TUSCANY SIGHTSEEING

DAY 0 (Thur. Sept 21): FLYING 

Depart from the United States on overnight flight to Florence Peratola Airport FLR (flights not included).

 

DAY 1 (Fri. Sept 22): WELCOME TO FLORENCE

Benvenuti in Italia. Today you will land in Florence, Italy and then check into your 3-Star hotel. For those who arrive in time, you will head off on a walking tour of Renaissance Florence, bringing you past the city’s most popular stops and historical monuments such as the Duomo, Piazza Signoria, Ponte Vecchio, and Santa Croce. 

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At night, meet all your fellow travelers at an included Welcome Dinner consisting of traditional Tuscan cuisine and wine. 

 

Included: Florence city walking tour, Welcome Dinner

Not Included: Flights to and from Italy, taxi to hotel, lunch

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DAY 2 (Sat. Sept 23): FIESOLE & ETRUSCAN RUINS

We will depart early from the hotel to head just outside the city to the hillside town of Fiesole where you’ll be able to capture the morning light in an olive grove.  If you’re not at the easel, you can explore the town and small hiking trails for amazing views of the Florence.

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Take a break for an included lunch in the heart of Fiesole before spending the afternoon wandering an Etruscan ruin site complete with amphitheater, bathhouse remains, and artifact museum. 

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You will have a free evening to stroll Florence by twilight and try one of its many delicious restaurants. Our local guide will be happy to provide suggestions! 

 

Included: Breakfast at hotel, transport to Fiesole, lunch in Fiesole, and entry into Etruscan ruins & museum. 

Not Included: Dinner

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DAY 3 (Sun. Sept 24): UFFIZI MUSEUM & EXPLORE FLORENCE

We will start off the morning with an exclusive VIP tour of the Uffizi Gallery to see masterpieces by Botticelli, Michelangelo, Titian, Caravaggio, Gentileschi, Rembrandt & more famous works!

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Indulge in an included pizza lunch, followed by a free afternoon to visit any of the other museums in Florence or just wander the city before enjoying late afternoon painting at one of the numerous spots around town. Your local guide will help pick the best place for golden hour light ranging from Piazzale Michelangelo with a sweeping bird’s-eye view of the city, to a colorful piazza in the heart of the old town. You could even head to the expansive gardens of the Medici’s Palazzo Pitti, or set up your easel along the grassy banks of the Arno River.

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We’ll finish the day with an Evening Art Aperitivo where we will enjoy evening cocktails and a hearty buffet of finger food with an impromptu plein air exhibit of our work.

 

Included: Breakfast at hotel, entry and VIP tour of Uffizi Gallery, pizza lunch, Art Evening Aperitivo. 

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DAY 4 (Mon. Sept 25): TUSCAN WINERY VISIT & NIGHT IN SIENA

We will depart in the early morning to head into the heart of Tuscany and stop at Altesino Winery. Set up amongst the vineyards to capture the rolling hills and Cyprus trees with the town of Montalcino visible in the distance. For those not painting, explore the winery’s property or go for a hike along the famous trail of the Via Francigena, the ancient route that in medieval times connected Canterbury to Rome. 

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After you’ve completed your Tuscan masterpieces, enjoy a tour of the wine cellar followed by a tasting of Chianti’s best and an included lunch. 

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We will then make our way to the hilltop town Siena to check into our hotel, and then you will have some free time to explore the medieval city before an included dinner in the heart of old town. 

 

Included: Breakfast at hotel, transportation by coach bus between stops, cellar and vineyard tour, wine tasting, lunch, and dinner. 

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DAY 5 (Tues. Sept 26): EXPLORE MEDIEVAL SIENA

Start the morning off with an included Morning Light Walking Tour of medieval Siena where will pass the city’s most famous sites, and allow you to scope out some prospective spots for later! 

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Lunch will be on your own, so grab a slice of pizza in Piazza del Campo with locals or try a plate of Pici Pasta with Wild Boar Sauce, their local specialty. 

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This will be followed by an afternoon Sienese Painting Session where you can return to anywhere around town to capture scenery ranging from steep cobblestone streets, to sweeping piazzas, to the fortress on the edge of the city providing panoramic views of the old town. For those not painting, you will have time to explore the town further, visit local churches, or climb the bell tower for unmatched views of the city! 

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You will have the evening free to explore the winding alleyways of Siena and dine at one of the many trattorias, your guide will be available to provide suggestions! 

 

Included: Breakfast at hotel, walking tour of the city, afternoon Sienese Painting Session

Not Included: Lunch and dinner

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DAY 6 (Wed. Sept 27): SAN GIMIGNANO & CHIANTI WINE TASTING 

We will depart Siena for the hills of San Gimignano in the early morning. Set up your easel in the countryside to capture the famous skyline of San Gimignano with its 14 towers. Then, we'll head to a local winery for a hearty Tuscan lunch of meat and cheeses, Ribollita soup, and lasagna accompanied with a second wine tasting of Tuscany’s best! 

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After a hearty lunch, we will make our way up to the center of San Gimignano. The tour leader will show you the highlights, and then you will have time to explore the towered town and to try what has been nominated the “World’s Best Gelato” while overlooking the countryside.

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We will then say our goodbyes to the rolling hills and cobblestoned streets of Tuscany as we head west to the Ligurian coastal region of Cinque Terre! Upon arrival we will check into our accommodation, and then you will have a free evening to enjoy sunset over the harbor and dine on the seaside in the fishing town of Portovenere. 

 

Included: Breakfast at hotel, transportation by coach bus between stops, lunch and wine tasting at Tenuta Torciano Winery, afternoon visit to San Gimignano, Gelato. 

Not Included: Dinner

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DAY 7 (Thur. Sept 28): SEASIDE WANDERINGS IN PORTOVENERE

Spend the day painting or exploring the quaint seaside town of Portovenere. With its harbor full of bobbing fishing boats, a hilltop fortress and chapel, and colorful buildings lining the cliffside, there is no lack of beautiful vistas.

We will all gather for an early Farewell Dinner along the water, and then make the return trip back to Florence in the evening to stay at hotel near the airport.

 

Included: Breakfast at hotel, Farewell dinner 

Not Included: Lunch

 

DAY 8 (Fri. Sept 29): DEPART ITALY

Please arrange for your flight to depart from the Florence Peretola Airport (FLR). Most flights will be departing early in the morning. Safe travels and buon viaggio! 

 

Included: Breakfast at hotel, and shuttle to airport