Classical Italy: Florence, Siena, Assisi and Rome

After breakfast, we drive to lovely medieval Siena which was, during the 12th and 13th centuries, one of the world’s largest and richest cities and a similar size to Paris! An unrivalled period of building took place and the range of palaces, grandiose townhouses and piazzas were built. Without doubt the main square, the Campo is one of the most beautiful you will ever see. Unusually half-moon shaped and surrounded by tall, centuries-old buildings, they are all different embracing an overall harmonious and beautiful style. Just to sit here, enjoy a drink and reflect on lives gone by is a real pleasure.

Siena’s cathedral is absolutely outstanding, one of Italy’s greatest, built from black and white marble with the most intricate carvings imaginable some of which are by the great master himself, Michelangelo. The floor is a revelation with countless thousands of pieces of stone creating a unique inlaid pavement. It is impressive enough now but had a planned nave been completed during the 14th century, it would have created Christendom’s largest church. The city fell into rapid decline after the Black Death, accounting for the city’s astonishing preservation. During the journey to and from Siena we shall see some of the famous Tuscan countryside: this truly is a wonderfully scenic area.

Today we visit Florence, pearl of the Renaissance, a superb and beautiful city and deservedly on the map of the traveller since the days of the Grand Tour. During our guided tour you will see the principle monuments such as the famous Cathedral – which can house a congregation of 10,000 and boasts the largest brick dome roof to-date.

This afternoon we enjoy a reserved visit to the Uffizi gallery, with entrance fees included, quite simply one of the world’s most monumental art collections. It contains work by Botticelli, Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, Titian, Caravaggio, Michelangelo – the list is endless. Florence is not just about art though; it is a delightful place in its own right. Full of shops and colourful markets which delightfully complement the city’s artistic treasures.

Arezzo is a wonderful old town that has nestled behind its imposing stone walls for centuries, hidden away from the tourists. On this morning’s walking tour we learn of the fascinating stories behind the many ravishing views you’ll encounter in Arezzo’s historic centre. In common with other places on this tour, the area flourished in medieval times, coming under the rule of the Medicis around the 15th century. The town contains a range of architectural styles which blend to produce a charming whole – Romanesque churches are juxtaposed with timber-beamed shops, linked by intimate cobbled squares. Arezzo’s Piazza Grande, lined by narrow-fronted multistorey buildings and with a steeply sloping pavement, is one of Europe’s most evocative and atmospheric main squares, while inside the Basilica di San Francesco are the Legends of the True Cross frescoes by Piero della Francesca.

This afternoon, you can enjoy free time exploring the city or relaxing in one of the local cafes while watching the world go by. 

Today we leave Tuscany after breakfast, driving firstly to Assisi, where we enjoy a guided tour. This delightful medieval town, with its flower-hung streets, lovely views over the Umbrian countryside and fountain-splashed piazzas is famous for a single event – the birth of Francis, the most revered saint in Italy. The man himself was one of the most extraordinary figures the Italian church has ever produced. He had a privileged upbringing, leading a very un-Christian lifestyle, but whilst imprisoned, God appeared to him. After release, he renounced his inheritance, living the life of a beggar, and mixed with lepers, but ultimately found his vocation founding the order of monks which bears his name, the Franciscans. Two years after his death, the basilica was built, financed by donations from all over Europe creating one of the most beautiful shrines in the Christian world adorned by arguably its greatest art collection outside an actual gallery. The building today is actually two churches, one on top of the other with St. Francis himself lying under the floor in the crypt. The mood inside is most respectful, being in tune with Franciscan principles - silence being the rule, quite plain around the tomb itself and accompanied by brown robed monks.

We have ample time to visit the basilica together with the town, arriving in Rome early evening. Our hotel in Rome is the four-star Golden Tulip Piram Hotel where we stay on a bed and breakfast basis.

This evening, we will enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Rome is, without doubt, one of the most captivating cities in the world, where ancient and modern blend perfectly. This morning, we have a sightseeing tour during which you will see many of the principle sights and monuments such as the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain - the list is endless. Probably nowhere else on earth is there so much history in such a small area. It owes its grandeur obviously to the Roman Empire which held sway over much of the globe for nearly 500 years and then to the Papacy which for a large part of its existence, commanded as much political influence as religious. Wealth flooded in throughout the Renaissance and beyond. The result is the abundance of places of interest you see today. But it’s more than buildings and galleries, there are quiet areas, tiny little piazzas, lovely bars, cosy restaurants where the waiters will talk all day if you let them. All this combined gives the uniqueness which is Rome.

This afternoon we visit the historic town of Tivoli, just outside of Rome, here can choose to visit either the Renaissance palace of Villa d’Este or the ruins of Hadrian’s Villa (Villa Adriana). The Villa d’Este is a 16th-century villa, famous for its terraced hillside Italian Renaissance Garden and especially for its profusion of fountains.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hadrian’s Villa, is a large Roman archaeological complex with temples, theatres, and statues. Built by the request of the Emperor Hadrian, the Villa is a monumental living complex that even today continues to display the lavishness and enormous power of Ancient Rome.

This morning you’re free to explore as you desire. You may wish to visit the Vatican Museums the only part of the Papal Palace you can visit independently. Please note that pre-booking on the Vatican Museum website is essential (bookings can be made on the official Vatican website: m.museivaticani.va).This is one of the largest complexes of museums in the world, with collections to do justice to its dimensions. Many works by the finest artists of the Renaissance are on display, as are Egyptian antiquities and exquisite examples of furniture, sculpture and silverware. And, of course, there are Michelangelo’s wondrous ceiling frescoes on the Sistine Chapel ceiling. Alternatively you could take a walk along the Appian Way, where thousands of Spartacus’s slave army were crucified as brutal punishment for their rebellion, or admire the craftsmanship and scale of the Trevi Fountain. Just east of Rome is the Italian town of Tivoli, home to luxe residences, splendid villas, and two famous UNESCO World Heritage sites.

This afternoon you have time to explore the Eternal City further, the weight of the past is inescapable as you view the magnificent heart of the Roman Empire. Gazing at the Forum, the Colosseum, and the Pantheon, it's easy to let your mind wander and imagine those who have preceded you: Julius Caesar, Emperor Augustus, Cleopatra and Mark Antony. Take a stroll around the Piazza Navona, Rome's most picturesque square, lined with luxurious cafés where present-day Romans come to see and be seen. Walk down the Spanish Steps as Countless visitors have done since the 18th-century.