Art/Design Class- Italy Extension: 7 days

ITALY

Students who choose to depart for San Diego will fly home the next day from Zurich with the returning group or might decide to stay in Switzerland and fly home later. The rest of the group will hop a train for a breathtaking journey by rail to Italy and one of the world's great art capitals Florence. Upon arrival there will be free time to savor the wonders of this Renaissance city that never stops re-inventing itself. This historically important city lies on the River Arno and it's architecture and the Medici legacy will inspire you. If that isn't enough try the gelato or people watching.

FLORENCE
All roads lead to the Uffizi and we will visit one of the world's greatest museums with a private guide. Take in Botticelli's Birth of Venus or Primavera an allegory of Spring that features Venus's garden, Mercury and a blindfolded cupid. From the gallery window you can look down at the Arno and the Ponte Vecchio bridge where you can watch the sculling boats glide timelessly down the river. Join our visit to the Basilica of Santa Croce and the tombs of Michelangelo and Dante. Take in the Galleria dell’Accademia that houses Michelangelo's David. You will see a unique collection of 13th century painters including Giotto and an extraordinary studio room filled from floor to ceiling with plaster casts that will stir your senses. Just next door we will experience the fascinating Museum of Musical Instruments from the Medici collection including an exceptionally rare viola and violin crafted by Antonio Stradivari.

CHIANTI REGION
We will depart from Florence and travel to the Tuscan countryside and Chianti with it's unique landscape of gently rolling green hills and vineyards, olive groves and stone villages. Here we will visit an eco-tourism farm for an Italian cooking lesson and learn about the olive oils and wine that is produced in this region. Traversing the picture postcard landscape we will head for the picturesque hilltown of San Gimignano.

SAN GIMIGNANO
This stunning walled medieval hill town located in the province of Siena is famous for its medieval architecture, especially its towers that can be seen from well outside town. Founded by the Etruscans we will visit the Collegiata that houses some incredible murals and the art of Italian renaissance artists. You can also climb to the top of the Civico Museum for a spellbinding view of the Tuscan countryside. As we will be staying inside this ancient city there will be plenty of time to explore the shops and olive groves and sit with a coffee or gelato.

From our Tuscan homebase in San Gimignano we will have our bus giving us the freedom to easily explore many mesmerizing hill towns I've listed here. There are also fantastic hiking and walking opportunities through gorgeous landscape.

SIENA
Siena considered the heart of Tuscany is fascinating because it has kept it's ward-centric culture from medieval times. Each contrada is represented by an animal or mascot and has its own identity as well as rivalries that run wild during the annual Palio horse race in the Piazza del Campo [one of the most remarkable squares in Italy]. The Sienese school of painting produced a series of masterpieces that are represented in the Pinacoteca, Palazzo Pubblico, and Museo dell'Opera del Duomo. We will have time to wander the streets, sit and watch the world go by.

MONTERIGGIONI is a well preserved medieval fortified village, built on hillrock.
The circle of walls and fourteen towers date from the 13th century.
This town is described by Dante in the Divine Comedy. A main street crosses the village and there is a lovely Romanesque church on the piazza and a small public garden to add to it's charm.

VOLTERRA lies across the hills about twelve miles away from San Gimignano. With Etruscan origins inhabitants have lived on Volterra's steep hills since Neolithic times. There are some great ruins, art works and architecture from different periods, with tranquil squares and great restaurants. You can view the Etruscan walls, built in the 4th century B.C.and it is know for it's alabaster. The lovely garden located at the highest spot in town is near 2 Etruscan temples. The vistas are breathtaking and on clear days you see the Tyrhennian Sea.