This tour will be conducted by Collette Travel from February 26 - March 7, 2009. Jennifer Hamlin-Church will be the liaison for alumni participants and Christine Reising will be the Art Department representative. She will teach the studio portion of the program, which is designed to compliment the Italy 2009 European Study Program. The primary activity while in Italy will be the collection of documentation in two handmade journals that reflect the student's interests and experiences while on the journey. Students will draw and paint, write, photograph, and collect collage materials for inclusion in their journals. They will be expected to present completed journals after they return from Italy and will share their creative experiences with the Siena community in a group exhibition.
Overnight Flight
Your adventure begins with an overnight flight to Italy. Rolling landscapes, savory wines, delicious food, and stunning architecture… this can only be Tuscany. On this special journey, you will enjoy walking tours along typical Italian roads, visit magnificent historic cities and sample mouth watering cuisine and wines.
Arrive Rome, Italy - Tour Begins
Your tour begins in Rome. This evening, get acquainted with your fellow travelers during a festive welcome dinner at a local restaurant where regional foods, traditional music and fine Italian wines kick off your Tuscan adventure. Today dinner will be included.
Rome - Assisi - Montecatini Terme
LANGUAGE DISCOVERY: Today, your Tour Manager will
help you discover the origin and history of the language(s) you will experience on your tour along with key words and phrases that will help you communicate with the locals. Travel north from Rome to the medieval walled city of Assisi, the birthplace of the patron saint of Italy, St. Francis. A local expert guides you on a tour of the magnificent Basilica of St. Francis and the historic old city. Continue on through beautiful Tuscany, ending in the famous spa resort town of Montecatini Terme, your home for the next six nights. Today breakfast and dinner will be included.
Montecatini Terme
Enjoy a day of leisure to relax and experience the local flavor. Take this opportunity to shop at the local boutiques and dine at one the many fine local restaurants. Or perhaps you will choose an optional excursion to Pisa and Lucca. The ancient maritime Republic of Pisa is where you will find the Piazza dei Miracoli, the Cathedral or “Duomo”, its historic Baptistry and the world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa! Together, they set up your Italian piazza. Your option continues with a journey to historic Lucca, one of the most charming old towns in Tuscany, to explore its gothic palaces, quaint shops, and bustling streets. Today breakfast will be included.
San Gimignano
Discover the hilltop village of San Gimignano, one of the most picturesque places in Tuscany. Explore this enchanting medieval town, from its famous 14 towers to its magnificent vistas overlooking the vineyards of Tuscany. Enjoy free time for lunch and perhaps some famous Italian gelato before departing to a Tuscan winery for the opportunity to sample a selection of the local wines that have made Tuscany so well-known. Today breakfast will be included.
Florence
A cultural tour in the “Cradle of the Italian Renaissance” showcases the beautiful city of Florence. A local Florentine guide highlights many of the city's priceless treasures, including the Academy Gallery* which houses Michelangelo's monumental statue of David. At the Piazza del Duomo, which is the center of religious life in medieval Florence, you will see the impressive Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. You will also view the Church of Santa Croce and the burial places of Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli. The remainder of your day is at leisure to explore this unparalleled city. HA delightful experience awaits you this evening when you attend a Tuscan feast featuring traditional cuisine, savory wines and your favorite Italian melodies. Today breakfast and dinner will be included.
Siena
Begin the day learning the traditional Italian techniques of leather making during a visit to the family-owned Pierotucci Leather Shop. Continue your journey through Tuscany's low-lying hills and olive groves to Siena, one of Italy's most beautiful cities. Embark on a lovely walking tour through Siena's narrow, Gothic streets and behold stunning palaces, mansions and the historic Piazza del Campo. Enjoy free time to soak up Siena's captivating ambiance and perhaps have lunch in one of the city's cafes. Or, you may climb to the top of the Torre Del Mangia for a breathtaking view of Siena and the Tuscan countryside. Today breakfast and dinner will be included.
Florence
Today you return to Florence and enjoy a guided tour of the amazing Pitti Palace*. See master works by artists such as Raphael, Rubens and Caravaggio in this impressive collection, and also tour the staterooms of this former royal palace. The remainder of the day is at leisure for you to independently explore the many treasures of this great city. Return to Montecatini for an evening at leisure. Today breakfast will be included.
Montecatini - Rome
Depart Montecatini this morning for the cosmopolitan capital of Italy, Rome! Upon arrival you will have an opportunity to enjoy an optional tour of Classical Rome featuring the Colosseum, Arch of Constantine, Roman Forum and Piazza Venezia. This evening, join your fellow travelers and friends for a farewell dinner celebrating the end of a memorable trip to the unforgettable and ever-beautiful region of Tuscany. Today breakfast and dinner will be included.
Rome - Tour Ends
Your tour of Tuscany ends today. Today breakfast will be included.
Hotel Accommodations: AT A GLANCE
Day 1 Overnight Flight
Day 2 Crowne Plaza St. Peter's, Rome
Day 3 - 8 Hotel Ercolini & Savi,
or Minerva Palace Hotel, Montecatini Terme
Day 9 Crowne Plaza St. Peter's Hotel & Spa, Rome
For more information, contact Sharon Derrig, Conlin Enrichment Tours, (888) 426-6546
As of November 1st, the tour was near maximum capacity.
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