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Friday - ARRIVE ROME
Arrive Rome, one of the world’s most photogenic cities and transfer to the Hotel Portamaggiore where overnight accommodation is reserved on a bed & breakfast basis. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure. Night at Hotel Portamaggiore.
Saturday - ROME
Enjoy some time this morning, exploring this fascinating city with a local guide taking in the beautiful piazzas, as well as some of the city’s most famous landmarks including the Sistine Chapel, famous for its decoration which has been frescoed throughout by the great Renaissance artists including Michaelangelo, Raphael, Bernini and Sandro Boticelli. Night at Hotel Portamaggiore. (B)
Sunday - ROME
Enjoy the day at leisure in Rome. Night at Hotel Portamaggiore. (B)
Monday - ROME – ORVIETO - CETONA
Travel north to the Chianti area in southern Tuscany which borders Lazio and Umbria – a completely unique landscape with lakes, vineyards and sunny flat valleys. Stop in the stunning Etruscan town of Orvieto, perched high above Tufa Cliffs. Spend some time at leisure before enjoying lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, continue to your home for the next four nights near Cetona – Villa Cetona; a beautifully restored Tuscan villa set in a relaxing and stimulating environment. Take some time settling in and enjoy the amazing views and superb scenery surrounding the villa. You will be joined this evening by your Art Teacher, Ms Irma Weissman who will be with you for the subsequent three days. Irma will join you for a freshly prepared Italian dinner this evening served at the villa where you can spend some time getting to know her in a relaxed atmosphere and discussing the structure of the programme for the next few days. (B, L, D)
Tuesday - CETONA
Over the next three days your art classes will take place each afternoon to take advantage of the light. Irma will join you each afternoon from 2pm – 6pm. Outside of tuition time, you are free to explore the area at leisure – there are plenty of trails for walking or hiking or you may wish to use the pool facilities. Dinner will be freshly prepared for you at the villa this evening. (B, D)
Wednesday - CETONA
After breakfast in the villa, return transfers will be provided to take you into Cetona, a beautifully preserved medieval town, just 5km from the villa. Take the opportunity to gather some provisions for the next couple of days or simply explore this interesting town. Return in plenty of time to enjoy lunch at leisure before your art class with Irma commencing at 2pm. This evening, another freshly prepared Italian meal will be served at the villa. (B, D)
Thursday - CETONA
After breakfast in the villa, spend your morning at leisure before another art class with Irma this afternoon commencing at 2pm. Enjoy another freshly prepared Italian meal in the villa this evening. (B, D)
Friday - CETONA – CASENTINO VALLEY
After breakfast, travel further north into Tuscany bordering on Emilia Romagna to an area amidst a religious triangle of monasteries, historic churches and castles. A leisurely drive through the beautiful and diverse Tuscan landscape brings you to your home for the next two nights in the Casentino Valley at Villa Vignacce; a traditional Tuscan farmhouse nestled in a picturesque valley between Florence and Arezzo. You will have the opportunity to stop for provisions en-route. On arrival take time to un-pack and then enjoy a relaxed freshly prepared lunch at the villa where you will be joined by your art teacher, Mr Abraham Clet., or ‘Clet’ as he likes to be known. Spend some time getting to know one another and set to work this afternoon by selecting a scene to paint. Clet recommends that participants select a scene to paint and he will on a one-on-one basis help to improve techniques. Dinner will be served in the villa this evening. (B, L, D)
Saturday - CASENTINO VALLETY – AREZZO – CASENTINO VALLEY
After breakfast in the villa, return transfers will be provided to Arezzo this morning where you can enjoy the local market and perhaps pick up something to take back and prepare for lunch! Return to the villa ready for your afternoon art class with Clet commencing at 2pm. Dinner will be served in the villa this evening. (B, D)
Sunday - CASENTINO VALLEY
Enjoy a relaxing breakfast and the morning at leisure before your final art class this afternoon with Clet, followed by a farewell dinner freshly prepared in the villa. (B, D)
Monday - CASENTINO VALLEY – FLORENCE
After breakfast you will be transferred to the city of Florence, the regional capital of Tuscany, for a full day at leisure for personal sightseeing and shopping. The art galleries and museums of Florence are renowned throughout the world and visitors are keen to admire the superb David of Michelangelo, the Venus of Botticelli and the stunning Duomo with it’s marble facade. The town is situated on the river Arno, spanned by the famous Ponte Vecchio – the only bridge in Florence not to have been blown up in the Second World War. Overnight accommodation has been reserved for you in Florence this evening on a bed & breakfast basis. Night at Hotel Benivieni. (B)
Tuesday - FLORENCE – MILAN - DEPART
Spend the morning and an early lunch at leisure in Florence before making your way to the railway station to board the early afternoon Eurostar train for Milan, with a journey time of 1h45. On arrival in Milan you will be met at the rail station by a local guide who will accompany you on a sightseeing tour of Milan, recognised as the world fashion and design capital, with a rich heritage and cultural legacy. Enjoy an early evening meal at leisure before transferring to the airport in good time for your evening flight. (B) |
