ART HISTORY ALIVE
Art History Alive
Presents
Day to Day Itinerary
for
The Best of Italy 2008
DAY 1
We will all meet at AHA's favorite little hotel in all of Florence and begin our time together. First, we will wander our neighborhood so that you can get your bearings. The landmark that will always lead you back to the hotel will be the Duomo itself, the pride and joy of Florence. A toast of icy prosecco to celebrate what we have all been looking forward to, "The Best of Italy."
DAY 2
After a leisurely breakfast we will explore the main cathedral in Florence on our way to see Michelangelo's David. Off to Santa Croce, which holds Michelangelo's tomb, priceless art, and a leather school and store. Window shopping along the way, making note of the shops we want to go back to during free time, we will head off to a hidden, backstreet restaurant that we have been going to for years. Here the paper-thin prosciutto slices drape over the cold cantaloupe invitingly, the pasta is perfect, and the wines are delicious. And that is just lunch. The balance of this day can be spent between more sightseeing, shopping, resting, or any combination there of. It is your trip so it is up to you.
DAY 3
This morning we will visit the Bargello, a wonderful example of medieval architecture and home to a collection of outstanding sculpture. Many early works by Michelangelo and his contemporaries live here, and it is fun to compare talent. On to the Opera museum just behind the Duomo. This little gem is where priceless 13th century art, mosaics, and building tools from the Duomo are displayed. Lunch. This afternoon can be spent with me or without me. We can split up, with some perhaps wanting to climb to the top of the Doumo for the outstanding view, some wanting to see the Masacio frescoes that turned the then art world on its ear, or the gracious Santa Maria Novella, and others wanting a nap before dinner. Anything you want, I love it all.
DAY 4
This morning it is off to the Pitti Palace via the Ponte Vecchio Bridge. The Pitti was home sweet home of the Medici. We will visit only one or two of its many collections, otherwise we will become overwhelmed and I speak from experience. We will stop between collections for a snack and coffee in the courtyard of the palace and enjoy the gardens as well. What a way to spend a morning in Florence. The afternoon spent any way you want.
DAY 5
Check out and depart for the Florence airport where we will meet my husband Jim, aka Giacamo the driver, and pick up our van for the Tuscany part of our trip. Drive to tiny Proceno and check into our castle rooms. We will explore the little town to get your bearings, locate Franco's store for your EVERY need, the coffee bar, and bakery. Dinner at Gianfranco's, probably our favorite family restaurant in all of Italy! This is an experience.
DAY 6
Today we will drive through pretty southern Tuscany visiting the tiny towns of Sorano, Sovana, and Pitigliano. Quiet, pristine, unchanged in 1,000 years. Delicious lunch along the way. Back to the castle for a rest before dinner.
DAY 7
This morning we will all have a light breakfast in our apartment before departing for Pienza and Montepulciano. These towns are in the heart of Tuscan wine country and you will be doing some tasting. Picturesque Pienza for lunch and some wandering, Majestic Montepulciano for art, history, and wine. Shopping abounds in these pretty towns. You can take them at your own pace. Back to Castello di Proceno to rest before dinner.
DAY 8
With a stop for breakfast on the way, we will drive the short distance to Lago Bolsena and on up to the most haunting hilltown of them all, Civita de Bagnoregio! Sitting high atop a tufa spur from which the land over time has dropped away into a gorge, and connected to the mainland by a walking bridge, we will climb to Civita. Some of my clients have described this place as ghostly, ethereal, magic, and otherworldly. You will have an opportunity to make up your own mind, but one thing is for sure, you will not forget it. In Civita we will lunch in a cave cut right into the tufa on mixed bruschetta made in an open fireplace and washed down with vintage Thursday wine served in plastic cups. Delicious and too fun! The rest of the day will be spent however we decide.
DAY 9
All roads lead to Rome and as for me we can't get there soon enough! After checking into our hotel, out the door we will go to again get your bearings and pick out some gorgeous landmarks. Ours for the next 4 days will be the Spanish Steps as they are one block from our hotel! Sweet!
DAY 9-12
Will be spent leisurely between St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museum, the Coliseum, Roman Forum, and the Borghese Museum, to include the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and romantic Piazza Navona. Lots of wandering from site to site in this amazing city, punctuated by fantastic lingering lunches and savory dinners, served outside, in our favorite places. Rome is our first love and we will see that you experience it very well. Bring your walking shoes.
DAY 13
Arrivederci Roma and Salute Bella Italia.
Bibliography:
Pre reading will only make your experience more meaningful. The books listed below are great!
Rome is Love Spelled Backwards, by Judith Testa
War in the Val D'Orcia: An Italian War Diary, 1943-1944, by, Iris Origo
A Traveller in Rome, by H.V. Morton
Love And War In The Apennines, by Eric Newby
Home to Italy, by Peter Pezzeli
Under the Tuscan Sun, by Frances Mayes
A Tuscan Childhood, by Kinta Beevor
*All prices are based on double occupancy, and a group size of six. Single occupancy is available with a price supplement. Hotels, meals, wines, museum admissions, all ground transportation and medical insurance are included. Airfare, and roundtrip transfers from airport to hotel, and hotel to airport, are not included. Prices of European trips may require adjustment due to exchange rate fluctuations. AHA is happy to advise on the purchase of airline tickets and airport transfers. We know who to call.