Day 1 & 2— Depart the U.S. and arrive in Florence

Depart the U.S. on an overnight flight to Florence and transfer to your home-away-from-home, an apartment-hotel close to the city center. Transfer time from the airport to the aparthotel will be approximately 25 minutes. Upon arrival, each traveler will receive a customized welcome package containing general information about the area as well as a map of the region. Your Smithsonian Journeys Resident Director will be in residence and available this afternoon and throughout the program to help with personal sightseeing arrangements, restaurants reservations, shopping suggestions, and any other assistance you may require. This evening, gather with fellow travelers for a welcome reception followed by dinner at the hotel. (R,D)

Day 3 — Florence

A full breakfast is served this morning at the hotel. Afterward, join fellow travelers for an informative welcome briefing. For those who enrolled in the Italian Language track, visit your Italian language school this afternoon for an orientation of the facilities, a placement review and your first language class.

In the early afternoon gather at a local trattoria for lunch.

Afterward, set out on a tram and walking tour led by a Florentine guide. Your tour takes you through the neighborhood around the hotel to the famous Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, commonly called the Doumo, whose red dome is an iconic symbol of Florence. Marvel at the Baptistery of St. John, dating from 1059 and one of the oldest buildings in Florence. Then stroll between gold and jewelry shops along the Ponte Vecchio, a bridge over the Arno River built as a secret passage for the Medici family. In the Piazza Della Signoria, the political and historic heart of the city, admire the stately Palazzo Vecchio and a precise copy of Michelangelo’s David.

Later this afternoon, get together in the Smithsonian Journeys Travelers Corner to enjoy new friends and lively conversation. (B,L)

• Optional Language Track 1.1: Placement test and Italian class

Day 4 — Florence

Those who subscribed to the Arts and Architecture track, note you will be placed in smaller groups for this first visit. Participants will all take part in this first visit either on Day 4 or Day 5. You will begin the day with a guided tour of Florence’s legendary Santa Maria del Fiore. With its massive, red-brick cupola designed by Brunelleschi and its stunning pink, white and green marble facade, the cathedral is a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture. At the Baptistery of St. John, get a closer look at its mosaic ceiling and its gilded bronze doors, which depict biblical scenes in intricate detail. Visit the Bargello Museum, home to a remarkable collection that includes works by Michelangelo and Donatello. Then set out on an architecture tour of the historic center, discovering little known gems as well as highlights.

This afternoon, half of the group will pay a visit to the elegant Caffe Gilli, a gathering place for intellectuals since 1733. Hear about the caffe's distinguished history and meet with one of the directors to learn the art of preparing Italian coffee. Enjoy an espresso, cappuccino, or caffe latte with a pastry. The other half will have the balance of the day free for individual pursuits. 

This evening, gather for dinner at a popular local ristorante featuring regional Tuscan wine. (B,D)

• Optional Art and Architecture Track 3.1: Guided tour of the Duomo and the Baptistery of St. John

Day 5 — Florence

Those who chose the Arts and Architecture track and are selected to begin your program today, follow the same schedule as fellow enrichment track participants on Day 4.

There will be a visit to Caffe Gilli for those who have not visited ion Day 4.

For all other participants the day and evening is free to explore Florence on your own.

• Optional Art and Architecture Track 3.1: Guided tour of the Duomo and the Baptistery of St. John

Day 6 — Florence

Enjoy the morning to pursue your own interests. You might visit the excellent San Marco Museum, a treasure trove of works by Fra'Angelico, housed in a monastery the artist-monk once called home. Or immerse yourself in a very different kind of art at the Museo Salvatore Ferragamo, located within a exquisite 13th-century palace that has been the home of the Ferragamo fashion empire since 1938. Your Smithsonian Journeys Resident Director will be on hand to help with directions, information, and making plans for your day. 

Late this afternoon, gather for a talk by a local speaker about the art of the Renaissance. Enjoy dinner together at popular local restaurant. (D)

Day 7 — Chianti / San Gimignano / Florence

Venture into the undulating landscapes of Chianti, a famous wine region of quiet country lanes, lovely hill towns, woodlands, and vineyards.  Travel to its heart to visit the 18th-century Castello di Monsanto, where you will sample wines made from handpicked Sangiovese, Canaiolo, and other varieties of grapes. You'll also learn how the rooster became the symbol of the Chianit region and how the area got its name.

Enjoy a cooking demonstration and a lunch featuring Tuscan specialties in the quaint village of Castellina. Continue to hilltop San Gimignano, a World Heritage site, delve into a warren of narrow, cobblestoned lanes and see its 14 iconic medieval towers—all that remain of more than 70 built by the town's wealthy families centuries ago. (L)

Day 8 — Florence

Those taking Italian lessons will attend a morning Language class. participants depart the hotel this morning for language lessons. Participants on the Culinary track embark on a gastronomic adventure at a cooking school this afternoon, learning how to prepare a traditional Italian four-course dinner, known as a cena, from antipasto to dolce (dessert). When preparations are complete, feast on your creations over dinner in the school’s wine cellar. This evening is at leisure. (D for Culinary track participants)

• Optional Language Track 1.2: Italian class
• Optional Culinary Track 2.1: Antipasto to dolce four-course cooking class and dinner

Day 9 — Florence

Those taking Italian lessons will attend a morning Language class.  After lunch together at a local restaurant, tour the world-renowned Accademia with a private guide. Admire Michelangelo’s legendary David as well as works of other Italian greats such as Sandro Botticelli, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Pontormo, Andrea del Sarto, and Allessando Alloriand Orcagna. In the early evening gather in the Smithsonian Journeys Travelers Corner for a lovely discussion with your fellow travelers. (L)

• Optional Language Track 1.3: Italian class

Day 10 — Florence

Language students will meet for an Italian class this morning. Late this afternoon, gather with a local expert for an engaging discussion of Italy’s place in the European Union and an assessment of its modern-day political, economic, and social issues.

• Optional Language Track 1.4: Italian class

Day 11 — Florence

For those who are taking the Arts and Architecture program, spend the morning on a guided tour of the Basilica of Santa Croce, an architectural masterpiece which boasts an interior that is a treasure trove of 14th-century frescoes. The building also holds the tombs of several famous Florentines, including Michelangelo and Galileo. Continue on to Casa Buonarotti, one of Michelangelo’s homes, and view two of the artist’s earliest sculptures, along with a treasure trove from the family’s archive containing many of the artist’s letters and drawings.

In the afternoon, immerse yourself in magnificent art of the Uffizi Gallery, home to one of the most remarkable collections in the world. Among the many highlights are Giotto's Madonna di Ognissanti , Battle of San Romano by Paolo Uccello, and the iconic Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli. This evening, get together with fellow travelers for dinner at a popular trattoria. (D) 

• Optional Art and Architecture Track 3.2: Guided tour of Basilica of Santa Croce and Casa Buonarotti

Day 12 –Cortona / Florence

Drive through cypress-lined hills and picturesque agricultural fields to historic Cortona, a quintessentially Tuscan town that gained fame as the setting of Under the Tuscan Sun. Poised on a hilltop with stellar views, Cortona began as an Etruscan city, flourishing as early as the fourth century BC. During your full-day excursion, gain insight into the town's artistic and architectural highlights, and its interesting history—which is still being pieced together by archaeologists. Visit the Romanesque Cathedral and browse a fascinating collection of pre-Roman artifacts at the Etruscan Museum. Sit down to lunch at a local restaurant, then take advantage of free time this afternoon to explore Cortona on your own before returning to Florence. (L)

Day 13 — Florence

Spend another day living like a local in Florence. If you have opted for the Arts and Architecture track, cross the Arno River and ascend the hillside to Piazzale Michelangelo for a panoramic view of Florence. Continue to the Etruscan town of Fiesole, located on the outskirts of the city, On a tour of its Archeological Museum, discover a trove of ancient ruins, including an Etruscan temple and tombs as well as Roman baths and a well-preserved Roman theater. Enjoy lunch at a restaurant in Fiesole. The remainder of the day is at leisure. (L for Art and Architecture track participants)

• Optional Art and Architecture Track 3.3: Visit to Piazzale Michelangelo and excursion to Fiesole

Day 14 — Florence

Students of Italian begin the day with a Language class. The remainder of the day is free to explore Florence as you wish. Join fellow travelers this evening for dinner at a popular local restaurant. (D)

• Optional Language Track 1.5: Italian class

Day 15 — Florence

If you’re not enrolled in an optional track, the day is yours to plan as you wish. Your Resident Director will be available to offer suggestions and help with arrangements. Those on the Language track will meet for a morning Italian lesson. In the afternoon, travelers on the Culinary track will delve into one of of Italy's most beloved food traditions: making pasta. With a local culinary expert, learn about Italy's many different types of pasta. Then roll up your sleeves to make some yourself, along with several traditional sauces. 

• Optional Language Track 1.6: Italian class
• Optional Culinary Track 2.2: Pasta-making class

Day 16 – Colle di Val d’Elsa / Siena / Florence

Set out on full-day excursion to the Tuscan province of Siena, stopping first in Colle di Val d’Elsa for a guided walking tour in the quaint Old Town. After lunch at a local restaurant, continue to the World Heritage site of Siena. Perched like a crown atop three hills, the stunning city of Siena has remained remarkably unchanged through the centuries, its timeless, winding streets linking majestic cathedrals, museums, and wonderfully preserved Gothic buildings. Witness the renowned Piazza del Campo, the enormous, shell-shaped piazza where the annual Palio bareback horse race has been held since medieval times. Admire the 14th-century Torre del Mangia and the stunning bas-reliefs on the Gaia Fountain, and the step into the striking, black-and-gold-striped Duomo. You'll have free time in Siena to explore on your own before returning to Florence. (L)

Day 17 — Florence

Language students begin the day with Italian lessons before the group gathers for lunch at a trattoria. Those enrolled in the Arts & Architecture track visit the Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens this afternoon. Inside the palace, once the residence of the Medici family, view a collection of Renaissance and baroque paintings at the Palatine Gallery and enter the newly restored Royal Apartments, only recently reopened to the public. Then stroll through the Boboli Gardens, a prototype of the Italian formal gardens and a World Heritage site. In early evening, join your fellow travelers in the Smithsonian Journeys Travelers Corner for lively discussion and camaraderie. (L)

• Optional Language Track 1.7: Italian class
• Optional Art and Architecture Track 3.4: Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens tour

Day 18 — Florence

For those who selected the Language lessons, there’s a morning language class. For all others, the day is at leisure.

• Optional Language Track 1.8: Italian class

Day 19 – Florence

If you opted for the Culinary track, set out this morning for San Lorenzo Market, where an 19th-century iron-and-glass pavilion hosts a lively food market. Browse stalls where cheese mongers sell wheels of pecorino and bakers turn out freshly made pastries. Select fresh produce and ingredients with a local chef, then learn how to prepare typical Italian dishes during a cooking class. Savor the dishes you have made for lunch. 

• Optional Culinary Track 2.3: Market visit and cooking class

Day 20 — Lucca / Florence

After a leisurely morning, gather in the mid-afternoon for an excursion to the medieval city of Lucca. Circled by massive fortifications--including walls that are 59-feet thick in some places—Lucca harbors a wealth of architectural treasures, including an 11th-century Romanesque Cathedral that contains one of the most famous relics of medieval Europe: a carving said to be a true portrait of Christ. Enjoy dinner in a local restaurant in Lucca before returning to Florence. (D)

Day 21 — Florence

The day is free for independent activities. For those who selected the Language track, there’s a morning language class and a Graduation Ceremony at the school.  This evening, gather in the Smithsonian Journeys Travelers Corner for a drink and conversation. Then celebrate your Italian adventure with a farewell dinner at the splendid Grand Hotel Baglioni, offering unforgettable food, wine, and stunning views of Florence. (D)

• Optional Language Track 1.9: Italian class

Day 22 — Florence

Enjoy a final day in Florence, revisiting your favorite haunts and lingering in its lovely piazzas and historic lanes. Toast new friends and all you have experienced and accomplished at tonight's farewell reception at the hotel. (R)

Day 23 — Depart Florence for your U.S. Gateway City

Transfer to the Florence Peretola Airport for your return flight to the U.S. 

Please note: Itinerary sequence and/or scheduled events may change due to operational considerations. All excursions involve an element of walking, standing and climbing steps.