Day 1   Arrive in Florence
 
We arrive in Florence. There is one word by which the world describes Florence, one word which anchors her in time and space: Renaissance. Florence's greatest creative impulses took place between the thirteenth and sixteenth centuries. Even today the fascination that the city provokes is due, above all, to the legacy of that long creative period. The first settlers were the Etruscans, and when the Romans founded Florentia in the century before the birth of Jesus Christ they built a Forum that occupied the site of the present-day Piazza della Republica. The first city wall ran along the modern-day via Tornabuoni, via Cerretani and via del Pronconsolo. A NOTE ON SUITABILITY: Though we do not rate this tour "strenuous", it is a busy programme with numerous city / town walking tours featuring uneven surfaces, inclines and / or stairs. You must be able to spend several hours on your feet per day, walking at a leisurely pace. There may not be porters available in all locations. If you are unsure of your suitability for this trip, please contact one of our destination specialists. Overnight in Florence. Dinner if required. 
 
Day 2   Florence: Walking Tour
 
Florence is a city steeped in history and art. Our walking tour today begins with a guided tour of the Accademia, which was Europe's first Academy of drawing and today houses a superb art collection, including Michelangelo's David, probably the most famous statue in the world. We then proceed to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo), complete with its magnificent red dome. Upon its completion in 1436, the dome was hailed as the greatest architectural achievement of its day, equalling, perhaps even surpassing, the monuments of antiquity. The cupola's diameter is greater than that of St Peter's in Rome and the nave is the third largest in Christendom. Even today its brilliant engineering is not fully understood. We continue along the pedestrian mall to the Ponte Vecchio, the oldest bridge in Florence and the only one in the city to survive World War II. The Ponte Vecchio was built in 1345 and used to be lined with butchers' shops which have now been replaced by rows of gold and silver shops on both sides. At the Piazza Santa Croce, we stop to admire the facade of the Franciscan church of the same name. Inside we see the tombs of Michelangelo and Galileo Galilei and chapels covered in frescoes by Giotto. Balance of the day at leisure. Overnight in Florence. Breakfast and dinner. 
 
Day 3   Florence: Uffizi Gallery
 
This morning we visit the Uffizi Gallery, Giorgio Vasari's extraordinary administrative buildings which he designed for Cosimo I Medici in the mid-sixteenth century. The galleries here contain the greatest collection of Italian artworks, including hundreds of paintings by such great artists as Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, Titian and Caravaggio. The galleries also contain one of the most famous paintings in the world--Botticelli's 'Birth of Venus.' The afternoon is free to take in the atmosphere of this Tuscan town. Overnight in Florence. Breakfast and dinner. 
 
Day 4   Florence - Ravenna: Town Tour
 
From Tuscany we drive into the region of Emilia Romagna, an area of fertile plains surrounding the Po River. We arrive in Ravenna, an incomparable treasure-store of Byzantine monuments. Ravenna was made capital of the Western Roman Empire in AD 402 as Rome was threatened by the unstoppable Barbarians. Later in the fifth century Ravenna also succumbed, but was recaptured in 540 by the Byzantines under the emperor Justinian. From the sixth to the eighth centuries Ravenna flourished as a great centre of Byzantine (Eastern Orthodox) culture and religion. Its influence came not from the rest of Italy but from Constantinople (today's Istanbul). Today the humble-looking churches of Ravenna house the most spectacular Byzantine mosaics outside Istanbul. We also visit the spectacular mausoleum of Galla Placidia, a Roman princess who married a Barbarian chief. The walls, floor and ceiling of her tomb are completely covered in dazzling decoration. The Mausoleum of Theodoric, built in AD 520 to house the mortal remains of an enlightened ostrogothic ruler, has a dome cut from a single block of stone weighing almost 336 tonnes (300 tons)! Later we visit the Basilica of Sant Appollinare in Classe with its stunning mosaics. Today we will also have a walking tour of the charming streets of Medieval Ravenna. Overnight in Ravenna. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 5   Ravenna - Verona - Vicenza
 
Today we drive from Ravenna to Vicenza with a stop in Verona. En route we pass through the Colli Eugani region, known in English as the Eugenian Hills. This glorious area is well-known for its thermal springs and terrific wines. Verona is the setting for Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet'. With its pink marble Roman structures and rose-painted buildings, Verona is one of Italy's most appealing towns. The town contains many Roman ruins including the first century Arena which is now used as Verona's opera house, the third largest such structure in existence. The Teatro Romano is often used for the performance of plays, particularly those of William Shakespeare. Our walking tour of Verona starts at the Piazza Bra, the centre of Veronese life. We wander the rosy-hued streets admiring the palaces, townhouses and churches. We see the Gothic mausoleum of the Scaligeri rulers of 13th and 14th century Verona. We also visit the family's fortified residence on the River Adige and a bridge named after them. Our Verona visit finishes at the House of Juliet, complete with its famous balcony. From Verona through wine country to Vicenza, the capital of the eponymous province in the Veneto region, at the northern base of the Monti Berici. Vicentia was settled by the Italic Euganei and then by the Palaeo-Veneti in the 2nd-3rd century BC, from whom it was taken by the Gauls. The Romans conquered it from the latter in 157 BC. Overnight in Vicenza. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 6   Vicenza - Padua: Town Tour - Venice
 
This morning we pass small towns and vineyards before driving east to Padua. We begin our walking tour of Padua with a visit to the towering Basilica of Saint Anthony, patron saint of lost things. With its minaret-like towers and byzantine cupolas, the structure is a blend of eastern and western elements and a focal point for a constant flow of pilgrims. When we step inside its precincts, we leave Italy and enter the Vatican State. This is the only Vatican property (apart from Vatican City) in Italy that is extra-territorial. We continue on to the small Scrovegni Chapel, situated near the town centre. Here we view exquisite frescoes by Giotto, who led the way to the Renaissance by piercing the wall of two dimension and introducing perspective and humanism into painting in the fourteenth century. We also visit a unique structure, Europe's oldest permanent anatomy theatre built in 1594, with viewing balconies so narrow that when students fainted they would be prevented from falling. After a short walk from the university we come to the Piazza Bo, the scene of one of the liveliest daily markets in Italy. We arrive in Venice around midday. After a brief orientation by your Tour Leader, you will have free time this afternoon for independent exploration. Those who wish will have the opportunity to climb St Mark's bell tower for the best views of Venice, or you may choose to make a trip to the nearby island of Murano, famous for its glassworks. This evening you may choose to visit the casino, take a gondola ride, or perhaps spend an evening at the theatre. NOTE: For tours on which this day falls on 23 May 2008, please note that we will be accommodated for 2 nights in the new city of Mestre, located off the main island of Venice. This is due to a large conference being held in Venice during that time. Our sightseeing content, however, will remain intact. Tours affected have been reduced in price by $100 per person. Overnight in Venice. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 7   Venice: City Tour
 
On our guided tour this morning we concentrate on St Mark's Square, surrounded with elegant, historic buildings. Napoleon called Piazza San Marco, "the drawing room of Europe". We start with a tour of the Doge's Palace. This former seat of Venetian power has the second largest wooden room in Europe. Of interest as we walk through the council rooms, is Tintoretto's Paradise over the Grand Council Chamber--alleged to be the largest oil painting in the world. The palace is connected to the old prison by the 'Bridge of Sighs.' In the late 16th century the decision was made to build new airier prison cells to replace the original dark dungeons. It was from this new prison that Casanova made his daring escape across the rooftops in 1755. The highlight of the square is St Mark's Basilica, a Byzantine masterpiece. This cathedral was begun in 830 to house the tomb of St Mark whose relics were stolen from Alexandria in Egypt. The inside walls are encrusted with precious art, rare marbles and magnificent mosaics. Behind the altar is the famous gold altarpiece, 'Palla d'Oro,' which is one of the finest examples of gold craftsmanship. (We do not include a tour of the interior of the basilica as lengthy queues usually make this impratical for our programme. We encourage you to visit the site during your free time this afternoon.) Later we take the vaporetto, or public water bus, on the Grand Canal and then walk along the maze of canals, sidewalks and bridges that are uniquely Venice. At the Rialto Bridge we visit the market area. The name Rialto derives from 'high bank' because this area was one of the highest points on the islands that make up the core of Venice and was thus considered a safe gathering point. The market here is vibrant with locals buying fruit and vegetables brought in from the mainland, and a vast array of fish caught fresh in the Adriatic. Balance of the day at leisure. Overnight in Venice. Breakfast and dinner. 
 
Day 8   Departure
 
Departure from Venice. Breakfast. BUON VIAGGIO!

10/08