Arrive in Rome on suggested flights and make your way to the hotel. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including travel insurance (a condition of travel), private hotel transfer, accommodation before or after the tour and a room category upgrade.

In the late-afternoon, join your tour leader Christopher Allen and fellow travellers for a welcome briefing followed by dinner.

(D)

Depart Rome for the ancient Umbrian town of Narni. From the Convent of San Domenico, step into a fascinating underground world at Narni Sotterranea, a remarkable archaeological complex discovered in 1979 by local speleologists. Descend into the beautifully preserved Church of Santa Maria della Rupe, where stunning medieval frescoes adorn the walls and a glass floor reveals Roman foundations.

In the afternoon, continue to Todi, often described as Umbria’s prettiest hill town, offering views over the Tiber Valley and river. Enjoy a guided tour of Santa Maria della Consolazione, built between 1508 and 1607 and one of the region’s finest examples of Renaissance architecture.

Arrive in Orvieto in the late-afternoon.

(BD)

After a talk by Christopher, embark on a walking tour of Orvieto, set atop a 325-metre outcrop of volcanic tufa rock amidst vineyards, olive groves and cypress trees. Visit the beautiful cathedral, commissioned in 1290 by Pope Nicholas IV. This architectural masterpiece showcases the evolution from Romanesque to Gothic styles across three centuries of construction. The Chapel of San Brizio, in the right transept, is home to wonderful frescoes about the Last Judgement by Luca Signorelli.

The afternoon is at leisure to further explore Orvieto at your own pace.

(B)

Depart Umbria for the hilltop town of Cortona in Tuscany. Founded by the Etruscans and later colonised by the Romans, Cortona flourished under the Grand Duchy of Tuscany after its sale to the Florentines in 1409. The town’s rich history is evident in its perfectly preserved medieval architecture.

In the afternoon, continue to Arezzo for a walking tour of the town. Admire Piero della Francesca’s recently restored fresco cycle, The Legend of the True Cross, in the Basilica di San Francesco and his evocative fresco of Maria Maddalena in Arezzo’s duomo. Visit also the remarkable Romanesque church of Santa Maria della Pieve.

(BD)

Today, follow part of the Piero della Francesca ‘trail’, starting in Sansepolcro – the artist’s birthplace. Visit the Museo Civico, which features masterpieces such as the Resurrezione, and the Madonna della Misericordia polyptych created over seventeen years (1445-1462).

Continue to the charming town of Monterchi to view the Madonna del Parto, one of della Francesca’s most celebrated works.

(BD)

Enjoy a day trip to Florence, the city known as “the cradle of the Renaissance”. Visit the Basilica di Santa Croce, the final resting place of luminaries like Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli. The highlight is the serene Pazzi Chapel, one of Brunelleschi’s architectural masterpieces built between 1441 and 1478. Then, explore the Basilica di San Lorenzo – the parish church of the wealthy and powerful Medici family, considered one of Florence’s most harmonious examples of Renaissance architecture. Descend into the realm of the dead in Michelangelo’s New Sacristy.

This afternoon, discover the Basilica di Santa Maria Novella, home to extraordinary works of art, such as Masaccio’s Trinity. In the Oltrarno district, discover the Brancacci Chapel, situated in the Church of Santa Maria del Carmine and sometimes referred to as the ‘Sistine Chapel of the early Renaissance’ for its series of frescoes by Masaccio.

(BD)

Today return to Florence for a guided tour of the Bargello Museum, which safeguards Italy’s most comprehensive collection of Tuscan Renaissance sculptures, including Donatello’s bronze David, as well as masterpieces by Brunelleschi, Ghiberti, Verrocchio, Michelangelo and Giambologna.

Enjoy the afternoon at leisure in Florence before returning to the hotel in the peaceful Tuscan countryside.

(BD)

This morning, depart Arezzo for a scenic drive through the rolling hills of Tuscany and enjoy a wine tasting lunch enroute at a local winery.

Arrive in Lucca, one of Italy’s most perfectly preserved medieval cities, encircled by magnificent 16th-century Renaissance walls. Now transformed into a verdant promenade, these historic fortifications provide stunning views over the city’s terracotta rooftops.

(BL)

In the morning, embark on a walking tour of Lucca, also known as “the city of a hundred churches”, and see the Piazza and Church of San Michele, the Piazza Napoleone, Puccini’s birthplace and the Teatro del Giglio – the centre of Lucca´s rich cultural life. Visit also the Palazzo Mansi, a 16th-century mansion built for a wealthy merchant. Behind its understated Renaissance façade lies an opulent Baroque interior showcasing tapestries and an impressive collection of artworks by Titian, Tintoretto and Veronese, amongst others.

After lunch, the afternoon is at leisure to further explore Lucca at your own pace.

(BL)

Depart Lucca for the mountaintop town of Volterra, dating to Etruscan times and famed for its alabaster, the impressive Palazzo dei Priori and the Romanesque Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta. Volterra’s strategic position offers breathtaking views extending to the Mediterranean Sea and, on clear days, as far as Corsica. Discover the Guarnacci Museum, one of the oldest public museums in Europe, dedicated to Volterra’s Etruscan past. The museum’s crown jewel is the haunting Ombra della Sera, a bronze statue from the 3rd century BCE with a very elongated body but realistic facial features that inspired modern artists like Alberto Giacometti.

In the afternoon, arrive in the Chianti Hills, surrounded by olive trees and vineyards. The remainder of the day is at leisure to enjoy the tranquil surroundings.

(BD)

After a talk by Christopher, enjoy a full-day excursion to Siena, the most beautiful of hill towns at the convergence of the three Sienese hills. It is famed for its annual Palio, a dangerously exciting horse race run in the Piazza del Campo, the main scalloped shaped piazza, ringed with 13th- and 14th-century palazzi. Begin with a visit to the Pinacoteca Nazionale, housed in the elegant Palazzo Buonsignori. This museum hosts the world’s most important collection of Sienese paintings, particularly from the 13th to 15th centuries.

In the afternoon, explore the Piccolomini Library, commissioned in 1492 by Cardinal Francesco Todeschini Piccolomini to honour his uncle, Pope Pius II. The frescoes adorning the library were painted by Pinturicchio between 1503 and 1508. They celebrate the life and achievements of Pius II and his pontificate through ten detailed narrative scenes painted in a rich, enamelled palette.

(B)

Today, travel to the charming hilltop city of Perugia. Explore the Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria, housed in the stunning Gothic Palazzo dei Priori. The gallery’s collection features more than 3,000 works, ranging from Byzantine-inspired 13th-century paintings to Gothic works by Gentile da Fabriano and Renaissance masterpieces by Fra Angelico, Piero della Francesca, along with local artists Pinturicchio and Perugino.

Enjoy some time at leisure to wander the cobbled alleys of Perugia’s centro storico at your own pace.

Tonight, celebrate the conclusion of the tour with a special farewell dinner with Christopher and fellow travellers.

(BD)

Tour arrangements conclude with a group transfer to Rome Fiumicino Airport for evening flights to Australia or New Zealand. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including any additional nights’ accommodation either before or after the tour and travel insurance (a condition of travel).

(B)