, fronted by an intricately patterned façade, redone in the 19th century. Founded in the 9th century, the cathedral's subsequent alterations have spared its principal glory, the main portal's 11th century Byzantine bronze doors. Next to the church lies the Chiostro del Paradiso (1268), or Cloister of Paradise, whose serious Romanesque tone is enlivened by the Arab elements in its sinuous columns. To escape the bustle of Amalfi, let’s take the popular walk along the “Valle dei Mulini”, a steep-sided valley dotted with ruined watermills – “i mulini” - once used to make paper, an industry for which Amalfi was, and still is, famous.

Positano sits in a splendid panoramic position on one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline. Its enchanting town centre of delightful pastel-coloured houses surrounds the parish church of Santa Maria Assunta; its streets are lined with quaint, colourful shops and its numerous beaches are world famous.

Ravello is situated in a more elevated position than the other pearls of the Amalfi Coast, boasting exceptional views of the coast and its marvellous villas and gardens which, according to French novelist André Gide, are “closer to the sky than the sea”. Here you may visit Villa Rufolo, built in the 13th century, which hosted popes and kings, as well as Richard Wagner, who composed part of his opera Parsifal here in 1880. Views from its idyllic gardens are magnificent!

A stop in Cetara is an absolute must. The village is renowned for a particular gourmet speciality, “colatura di acciughe” (anchovy sauce), produced according to an ancient procedure for generations. Spaghetti with colatura di alici is the typical recipe of the place, a dish which you will remember forever. Discover the secrets of the liquid gold of the Coast in the article in our BLOG).

Pompei
At dinner, taste Spaghetti with clams in olive oil and garlic sauce, or Seafood Risotto, with a glass of excellent Greco di Tufo white wine.

DAY 10 – POMPEI
Pompei, the Roman city excavated from the ashes of the Vesuvius, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997!

In 62 A.D. the city was partially destroyed by an earthquake, and as its reconstruction was still ongoing, on August 24, 79 A.D. the eruption of Mount Vesuvius covered the city and its suburban villas with a thick layer of stones, ashes and lapilli (thick, glassy lava). Herculaneum, on the other hand, disappeared beneath a flood of volcanic mud.

The ruins of the ancient Roman cities offer an unparalleled window into the quotidian life of classical antiquity. Here you can understand how the Romans of the 1st century AD lived: from the brothels and lavatories to the posh dining rooms and the bathing establishments which included modern spas, health clubs and gym. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius destroyed the town in 79 AD and more than 3,000 people were covered by the debris from the volcano.

Due to its healthy climate and pleasant scenery, Pompeii was a holiday resort for rich Romans. It is now famous for its civic buildings lining the streets that are still intact today. Some of these include the Surgeon’s House, as well as those of the Faun and the Chaste Lovers, which are exceptional examples of the epoch’s architecture. Another remarkable construction is the House of Mysteries, which derives its name from the murals depicting the initiation rites (i.e., the mysteries) of the Dionysian cult. A peculiar characteristic of Pompeii is the florid graffiti covering the walls in just about every building; this is because when the volcanic eruption happened, Pompeii was set to carry out elections in the days ahead – hence the writings and ideograms, which feature both political and sexual content.

Pompei
The tour is over, but the memories of a fantastic journey will accompany you for a lifetime!

Arrivederci with another tour at the discovery of Italy with VITOR, Visit Italy on the Road.