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             TUSCANY, UMBRIA & FLORENCE

TUSCANY, UMBRIA & FLORENCE ITINERARY:

1. Arrive Rome / Siena
Tour departs: 10:00 AM from Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino.  Join your fellow travelers fro a drive on the scenic country roads to Siena, stopping for lunch and a walking tour in the tiny Renaissance city of Pienza.  Arrive late afternoon at your grand hotel, ideally located in the heart of Siena, and enjoy a welcome reception and dinner tonight.  Meals LD

2. The Grandeur of Siena
Once rivaling Florence in magnificent cultural riches, hilltop Siena is still a treasure to behold.  Start your day with a guided walking tour along medieval city streets, rewarded by mesmerizing views at every turn.  Visit historic Piazza del Campo and the spectacular Duomo, one of Italy's greatest cathedrals.  The remainder of the day is free for you to enjoy as you wish; explore the city's maze of narrow medieval streets, adorned with flags, plagues and symbolic animal carvings, or relax in a local cafe.  Meals B 

3. San Gimignano / Florence
Look for the thirteen medieval towers that dominate the skyline as you journey to 12th-century San Gimignano for a guided tour and lunch, followed by a wine tasting at a local vineyard.  Continue on to Florence for a three-night stay and experience a dine-around tonight.  Meals BD

4. Discover the Art of Florence
Today's guided tour of the Galleria dell'Accademia is enhanced is enhanced by the learned expertise of a noted art historian who shares insights about Europe's first art school during a lecture.  Seeing Michelangelo's most important works inside, including the famous statue of David, makes this an experience to remember! Venture into the bustling food markets with our local guide, then spend the rest of the day exploring on your own.  Meals B

5. Art Treasures of the Uffizi Gallery
Botticelli, Bellini, Michelangelo, Raphael, da Vinci, Rembrandt and Titian are just a few of the artists whose work graces the halls of the Uffizi, renowned for showcasing some of the greatest art oft he Renaissance.  See them on a guided tour this morning.  The remainder of the day is at leisure.  Meals B

6. Cortona / Cooking Class
Travel into the heart of Italy for a three-night stay in Perugia. Visit the Etruscan city of Cortona, featured in the movie, Under the Tuscan Sun; a walking tour includes a visit to the Museo Diocesano, housing the artist Fra Angelico’s famous painting, Annunciation. Have lunch and see a Tuscan cooking demonstration at a gastronomic school located in a 15th-century house. Your 5-star hotel in Perugia overlooks the Umbrian valley below. Meals BL

7. Perugia, Capital of Umbria
A town rife with Gothic palaces, Perugia is thought to have been inhabited since prehistoric times.  Its history includes Etruscan and Roman rule - and it was once under the direct control of the Papal State.  Discover its ancient sights on a guided walking tour with a local guide.  The town is rich with medieval influences and architectural treasures, from the 15th-century Duomo to the Oratorio di San Bernardino.  Perugia is also well known for its mouth-watering chocolate, Baci Perugina; learn the closely guarded secrets of making this delectable treat at a chocolate-making demonstration this afternoon, but don't spoil your appetite for your candlelight dinner at La Taverna - this popular restaurant is justly renowned for its romantic ambiance and delicious desserts! Meals BD

8. Assisi and Perugia
The medieval hilltop town of Assissi is heir to the legacy of St. Francis, who buried in its most famous church, the Basilica di San Francesco.  Pilgrims from around the world visit this great Christian shrine each year to pay homage to this humble saint and to see the colorful frescoes depicting his life.  Tour the Basilica and enjoy free time to explore the town on your own; fountain-splashed piazzas and lovely views provide a picturesque setting for the many Romanesque churches found here.  Return to Perugia for an afternoon at leisure and join us this evening for a farewell reception and dinner.  Meals BD

9. Journey Home
Tour ends: 7:30 AM at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino.  Persons who are departing on flights scheduled before 12:00 noon will have to depart Perugia very early (pre-dawn hours) to transfer to Rome's Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino, 2 1/2 hours away.  For those departing on later flights after 12:00 noon, Tauck's included transfer will depart the Hotel Brufani Palace in Perugia at 8:00 AM, arriving at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino at 10:30 AM.  Persons departing at other times should secure their own transportation.  Meals B

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