Day 1: ROME | CHIANCIANO TERME.
Arrive in Rome at the airport and meet the tour leader and take a private bus to Chianciano Terme. Check-in at the reserved hotel. Dinner and overnight.
Day 1: AREZZO| CORTONA.
Arezzo, like many of the Tuscan towns, is of Etruscan origin, but our visit will focus on frescoes created in the late medieval period in the Basilica of San Francesco. The frescoes by Piero della Francesca describe the ‘Legend of the True Cross’. The main road is flanked by palazzi of the noble families of around 1300 - 1500 and you’ll discover the very interesting church of Santa Maria della Pieve, known for its unusual architectural forms. Piazza Grande is the center of town and where all important local events take place.
Independent lunch.
During the afternoon visit Cortona with its panoramic view over Lago Trasimeno. Originally this town was built by the Etruscans and has kept its medieval and Renaissance buildings inside the city walls. Cortona may not be a large city but you will sense the quality of life flowing within it.
Dinner and overnight.
Day 3: PIENZA | BAGNO VIGNONE |MONTEPULCIANO.
We will visit the interesting small towns around Chianciano, the area considered one of the most beautiful in all of Tuscany. Pienza was transformed around 1450 from a small farm town into a Renaissance ‘ideal town’ in homage to Pope Pius II, who was born there.
Nearby, we’ll visit Bagno Vignoni. It is a very small town with Italy's perhaps most unusual piazza - actually not a paved square, at all, but a large pool where mineral springs fill it with 125° F water. Set around the pool are buildings from different periods of history. One was built by Pius II (ca. 1400) who lived there during various seasons of the year. Some of the water flows through an ancient channel and people from the nearby small towns put their tired feet in the hot water to give them new energy.
Montepulciano is close to Chianciano terme and is located, like so many Italian towns, on top of a hill. All roads leading up to the center are flanked by houses from different eras and in the main piazza the church and many buildings are from ca. 1400 - 1500. The town is surrounded by famous wine producers of the denomination Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, and most of the producers have wine cellars in town, and have been there for generations. You’ll have a wine-tasting opportunity accompanied with local spuntini, before we return to Chianciano.
Dinner and overnight.
Day 4: FLORENCE.
Today we have a full day in Florence. The Renaissance was born here and Florence was the home for many of its most important artists: Brunelleschi, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, as well as poets such as Dante and Petrarch. We start with a walking tour which takes us to the Duomo, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, and the Giotto Tower from around 1300. Nearby is the Baptistry from ca. 1100 with its wonderful cast-bronze doors, and then we go on to Piazza della Signoria. The walking tour ends at the Ponte Vecchio, the well-known bridge over the Arno River that was built during the Roman era and today is flanked by small artisan shops.
Independent lunch.
During the afternoon, there is a guided visit to the Uffizzi Gallery. Return to the hotel.
Dinner and overnight.
Day 5: MONTE OLIVETO MAGGIORE | LUNCH IN THE COUNTRY | IRIS ORIGO GARDENS.
The Abbazia (Abbey) of Monte Oliveto Maggiore is one of the most impressive monasteries of the medieval period in Tuscany. Located in a remote area on a hill and surrounded by woods, the monastery gives visitors the opportunity to find peace and quiet, as intended by its founder, Bernardo Tolomei, when he had chosen its location. The monastery is quite large, but has several cloistered gardens within it.
We’ll enjoy a typical countryside lunch and during the afternoon visit La Foce, the gardens of Iris Origo. The property was purchased by Iris and her Italian husband in 1924 and where they spent their entire life as community benefactors for local schools, hospitals and the restoration of farmsteads. Iris Origo wrote a book about La Foce and the creation of the garden, that is still available in many languages. After the visit we’ll return to Chianciano.
Dinner and overnight.
Day 6: SIENA.
Today we have a full day with a local guide in Siena, one of Italy's most remarkable cities with medieval palazzi and churches decorated by artists between ca. 1200 - 1300. The cathedral is one the most important in Italy, dating from the Gothic period and includes the Piccolomini Library and frescoes by Pinturicchio. Close to Piazza del Campo is the Palazzo Pubblico which includes art of the Siena school in which Gothic lines are mixed with Byzantine gold and colors.
Dinner and overnight.
Day 7: CHIUSI AND ETRUSCAN GRAVES.
Between 600 - 400 BC, Chiusi was the most impressive of the 12 Etruscan cities. In 296 AD It was captured by the Romans and its name changed to Clusium. It is world-famous for its ancient relics that today are kept in the Etruscan Museum. Below Chiusi are the ruins of both the Etruscan and Roman cities, which we will visit. Chiusi has a fascinating historical center and we will take a walk in the underground Etruscan labyrinth that ends at the Roman water cistern. Before lunch on your own we will visit two Etruscan tombs. The afternoon is free before we return to Chianciano.
Farewell dinner will be in a typical charming restaurant in a small town near Chianciano.
Day 8: DEPARTURE FROM CHIANCIANO TERME TO ROME AIRPORT.
Depart by coach to the Rome airport.
