Sacro Bosco, Bomarzo The fantasy garden of Bomarzo captured the interest of Surrealists like Dalí, Breton and Cocteau—and for good reason! Set in a deep and verdant glen, the garden comes alive with a number strange and beguiling sculptures cut from the living rock.
Cooking Lesson in Cortona During our stay in the scenic hill town of Cortona, we take a cooking lesson and learn the secrets of Tuscan cuisine.
Vineyard Tour & Lunch On the outskirts of the Renaissance town of Pienza, we learn about Tuscan viniculture and enjoy a wine tasting and hearty lunch.
Abbey of Monte Oliveto Nestled in the Tuscan countryside is the historical abbey of Monte Oliveto, which still houses a community of Benedictine monks. Its attractions include a pharmacy, baroque church, frescoed cloister, and soothing wooded park.
Main Chapel, Church of San Francesco, Arezzo On a half-day visit to Arezzo, we explore the decorated mansion of artist and biographer Giorgio Vasari, and stop in the church of San Francesco to examine Piero della Francesca’s striking murals. These paintings were made during a burst of artistic innovation in the mid-fifteenth century, and exemplify…
Uffizi Museum, Florence Optional excursions are scheduled for afternoons. These include a visit to the Uffizi Museum, which holds Florence’s inestimable collection of Renaissance paintings.
Medici Chapel, Florence In Florence we take in the major historical sites and visit places associated with Michelangelo, including his private home, the Medici Palace where he spent his youth, and the Medici Chapel, in which he melded architecture and sculpture into a singular artistic expression.
Days 1-4: Rome & Vatican Begin your learning adventure in Rome, the epicenter of Western Civilization. Take in the noble monuments and art of center city. Tour the Vatican complex and visit the splendid Borghese Villa and Museum. Venture back in time at the ancient Colosseum and Forum. Exclaim “Arrivederci Roma!” at a program banquet…
Days 5-7: Cortona On the way to Cortona, visit Palazzo Farnese in Caprarola and the fantasy garden of Bomarzo. Spend a day in romantic Cortona, with an evening cooking lesson. On a second day, tour vineyards in the Montalcino region, see the monastery of Monte Oliveto, and enjoy a hearty lunch in the Renaissance town…
Days 8-12 : Florence Visit Arezzo for Piero della Francesca’s frescoes and the palatial home of artist Giorgio Vasari. Tour Florence, the cradle of the Italian Renaissance. Take in such sites as the Cathedral and Baptistery, Uffizi Museum, Medici Palace and monastery of San Marco—then find yourself nose to nose with Michelangelo’s colossal David.