Italian History and Art Student Tour

Day 1

Flight to Rome

Flight to Rome:  You depart from home today for the flight to Rome.

Day 2

Arrival in Rome. Historic Center Walking Tour

Arrival in Rome: You are met by your tour manager and private bus and transfer into the city and your hotel.

Historic Center Walking Tour: After lunch you have a guided walking tour of the historic center taking in all the famous sights. You start at the Spanish Steps and soon reach the Trevi Fountain where it is traditional to toss a coin into the fountain to ensure a return to the Eternal City. You next cross the Via del Corso, one of Rome’s principal shopping streets, and soon reach the Pantheon which was built by the Emperor Hadrian and later converted to a church. The tour continues to the wonderful Piazza Navona where you can try the world famous tartufo ice cream. You walk through the maze of narrow streets and cross the River Tiber via the Ponte Sant’Angelo, in the shadow of the vast Castel Sant Angelo and finally arrive at the Vatican and St. Peters Square.

Evening: Dinner this evening will be at a city center restaurant.

Day 3

The Colosseum and the Borghese Gallery

Colosseum: This morning you visit the Colosseum. Gladiatorial combats took place here where over 50,000 spectators watched gladiators fight. You then enter the ruins of the Roman Forum, with its many temples and triumphal arches. Above the Forum you find the Palatine Hill and the ruins of its ancient palaces, once the home of Emperors and the site of temples.

Borghese Gallery: This afternoon you visit the stunning collection of sculpture and paintings in the Galleria Borghese. Housed in an impressive Palazzo, the collection contains sculpture by Bernini, as well as art by Caravaggio and Titian, and is undoubtedly once of the best art museums in Rome. Entrance is timed, and visits are strictly limited to two hours. On leaving the gallery, do spend some time in the delightful Borghese gardens, which can optionally be explored by pedal carts.

Borghese Gardens: Walking through the gardens you can enjoy the wonderful views of Rome from Pincio which overlooks Piazza del Popolo.

Evening: You explore the lively piazza of Campo di Fiore which literally means Field of Flowers and there is still a flower market here to this day. Dinner will be at a city restaurant near the piazza.

Day 4

Vatican Museums, St. Peter's Basilica and the Vittorio Emanuele Monument

Vatican Museums: This morning you have a guided tour of the Vatican Museums which house one of the most impressive collections of archaeology in the world. Highlights of the tour include the magnificent Gallery of Maps, a stunning collection of frescoes which date from 1580 and depict in glorious colour the Pope’s dominions. The centrepiece is undoubtedly Michelangelo’s extraordinary ceiling in the Sistine Chapel.

St. Peter’s Basilica: You continue to St. Peter’s Basilica where there are many treasures and artworks including the famous Pieta sculpture by Michelangelo. At the altar you see Bernini’s magnificent Baldachin and his final masterpiece, the Monument to Pope Alexander VII, surrounded by the allegorical statues of Justice, Prudence, Charity and Truth, with the Angel of Death holding up the curtains over the Door to Eternity. In the crypt, you see the tombs of many former Popes stretching back hundreds of years.

Lunch: There will be time for lunch in the Vatican City.

Vittorio Emanuele Monument: After lunch you see the dazzling white marble of the Vittorio Emanuele Monument, built in the late 19th century as a memorial to Italy’s unifying Monarch, and now incorporating the memorial to Italy’s unknown soldier. An elevator trip to the top of the Monument reveals one of the best views in Rome.

Day 5

Capitoline Museum and the Catacombs of St. Sebastian

Capitoline Museum: This morning you can ascend Michelangelo’s graceful Cordonata stairway which leads to Piazza Campidoglio atop the Capitoline Hill. This has been the heart of Rome since ancient times and is now home to the eponymous Museum. The superb Capitoline collection includes the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, a copy of which has now been returned to its original position in the square, as well as the Etruscan Bronze She-Wolf and many important sculptures from the Roman Empire, as well as Renaissance art works including Caravaggio’s John the Baptist.

Catacombs of St. Sebastian: After lunch you visit the ancient Catacombs of St Sebastian. Early Christians were persecuted by the Roman authorities and they buried their dead outside the city in underground chambers to protect the graves from Roman desecration. The remains of these tombs are the catacombs, hewn into solid rock. You will see a variety of burial chambers including those from the pagan period.

Evening: Dinner this evening will be in the historic district of Trastevere.

Day 6

Travel to Florence. Walking tour and the Duomo.

Travel to Florence: This morning you take the high-speed train from Rome to Florence which takes just over 90 minutes.

Walking Tour: You enjoy a walking tour of Florence followed by lunch in a central restaurant.

The Duomo: In the afternoon you ascend the Cupola of the Duomo – the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. This spectacular basilica took more than 100 years to build and was completed by 1436. The dome was the work of the celebrated architect Brunelleschi. On the interior of the dome, you can admire Giorgio Vasari’s frescoes of the Last Judgment, and from the top you have a spectacular view across the red-tiled roof tops of Florence.

Evening: Dinner this evening will be at a traditional Italian restaurant on the lively Piazza delle Signoria.

Day 7

Uffizi Museum, Ponte Vecchio and the Accademia Museum

Uffizi Museum: This morning you visit the Uffizi Museum, the most famous art museum in Florence. Situated near the Arno River and the Ponte Vecchio, it originally built for the art collection of wealthy Medici family. It became a public gallery as long ago at 1765 and today houses an incredible collection of paintings including artists such as Bellini, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. Among its most famous paintings are Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Caravaggio’s Medusa.

Ponte Vecchio: Adjacent to the Uffizi is the famous Ponte Vecchio, the historic bridge which dates from 1345. During World War II it was the only bridge across the Arno that the fleeing Germans did not destroy. Instead, they blocked access by demolishing the medieval buildings on each side.
Lunch: You have time for lunch and there are many options in this area.

Accademia Museum: The Accademia is famous for the magnificent giant marble sculptures created by Michelangelo, and above all, the glorious David which stands in a position of prominence at the end of a long gallery. There are also works of art by several famous Italian artists including Botticelli, many of which were commissioned by the Medicis.

Free Time: There will be free time for you to explore Florence on your own.

Dinner at the Hard Rock Café: Dinner this evening will be at the Hard Rock Café.

Day 8

Pisa and the Leaning Tower

Travel to Pisa: This morning you travel to Pisa where you explore the Piazza dei Miracoli with its Cathedral, Baptistry and of course the instantly recognisable Leaning Tower.

Leaning Tower of Pisa: The Tower is actually the campanile or freestanding bell tower, of the Cathedral. It took almost 200 years to build and was eventually completed in the 14th century. It gained its famous lean early in construction due to the soft ground on which it stands. You will be able to climb the Tower which will give you a sensational view across the city, as well as the unusual and somewhat unnerving experience of walking up the sloping staircase.

Lunch and Free Time: There will be time for lunch and free time to explore on your own before traveling back to Florence.

Giotto’s Campanile:  Giotto’s Campanile, or bell tower, is a splendid example of Florentine Gothic architecture from the 1300’s and you can climb to the top for a stunning view across the city.

Day 9

Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens. Travel to Ravenna.

Palazzo Pitti: This morning you visit the Palazzo Pitti, the last residence of the Medici Family and now a museum housing a large collection of art. The Palatine Gallery includes works by Raphael, Titian and Rubens. The palazzo lies adjacent to the beautiful formal Boboli Gardens whose origins date back to the sixteenth century.

Travel to Ravenna: This afternoon you travel by private bus to Ravenna. The city was the capital of the Western Roman Empire from 402 until it collapsed in 476. Today it is famous for its well-preserved late Roman and Byzantine architecture and extensive Byzantine mosaics.

Day 10

Discovering the Ravenna Mosaics. Travel to Venice in the Afternoon.

Ravenna Mosaics: This morning you explore the various chapels and mausoleums as well as the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo which features 26 mosaic scenes from the New Testament, and the Chapel of Sant’Andrea, the only chapel of the early Christian era that is still fully preserved.

Travel to Venice: In the afternoon you travel by private coach to Venice. After check in at your hotel there will be time for a walking tour to explore the city’s narrow streets and hidden piazzas. You see the famous white marble Rialto Bridge which spans the Grand Canal and St. Mark’s Square where musical bands play and cafés spill onto the square.

Evening: Dinner this evening will be at a restaurant in one of the city’s lively piazzas.

Day 11

Renaissance Art in the Galleria Accademia. Afternoon vaporetto tour to Murano and Buranno Islands

Galleria dell’Accademia: This morning you see a stunning collection of the great Venetian renaissance artists including Veneziano, Bellini, Giorgione, Titian, and Tiepolo. Among the highlights are the works by Paolo Caliari, known as Veronese, including the monumental Feast in the House of Levi. Also of note are the collection of works depicting the Legend of St. Ursula by Vittore Carpaccio.

Murano & Burano: After lunch you travel by vaporetto to the island of Murano to visit one of the famous glass blowing factories. You continue to Torcello where you visit the seventh century Cathedral of Santa Maria Dell’Assunta to see the spectacular Byzantine mosaics. From here you will take the short journey by vaporetto to the Island of Burano. Many of the houses on Burano are painted in vivid colors and the island is famous as a centre for exquisite lace making.

Evening:

Day 12

Peggy Guggenheim Museum and the Doges Palace

Peggy Guggenheim Museum: This morning you visit the Peggy Guggenheim Museum. Like its namesake in New York, the Peggy Guggenheim is famous for contemporary modernist twentieth century art from North America and Europe. Peggy Guggenheim was a niece of Solomon Guggenheim who founded the iconic gallery in New York and who went down with the Titanic. She continued his support for the new wave artists in the fields of cubism, surrealism and abstract expressionism. There are works by artists including Paul Klee, Max Ernst, Robert Motherwell, Jackson Pollock and Morris Hirshfield. The collection is housed in the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni which is beautifully located adjacent to the Grand Canal.

Doge’s Palace: One of the most famous buildings in Venice, the Doge was the ruler of Venice and the mighty Venetian Republic. Built in the Venetian gothic style the Palace is famous for its gilded ceilings and opulent apartments, decorated with works of art by Veronese, Titian, Bellini and Tintoretto.

Free Time: There will be free time to explore Venice on your own. You can ascend St Mark’s Bell Tower, the Campanile, for a spectacular view across the city.

Day 13

Fly Home

Fly Home:  This morning you transfer to the airport for your flight back home.