Italy Travel Tours

Posts Tagged ‘Renaissance’

Consider your Italy Travel Tours to begin in Florence, with a full day of exploration of this marvelous region.  The best way to see it is by car on the scenic road called Viale Dei Colli.

From here you can view the Miniato al Monte church with its spectacular green and white marble façade.  Your tour guide will point out this is a fine example of Florentine Romanesque architecture.

High on a hill above the ancient city is Forte Belvedere, built by the Grand Duke Ferdinand in 1590.  The purpose of the facility was to safeguard the Medici Villas.  The drive to the Fort is spectacular with historic walls lining the narrow road.

After Forte Belvedere your guide might recommend the Pitti Palace and its collection of museums and galleries such as the Costume Gallery, Palatine Gallery, the Coach Museum, Royal Apartments, the Gallery of Modern Art and the Silver and Porcelain Museum.  They are all surrounded by the Boboli Gardens, a beautiful park of trees, flowers and shrubs.

If you enjoy the history of the Great Philosophers, venture over to the Piazza della Repubblica where the greatest minds of old Florence met for espresso and cappuccino.  The cafes that housed these conversations still stand today.

You can walk from there to the Piazza del Duomo and to the Piazza Signoria where you can take in the best of the Renaissance and the art of the period.

After that you’ll want to hop in the car so your tour guide can drive you to the Basilica of the Holy Cross, or the Santa Croce.  The largest Franciscan chapel in the world, it includes 16 chapels bearing frescoes by Giotto.

The Chapel was begun in the year 1294 and it was the replacement of an earlier church on the same site.  Your Italy Travel Tours will open your eyes to the beautiful and ancient history of Tuscany.

To schedule your own custom tour of Tuscany, contact Federica Merli at Tuscany With Me.  She will assist you in designing your tour to your exact requirements.

Click here to read our previous post on: Italy Trips to Remember.

The tours of Tuscany are among the most sought after destinations in the world.  The popularity of region was helped by the best-selling novel “Under the Tuscan Sun.” Now everyone wants to experience renewal and rebirth that comes from this beautiful part of the world.

There are as many ways to tour this region of Italy as there are people to experience them.  There is truly something for everyone “under the Tuscan sun”.   A sample itinerary includes a hotel in the historic center of Florence where you can walk to see the art of the Renaissance.  You can visit Chianti and sample the wine of the same name, sold around the world.  Siena is a must-see locale with its stunning gothic cathedral.

Large tour groups are common all around Italy and are identified by their familiar colored umbrella held high so that no one straggles from the group.  However there are many smaller, more personal tour companies that specialize in intimate groups.  These companies can gain access to more authentic local hot spots like cafes and restaurants where a large group could not be accommodated.

Like the large tour companies, smaller firms can take you anywhere you want to go and they’ll provide a custom presentation along the way such as slide shows preceding new locations.  A one-week tour like this costs approximately $3,400. for the land costs of hotel, most meals, and entrance fees to museums, galleries and monuments.

There are times when travelers wish to remain in the country to make other plans after the structured tour is completed and most tour companies will help you with transportation to your next destination.    Whatever method you chose, a large tour company or a small one, make sure you bring your camera for tours of Tuscany because the sights are too lovely to pass by.

You will be able to have a completely custom designed itinerary by selecting our blog sponsor, Tuscany With Me.  There is no better way to enjoy your trip than to see just exactly what you have always dreamed of.