Travel-Learn Program

When: September 15, 2012 - September 23, 2012 (iCal)

Description

On this delightful and ever popular journey, experience la dolce vita di Toscana for a full week in one of Italy’s most fabled and timeless provinces. We will stay in medieval Siena, an UNESCO World Heritage site, within walking distance of the Piazza del Campo. Later we’ll walk through the streets of Florence, known as the “Cradle of the Renaissance,” another UNESCO World Heritage site. In San Gimignano we will uncover hidden gems in its ancient hill towns, also an UNESCO World Heritage site. Finally, we will visit Montalcino and Chianti, both known for their world-famous wines. With specially arranged excursions and cultural enrichments highlighting the region’s Etruscan and medieval history, join us as we discover the legacy of Italian Renaissance masters and indulge in world-renowned wine and cuisine. An optional Rome Post-Program extension is also available.

Activity Level: Moderately Active

Download the program brochure.

For Early Booking Incentive & to avoid disappointment of a sold out program, register now!

Cost

From $3,695 per person, double occupancy. Book by March 16, 2012 and save $300 per person.

Contact

For more information,contact Usha Nand Sellers Ed. D., Director Tufts Travel-Learn Program, at usha.sellers@tufts.edu or 617-627-5323.

Itinerary

Day 1&2 - U.S./Florence, Italy/Siena

Depart on an overnight flight to Italy. Upon arrival in Florence we will check into the deluxe Hotel Cerratani in the historic heart of the city, close to il Duomo and Dante’s former home. We will meet for a local wine and cheese reception and dinner.

Day 3 – Florence/Pisa

Our day begins with a morning walking tour of Florence: an iconic UNESCO World Heritage site, this city is a treasure trove of achievements in art, architecture and literature. After the intellectual ascendancy of the city was established by Dante, Boccaccio and Giotto in the first half of the 14th century, Florence flourished as one of Europe’s most prosperous, powerful and progressive cities. Through the patronage of local merchants, the city attracted Italy’s greatest artists, sculptors and architects until the mid-1700s. Today we will visit the magnificent Duomo and the impressive Baptistery as well as many other well-known monuments to this artistic heritage.

The afternoon is at leisure, or join the optional to tour through the scenic Tuscan countryside on an optional excursion* to the beautifully preserved city of Pisa, where we will see the famous Leaning Tower and learn the history of this landmark.

Day 4 – Florence/Siena

The first destination today is the Galleria dell’Accademia, originally an art school founded in 1563, and home to Michelangelo’s David. Our exploration of peerless Florentine art continues in the impressive collection at the Uffizi Gallery, later we will travel on to Siena and check into the Hotel Athena.

Day 5 - Siena

Set amidst Tuscany’s rolling hills, Siena is a classic medieval Italian town. The city flourished during the 13th and 14th centuries as a center of the textile and banking industries, achieving great power and wealth.

Today it is an UNESCO World Heritage site, and life continues to revolve around the historic town center -an intricate network of 13th-century houses, shops, palaces and narrow cobblestone alleys that lead to the Piazza del Campo, where the Palio, Tuscany’s world-famous horse race, takes place annually. We will explore Siena’s grand monuments, including the impressive 14th-century Torre del Mangia bell tower and the monumental Gothic Duomo (Cathedral), whose splendid façade is striped in white and green marble. Siena’s medieval town hall, the Palazzo Pubblico, still in use today, is a wonderful example of 14th-century Gothic design, and is adorned with exquisite frescoes by Italy’s Renaissance masters, including Ambrogio Lorenzetti.

Afterwards, we will learn more about the well-preserved legacy of Siena’s medieval roots during a walk through its fascinating contrade: the city’s 17 official neighborhoods each designated by a unique flag, coat of arms and animal mascot.

Day 6 - Siena/San Gimignano

Designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO, the enchanting hill town of San Gimignano is one of the best preserved medieval sites in Europe. During the Middle Ages, it prospered as a major stop on the pilgrimage route to Rome. The “City of Beautiful Towers,” where local merchants built impressive campanili (towers) as symbols of their wealth and prestige, became one of the richest communities in Tuscany. Today, 14 of the original towers line the Piazza della Cisterna (the town’s central square), and the city continues to thrive as a center of the local wine trade. We will visit the Piazza del Duomo, and see the remarkable 166-foot-high tower of the Palazzo Vecchio del Podestà, built in 1239 and the stately Palazzo del Popolo, where city business has been conducted since the 13th century.

This evening, is at leisure in Siena or take advantage of the optional* opportunity to participate in a culinary class at a local cooking school followed by a Tuscan dinner.

Day 7 – Siena/Chianti

Chianti has been extolled for its beauty and fertile soil since the Etruscans named it after the prominent Clante-i family. Chianti is synonymous with its wine, the finest of which is produced in Chianti Classico, a tiny region only 31 miles long and 19 miles wide.

Our first stop today is Strada, a charming village where we will visit a pasta factory with a small museum. Here we will have the opportunity to learn about pasta and olive oil production and and tasting with spicy, green, Tuscan olives. After a tasting lunch, we will continue to a local vineyard to explore the cellars and local vintages.

Day 8 – Siena/Sant’ Antimo/Montalcino

Surrounded by the picturesque Tuscan hills, vineyards and olive groves near Montalcino, the enchanting Abbey of Sant’Antimo has captivated pilgrims, writers and artists for hundreds of years. The abbey’s resident monks maintain a simple life that revolves around ancient rituals practiced for generations.

We will have the option of touring* the abbey and hearing the daily ritual of Gregorian chants performed by the monks at the Abbey of Sant’Antimo.

In addition to Montalcino’s imposing 14th-century fortress, classic flower-covered stone houses and steep and winding alleys, this town is perhaps best known for Brunello di Montalcino, the region’s most revered wine. We will have the option of visiting* this delightful village, including its intimate streets lined with traditional wine shops and impressive 13th century public buildings.

Tonight we will meet for a Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 9 - Siena/Florence/U.S.

Today we will transfer to the Florence airport for our return flights.

Price and Itinerary remain tentative and subject to change

617-627-5323|usha.sellers@tufts.edu