Art Chowder January | February, Issue 19 | Page 45

ART CHOWDER ITALY TOUR ITINERARY Saturday -1 8th May 2019 Depart on your International flight to Italy! This is where the fun and experience begins! Sunday - 19th May 2019 - Arrive Florence Meet and greet with a transfer to your Hotel in San Miniato, a medieval gem located halfway between Pisa and Florence. It proudly sits in a historically strategic location atop three small hills where it dominates the lower Arno valley, between the valleys of Egola and Elsa rivers. Check into your hotel, with walls adorned with art work! In the evening, meet for a lovely orientation walking tour around San Miniato, an amazing medieval village followed by a welcome dinner to meet your fellow travellers and kick this tremendous tour off to a perfect start! Monday - 20th May 2019: Siena – Chianti – San Gimignano After a sumptuous breakfast, we depart for Siena. Revel in a superb walking tour be- tween narrow alleys and noble palaces, over the highest hill of the three hills of Siena. We then drive to a fantastic farmhouse to enjoy a visit of its cellars and vineyards, followed by a typical lunch of delicious wine, extra virgin olive oil and local products. Proceed further in the direction of San Gimignano, climbing the beautiful Senese hill 334 meters above the sea level and its towers, which make the town so unique. Painting workshop and drawing session on site. Alternate venue will be arranged for those of you who do not wish to participate. TUESday - 21st May 2019: Florence You will be led through the cobblestone streets of Florence today, experiencing the historical centre of this magnificent Renaissance City. First stop is Michelangelo’s square for the best view of the town, close to the unforgettable San Miniato’s Church. Then enjoy a nice walk through “Ponte Vecchio” and the streets of the old centre to the Accademia Gallery (entrance fee included ), famous museum for the works by Michelangelo and his original statue of the David. Lunch in a typical trattoria of Florence and visit of leather craft laboratories... then departure to an enchanting villa owned by de’ Medici family, the dynasty who ruled Florence in its best period. Seeking to escape from the stress and strain of life in the city, the Medici princes fled to their luxurious country manors. The villas still preserve their splendid Italian-style gardens as well as their highly elegant interiors, which include the period furniture and furnishings. WEDNESDAY - 22nd May 2019: Truffles and Leonardo Today an unforgettable, once in a lifetime experience of “Truffle Hunting.” With an expert Truffle-gatherers of the Tuscan hills, and his devoted dog, you will lead for a walk in the wood with them. It’s the opportunity to discover this hidden “treasure” of the woods of Tuscany and the dog’s training methods. After the walk, some experts will explain you the working processes and the use of the truffle and then enjoy a wonderful tasting lunch of Truffles in a real truffle factory. You will surely understand why this incredible product of the Earth is called the “White Gold.” Next a drive along the beautiful street among the olives trees of Montalbano mountain where you will arrive at the foot of Leonar- do’s house, a typical ancient colonial house of Anchiano area. Take your free time to visit the house from the inside and to admire the “Renaissance lands”. Going on to the historical centre of Vinci you can visit the Leonardiano Museum where you can see the most beautiful invention of the genius. Some of the most famous machines: the Motor Carriage, the Articulated Wings (intuition of the modern hang-glider), the Revolving Crane, the Crank-Operated Cart, the Diver, and so on. On the way back, we will stop at an oil mill for the extra virgin olive oil tasting, typical of Leonardo’s land. Experienced workers will explain you the oil processing methods. You will taste high-quality products, result of a precise selection of the olives that, must be collected directly from the trees to selected very carefully. THURSDAY - 23rd May 2019: Affresco tour and Florence This is the captivating world of fresco – fine art mural paintings on an astonishingly large scale. Today you will be literally surrounded by Renaissance masterpieces from floor to ceiling and 360 degrees around you. Outstanding examples of fresco artwork are to be found in the Brancacci Chapel in the Church of Santa Maria del Carmine, and the sacred Basilica di Santa Trinita. During this enchanting tour you will visit the actual home of Michelangelo and have the rare opportunity of viewing some of the artist’s earliest creations and conclude your unique day by relaxing whilst enjoying a traditional Florentine dinner in the local market, abundantly stocked with local produce and merchandise. FRIDAY - 24th May 2019: Montepulciano - Pienza - Montalcino Today your journey takes you to the birthplace of Pope Pius II, the small Tuscan town of Pienza, acknowledged as Europe’s first Renaissance settlement. Sample delicious local produce and the area’s famous local cheese, Pecorino, as part of your restful lunch here before proceeding to Montalcino, another hilltop Tuscan commune noted for its fine grape cultivation and production of Brunello di Montalcino wine. And the last stop on today’s exhilarating tour is the substantial ancient fortress of Montalcino, one of the town’s most visited sites, built in 1361. SATURDAY - 25th May 2019: Shopping tour day Follow the traces that the great artisans left in Florence. During the tour we’ll visit the workshops where our traditional crafts are still alive. Admire the masters at work continuing the tradition of the mosaic stones started in the Renaissance, an art gallery with works entirely created by their expert hands. Do not forget the art of leather; the visit to the school of leather will show you the best of local artisan’s techniques of creation and production. Lunch in a typical trattoria restaurant for the whole group. This afternoon, enjoy a privileged visit to the art studio of a local artist with hands-on lesson or shopping tour! SUNDAY - 26th May 2019: San Miniato half day (depending also on your flight time home) Delicious breakfast at the hotel and departure to the airport. Time to say goodbye and relish the memories and friendships your experience has cultivated! This would also make a most thoughtful Christmas gift for a loved one who has only ever dreamed of this kind of experience or that person who has everything and difficult to buy for. The gift of travel is a blessing! Reserve the experience of a lifetime now! Phone: [phone] January | February 2019 Email: [email protected] 45