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1st day:
Arrival in
Florence, the queen of Italian
Renaissance. Transfer to hotel. After checking
into your room you will attend a welcome
cock-tail. Dinner and overnight in
Monastery-Hotel. |
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2nd day:
After
breakfast under the guidance of one of our art
historians you will visit Florence: Palazzo
della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio, the Cathedral and
the church Santa Maria Novella have inspired
artists at all times. In the afternoon the art
historian will lead you to the Boboli gardens.
These gardens were originally laid out by the
Medici family as a laboratory for scientific
botanic research: Here for the first time was
grown the potatoes and other exotic fruits from
the New World. The garden is also famous for its
fountains and statutes that give him a bucolic
character. Dinner and overnight in
Monastery-Hotel. |
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3rd
day:
Flower
Market day in Florence. In Florence, you can
have a regular popular Flower market in a
picturesque downtown street. It is scheduled
EVERY THURSDAY in the following timings: Dec-Feb
7am-8.30pm; Mar-Apr & Sept-Nov 6.30am-8pm;
May-Aug 6am-7.30pm. Dinner and overnight in
Monastery-Hotel. |
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4th day:
After breakfast you will
travel to the small town of Pescia, known
to be the center of Italy’s flower industry and
the Bonsai Museum. Next the trip will take you
to the beautiful Villa Garzoni, situated
on a hill over the Village of Collodi. Villa
Garzoni is surrounded by an enchanting garden,
built on terraces and decorated with fountains,
statues. It also has an open-air theater and a
labyrinth. Dinner and overnight in
Monastery-Hotel. |
5th
day:
After breakfast you will visit Lucca, a
city surrounded by 4 Km of magnificent, intact
city walls. This wall guaranteed the freedom and
independence of the city, so that its
inhabitants could be open to new ideas.
Therefore, for example, it was allowed to spread
the ideas of Martin Luther’s Reform. You can
also visit the native house of the world famous
composer Giacomo Puccini. In the afternoon, the
trip continues to Pisa. Here you can
visit the "Campo dei Miracoli" with the leaning
tower, the Baptistery and the Cathedral. Return
to Florence. Dinner and overnight in
Monastery-Hotel.
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6th
day:
After breakfast we will leave for the medieval
town of Siena. Siena is famous the
"Piazza del Campo", the main square where twice
a year the "Palio" takes place. On the way to
Siena we will stop at a private Villa that will
be made exceptionally accessible for you. In the
afternoon you will go to San Gimignano.
This is a medieval town known as the "Manhatten
of the Middle Ages", not only because is was a
blooming city of banks but also because of its
many towers. Return to Florence. Dinner and
overnight in Monastery-Hotel.
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7th
day:
After breakfast the day is dedicated to discover
the beautiful villas in the vicinity of
Florence. Immerged in Olive trees lies Villa
Gamberata with its artful garden. The four
fountains are framed by beautiful flowers. In
the city of Castello you will visit to
neighboring villas with impressive terraced
gardens: Villa Medicea di Castello and Villa
Medicea la Petraia. On the way to Florence you
will also stop at Villa Poggio a Caiano. Return
to Florence. Dinner and overnight in
Monastery-Villa.
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8th
day:
After breakfast you will drive to Villa
Artimino. This Villa we will have made
accessible specially for you. The Villa was the
noble residence of a huge estate, known for its
wine and olive-oil, which are produced still
today. A wine and oil tasting will be arranged
for you. In the afternoon you will continue to
the city of Cortona. This former Etruscan
town is today the center of the whole region.
From the walls and the Medici fortress you will
enjoy one of the most splendid views in all
Italy. Therefore this area is also known from
the movie "Under the Tuscan Sun". The visit of
Villa Oasi will be one of the highlights
of the tour. The villa dates back to an Abby
founded by S. Clara. It is surrounded
idyllically by Olive- and Cyprus trees. The
garden reflects the love with which the flowers
are tendered. The rose garden should not be
missed. From the terrace one can see both the
Lago Trasimeno and the Tuscan hills. Return
to Florence. Dinner and overnight in
Monastery-Hotel.
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9th
day:
Breakfast. Transfer to Florence airport for
return flight. Arrivederci!
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