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Package Details From the beginnings of the ancient Roman Empire through the artistic flowering of the Renaissance, Italy has been home to some of the world's greatest masters of art and architecture. Explore Italy's rich history and artistic legacy as you journey from Rome to Florence and Perugia, and other hill towns of Tuscany and Umbria. Enjoy intriguing excursions and special presentations on the art and architecture of the region. Discover breathtaking landscapes and the dramatic settings of ancient villages, fine regional cuisine and wines, and time to relax and follow your personal interests.
Smithsonian Journeys Travel Adventures offers the best in educational travel worldwide. Our custom-crafted tours are created for adventurous travelers like you, who seek the thrill of discovery and learning, combined with flexibility and economical rates. And our local expert speakers really make the difference between simply seeing and truly understanding your destination. April 14th Day 1: Overnight Flight from Detroit Metro Airport April 15th Day 2: Arrive Rome, Italy Gather this evening for a welcome reception followed by dinner featuring local delicacies, wine, and captivating Italian music. (D) April 16th Day 3: Rome - Vatican City The Vatican is renowned for its impressive artistic masterpieces and architecture. During a guided tour marvel at the Vatican's collections of painting and sculpture, the Sistine Chapel frescoes, and St. Peter's art and architecture. An afternoon panoramic coach tour of classical Rome highlights the Roman Forum, the Circus Maximus, the Colosseum, and the Arch of Constantine. (B) April 17th Day 4: Rome - Siena - Florence Travel to the rose-hued medieval city of Siena, once a rival to Florence. Join a local expert for a walking tour that begins in the shell-shaped Campo, the heart of the city and home to the annual Palio horse race, and concludes with a tour of the richly decorated cathedral, with its distinctively striated campanile and fine sculpture by Pisano. Your day ends in Florence, the capital of the Italian Renaissance. (B, D) April 18th Day 5: Florence  Experience a day devoted to the magnificent city of Florence. A special walking tour features the cathedral, capped by Brunelleschi's dome and the symbol of Florence, and the bronze doors designed by Ghiberti at the adjacent Baptistery. Continue past the Piazza della Signoria to the Church of Santa Croce, which houses frescoes by Giotto and the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli. This afternoon view paintings by Leonardo, Botticelli, Raphael, and others at the world-famous Uffizi Gallery. (B) April 19th Day 6: Florence at Leisure or Lucca Excursion Enjoy a day to further explore the cultural riches of Florence independently or indulge in the Italian joy of dolce far niente (the sweetness of doing nothing). A half-day optional excursion features the small medieval town of Lucca, known for its well-preserved Renaissance walls, Roman street plan, and piazza full of ambience. Click here for details on this side trip. This evening enjoy a special cooking demonstration of Tuscan specialties before dinner at a popular Florentine restaurant. (B, D) April 20th Day 7: Florence - Perugia Travel through the rolling countryside of Tuscany and Umbria to Perugia. During a leisurely, guided walking tour, explore Perugia's massive Etruscan walls and the Piazza IV Novembre, one of the grandest squares in Italy, surrounded by medieval palaces and cathedrals. (B, D) April 21st Day 8: Perugia - Assisi - Perugia Learn about the art of fresco painting prior to visiting nearby Assisi, the famous hill town known for its magnificent Basilica of St. Francis. Tour the restored Basilica and admire the delicate colors and forms of Giotto's and Cimabue's frescoes. Upon returning to Perugia, the afternoon is unscheduled so that you may relax in a pleasant piazza, discover historic neighborhoods, or visit a museum housing paintings by Umbrian masters. (B) April 22nd Day 9: Perugia - Montepulciano - Perugia Today, explore one of Tuscany's most enchanting hill towns. Montepulciano, a pearl of the Renaissance, offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. A guided walking tour features the old town with its fortified gateway and magnificent Renaissance-style palazzi. Outside of town, stop at the exquisite honey-colored church of Madonna di San Biagio, a Renaissance gem and the final masterpiece of Sangallo. Enjoy a tasting of Montepulciano's famous Vino Nobile at a nearby wine cellar. (B, D) April 23rd Day 10: Perugia - Orvieto - Rome Depart Perugia and stop at the Etruscan hill town of Orvieto, known for its white wine and one of the finest Gothic cathedrals in Italy, housing a stunning fresco cycle by Signorelli. There will be ample time for a leisurely lunch or exploring this town on your own. Later today, arrive at a hotel near the Rome airport and enjoy a festive farewell dinner. (B, D) April 24th Day 11: Rome - Depart for Home(B)
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