GT Italy_Apr 2016_ITIN by Academy Travel

Grand tour of Italy Naples-ROME-Assisi-SienaFlorence-Venice

April 5 - 22, 2016 Tour leader: Dr Kathleen Olive

Grand Tour of Italy

Naples-ROME-Assisi-Siena-Florence-Venice

Overview On this 18-day tour we travel from the splendour of the ancient Roman world, through the atmospheric medieval and Renaissance towns of central Italy, home to some of the greatest masterpieces of the Renaissance, to the remarkable art and architecture of Venice. The itinerary is filled with exclusive events not normally available on group tours. In Naples we have a private boat tour to the island of Capri and the spectacular Amalfi Coast. In Rome you will be among the privileged few to make a private, after hours visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. In Venice we enjoy a private VIP visit to St Mark’s Cathedral and a farewell lunch at the legendary Locanda Cipriani on the island of Torcello. We also take you away from the tourist crowds by visiting some lesser known gems of Italy, such as the lush countryside of Umbria with masterpieces by Perugino, Lippi and Gozzoli in its medieval towns. This tour offers a broad range of experiences, with visits to archaeological sites, galleries, museums and churches balanced with time to relax, observe everyday life and sample the culinary delights and regional wines of the Italian peninsula. It is ideal for those wanting more than an overview of Italy’s remarkable history and culture, and perfect for those wanting the personalised service of small-group travel at a relaxed pace. Our carefully selected hotels—four and five star establishments, in central locations in Florence, Rome and Venice, a panoramic location on the Bay of Naples, and a converted farm villa in Umbria—allow you to enjoy all the comforts of modern life while exploring more than two millennia of Italian history and culture. Some highlights            

Private evening visit to the Sistine Chapel Private boat tour of Capri and the Amalfi Coast Private after hours visit to St Mark’s Cathedral in Venice Lunch at Locanda Cipriani on Torcello on the Venetian lagoon Extended visits to Pompeii and Herculaneum The Borghese Gallery in Rome, home to magnificent sculptures by Gianlorenzo Bernini Four nights in Umbria, visiting Assisi, Spoleto and small hill towns Day trip to the magnificent medieval city of Siena Three nights in Florence, visiting major galleries and learning about the city’s dynamic medieval and Renaissance history The superb 6th-8th century mosaics of Ravenna Three nights in Venice, visiting major sites and relaxing in the unrivalled scenery of the canal city Illustrated background talks on Italian history and culture

Images left: The Borghese Gallery in Rome, housed in the former Villa Borghese Pinciana, is rated as one of the world’s top 10 small museums; Four years in the making – Michelangelo’s ceiling of the Sistine Chapel is a complex masterpiece that deserves quiet contemplation, not the whistle-stop treatment allowed for most visitors

Tour Price The tour price is $8,250 per person, twin share (land content only). The supplement for the sole use of a single room is $2,200 per person. A nonrefundable deposit of $500 per person is required to secure a place on the tour. Included in the tour price  All accommodation in selected four and five star hotels  All breakfasts and selected lunches and dinners in hotels and local restaurants as indicated in the itinerary  Land travel in Italy by air-conditioned coach  Extensive tour notes  Services of an Australian tour leader throughout the tour  All entrance fees to sites mentioned in itinerary  Local guides for cities and sites  Porterage of one piece of luggage at all hotels  Tips to local guides and drivers Not included in the tour price     

International airfares, taxes and surcharges (see below) Airport transfers if not coordinating with Emirates flights Travel insurance Meals not stated as included in this itinerary Items of a personal nature such as laundry, phone calls or internet use

Air travel OPTIONS The tour price quoted is for land content only. For this tour we recommend Emirates which offers flights into Rome and out of Venice from most Australian cities. Please contact us for further information on competitive Economy, Business or First Class airfares with Emirates or other airline.

Enquiries and bookings For further information or to secure a place on this tour please contact Erin Laffin Academy Travel, on 9235 0023 or 1800 639 699 (outside Sydney) or email erin@academytravel.com.au

Images right: Looking up in the spectacularly restored Niobe room of the Uffizi Galleries, renowned for their world-famous collection of Italian paintings (photo by Petar Milošević); The intricate façade of Florence's Duomo

Tour Leader Dr Kathleen Olive holds a PhD in Italian Studies from the University of Sydney and a specialisation in the literature, history and art of Italy in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. She has an outstanding knowledge of Italy’s cultural heritage, developed through years of research, undergraduate teaching and travel, and is one of Academy Travel’s most respected tour leaders. Kathleen speaks fluent Italian.

Grand Tour of Italy

Naples-ROME-Assisi-Siena-Florence-Venice

Detailed Itinerary All breakfasts included. Included lunches and dinners are indicated by the letters (L) and (D). Want to arrive relaxed?

The flight from Australia to Italy is long and can be tiring. To regain your energy and get the most from the tour you might like to consider breaking the journey with a stopover en route, or arriving in Rome a few days before the tour commences. Please contact us to discuss the options available. Tuesday 5 April Arrival

Tour leader Kathleen Olive will meet the group at Rome Airport to commence the tour. We travel together by coach directly from the airport to Naples, passing the medieval abbey of Montecassino. Light dinner and overnight in Naples. (D) Wednesday 6 April NAPLES and Herculaneum

The centre of Naples is filled with palaces, churches, convents, monasteries and museums, offering an abundance of sights. Today we venture out into this spectacular city, walking from the 18th-century Palazzo Reale to vibrant Spaccanapoli, the heart of the ancient Greek city. In the afternoon we head to the seaside town of Herculaneum, which was covered over by Vesuvius in 79 AD. Less visited than neighbouring Pompeii, Herculaneum has frescoes and mosaics in situ as well as wellpreserved houses and baths. We then return to Naples by coach for our welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight Naples (B, D) Thursday 7 April AMALFI COAST BY PRIVATE BOAT

The Costiera Amalfitana is one of Italy’s most scenic coastlines. Steep limestone cliffs meet a crystal clear sea, providing an unforgettable experience. We spend the day cruising these stunning waters by private boat, stopping to visit the island of Capri. Our boat tour ends at Amalfi, the coast’s largest town, where we admire its lovely 10th-century Cathedral with bronze doors cast in Constantinople. We return to Naples by coach. Overnight Naples (B) Friday 8 April NAPLES AND Pompeii

This morning we visit the Palace of Capodimonte in the hills above Naples. Once a royal hunting lodge, today the palace is a world class art gallery containing paintings by Raphael, Titian, El Greco and Caravaggio, Images left: the stunning limestone cliffs of the Amalfi coastline; Frescoes, from the National Archaeological Museum in Naples, provide a window into the everyday life of sites like Pompeii and Herculaneum; The car that will always be an Italian icon – the Fiat 500 is hard to miss on the streets of Italy

as well as fine examples of Neapolitan silver and majolica ceramics. We then travel to the ruins of Pompeii, where we visit the forum, theatres, temples, shops and houses which make Pompeii such a compelling window on everyday life in the ancient world, and perhaps the most famous archaeological site in the world. Overnight Naples (B) Saturday 9 April Archaeological Museum – Travel to Rome

This morning we visit the National Archaeological Museum in Naples, home to an outstanding collection of Roman antiquities, including sculptures, paintings, mosaics and everyday items found at Pompeii and Herculaneum. We then head north to Rome, our base for the next few days. Tonight there is dinner at a local restaurant close to our hotel in central Rome. Overnight Rome (B, D) Sunday 10 April Classical Rome

We begin our time in Rome exploring the ancient heart of the Roman Empire, with a walking tour of the Colosseum and Forum. After lunch there is the choice of visiting the excellent Capitoline Museums, containing a collection of ancient sculpture as well as Renaissance paintings, or of having a free afternoon. Overnight Rome (B) Monday 11 April Renaissance Rome – Vatican museums

This morning our walking tour begins in the atmospheric Campo dei Fiori. From here we continue to the Piazza Navona, adorned with Bernini’s Four Rivers fountain, before heading to the Pantheon, a Roman temple intact from the 2nd century AD. Following an afternoon at leisure, we gather in the hotel and then head to the Vatican for our private viewing of the Sistine Chapel. Free from the hordes which usually crowd the chapel, we will have two hours inside the Vatican Museums and plenty of time to contemplate Michelangelo’s masterpiece. Dinner after our visit will provide an excellent opportunity to discuss what we have seen. Overnight Rome (B, D) Tuesday 12 April Galleria Borghese – travel to Umbria

This morning we visit the Borghese Gallery, rated as one of the world’s top 10 small museums. The gallery, dating from the 17th century, contains the collection of the aristocratic Borghese family. As well as superb classical works and fine paintings by Titian, Caravaggio and many others, the gallery is renowned for its baroque sculptures by Gianlorenzo Bernini, such as the astounding Apollo and Daphne. Following our visit, we travel north to Umbria, where we will visit some local vineyards, which produce some of Italy’s most sought after wine. We arrive at San Luca in the early evening and there is dinner in our hotel. Overnight San Luca (B, D) Images right: A section of the Roman Forum, viewed from the Palatine Hill. The development and changing shape of the Forum tells the social history of Rome, with structures from the Republican Period right through to the 19th-century; The Vatican Museum’s spiral staircase, designed by Giuseppe Momo in 1932

Grand Tour of Italy

Naples-ROME-Assisi-Siena-Florence-Venice

Wednesday 13 April Spoleto and the Nera Valley

This morning we visit the nearby town of Spoleto. The town’s heritage goes back to Roman times, and includes a Roman theatre, a spectacular medieval aqueduct and fortress as well as superb Romanesque churches. We’ll tour the town with our local guide then head for the nearby valley of the Nera River. Nestled in the foothills of the Apennines, this quiet valley is a long way from the tourist beat. Here we stop at the picturesque riverside town of Scheggino and visit the nearby 8th-century church of San Pietro in Valle. Lunch in an excellent local restaurant is included today. Overnight San Luca (B, L) Thursday 14 April Spello and Montefalco

This morning we explore the walled medieval town of Spello, built on Roman ruins, with simple Romanesque churches, and Renaissance paintings by Perugino and Pinturicchio. After free time for lunch, we visit nearby Montefalco. A highlight of the town is the medieval church of St Francis, housing a cycle of frescoes by the Renaissance master Benozzo Gozzoli. The town is also known for its Sagrantino red wine, and there are a number of cellars in the town. We then enjoy dinner at local restaurant. Overnight San Luca (B, D) Friday 15 April Assisi

In spite of its fame, Assisi retains a strongly spiritual atmosphere which gives it a special place among medieval Italian hill towns. In Assisi we tour the basilica of St Francis, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture with frescoes, some of which are attributed to Giotto and others by the Sienese artists Lorenzetti and Martini. We also view some other highlights of the town, such as the 1st-century AD Roman temple in the main square and the ancient Roman forum. You might also like to take the steep walk to the Rocca, the defensive fortress above the town, to enjoy the fine views over the valley. The late afternoon is free. Overnight San Luca (B) Saturday 16 April Siena – travel to florence

We depart Umbria this morning, heading for Tuscany. Most of the day is spent in Siena, a once prosperous medieval city. Devastated by the plague of 1348 and little changed since then, Siena is an outstanding example of a medieval city-state. We tour the Palazzo Pubblico, and the overwhelming cathedral, where every available space is decorated with sculptures, floor mosaics and fine frescoes. In the afternoon we arrive in Florence, our base for the next three days. Dinner is at a local restaurant. Overnight Florence (B, D)

Images left: Benozzo Gozzoli’s frescoes of St Francis in the Montefalco museum; A classic view of Italy’s beautiful Tuscan landscape; Detail of Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus, 1486, which is held in the Uffizi Galleries, Florence

Sunday 17 April Florence fine arts and the Medici

This morning we visit the Accademia in Florence, home to Michelangelo’s David. This is a starting point for considering the role of civic pride and private patronage in Florence’s art. Afterwards we head to the grand Piazza della Signoria for a lunch break. In the late afternoon we visit the Uffizi Galleries, with their world-famous collection of Italian paintings, including major works by Botticelli and other Florentine masters of the golden 1400s. Overnight Florence (B) Monday 18 April Streetscapes and the oltrarno

This morning we view some of the fine public and religious buildings of Florence, home to some great art. This includes the massive cathedral, baptistery and campanile. We then venture to the western side of the Arno, crossing the Ponte Vecchio and strolling through the quiet streets of this lovely neighbourhood. The afternoon is free to stroll through the Boboli Gardens, visit the Pitti Palace or just relax. Overnight Florence (B) Tuesday 19 April Ravenna – travel to Venice

Early this morning we cross the Apennines to northern Italy. Most of the day is spent visiting Ravenna, capital of the Byzantine Empire in Italy from the 5th to the 8th century AD. The churches and baptisteries of this town are decorated with the very finest medieval mosaics, gorgeous compositions reflecting a variety of religious and imperial themes. We continue to Venice in the late afternoon, arriving at our hotel by private launch. Dinner is at a local restaurant. Overnight Venice (B, D) Wednesday 20 April Venice

This morning we have a guided visit of the principal historic quarter of Venice, around St Mark’s Square and the nearby church of San Zaccaria, with its wonderful masterpiece by Bellini. This afternoon we explore the Giudecca canal by ferry, site of many fine monuments, including Renaissance architect Palladio’s two Venetian churches. This evening, we have a special private after hours visit to the 7000 square metres of mosaics and a dazzling array of columns, screens and sculptures plundered from the east in St. Mark's Cathedral, along with its secret passage way to the Doge’s Palace. Overnight Venice (B) Thursday 21 April Venetian Art and Locanda Cipriani

This morning we visit the Galleria dell'Accademia, displaying important works by Bellini, Carpaccio, Giorgione, Titian, Tintoretto, Tiepolo and others. We then make our way to the island of Torcello for our farewell lunch at Locanda Cipriani, the legendary Venetian restaurant which has hosted writers, film stars and royalty over five decades. Torcello also has Images right: Brunelleschi’s famous Duomo is the crowning glory on the gothic façade of the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiori in Florence; Detail of the 6th-century mosaics in Ravenna

Grand Tour of Italy

Naples-ROME-Assisi-Siena-Florence-Venice

a fine medieval cathedral with important 11th-century mosaics, which we get to view. Overnight Venice (B, L) Friday 22 April Depart Italy

This morning is free to undertake some individual sightseeing. In the early afternoon there is a water taxi transfer to Venice airport for those joining the departing Emirates flight to Dubai and on to other ports. (B)

Not ready to go home yet? Additional travel and stopovers

We are more than happy to arrange additional travel either before or after the tour dates. Stopovers on the outbound or return flight are also possible for those wishing to break their journey. Please contact Erin Laffin on (02) 9235 0023 to discuss your requirements.

Physical fitness for this tour ‘The best way to see a place is on foot’. This often-repeated statement underscores the importance of a moderate level of fitness for any form of travel. In order to fully enjoy this tour you should be able to:  walk for around two hours at a moderate pace and be able to negotiate hills and cobbled pavements  walk for up to four or five kilometres each day  stand for extended periods of time in museums and galleries  climb on and off the bus without assistance  negotiate slopes and steps without handrails on archaeological sites  board and disembark local ferries and water taxis in Venice  carry your suitcase a short distance if necessary We are happy to accommodate the needs of any traveller with a physical disability as far as reasonably possible, but it may not be possible to undertake all activities on the tour. We encourage you to think carefully about the physical demands of the tour and to contact us if you wish to discuss your situation.

Beautiful Venice - images left: The Lion of St Mark looks over The Scala dei Giganti (Staircase of the Giants) in the Doge's Palace; With over 7,000 square metres of gold leaf mosaics, St Mark’s epitomises the importation of the luxurious Eastern style; A gondolier waits for his next customer outside the Palazzo Ducale – residence of the Venetian Doge and the heart of the city’s empire for 500 years

Hotel information Naples, Grand Hotel Vesuvio (4 nights) This 5-star hotel is located on the seafront on the Bay of Naples, close to restaurants and shops. Rooms are spacious, modern and comfortable. www.vesuvio.it Rome, Hotel Ponte Sisto (3 nights) The Hotel Ponte Sisto is located in a renovated historical palazzo in a quiet part of central Rome. The recently refurbished rooms are wellequipped and relatively spacious. www.hotelpontesisto.it San Luca, Villa Zuccari (4 nights) This 16th century Villa, situated in the San Luca district of Montefalco, offers spacious and comfortable rooms, each with views over the surrounding gardens or village. www.villazuccari.com FLORENCE, GALLERY ART Hotel (3 nights) This contemporary design hotel offers a quiet courtyard near the Arno and Ponte Vecchio. Rooms are well-appointed, elegant and modern. The hotel host’s regular art and photography exhibitions and has a popular Fusion Bar & Restaurant. http://www.lungarnocollection.com/en/thecollection/florence/gallery-hotel-art/design-hotel-in-florence Venice, Hotel Al codEgA (3 nights) This lovely 4-star hotel is owned and run by the Dal Borgo family. Tucked away in a tranquil courtyard near San Marco it is within easy walking distance of most of Venice’s major galleries and museums. www.hotelalcodega.com

Weather on tour April is a very pleasant time to travel in Italy. Spring has arrived so the days are warm and the evenings cool. Expect average maximum temperatures of 20º-23ºC during the day, and minimums of 12º-15ºC at night. It is reasonable to expect passing showers on a few days. Layering is the key to successful wardrobe choices and don’t forget a waterproof jacket and an umbrella.

Top to Bottom: The Grand Hotel Vesuvio, overlooking Castel dell'Ovo and the Bay of Naples; the sunny breakfast terrace at the Hotel Ponte Sisto in Rome; the Villa Zuccari in San Luca; and a room at the Hotel Al Codega in Venice

About Academy Travel Each year Academy Travel organises around 50 journeys to Europe, the Mediterranean, Asia and the Americas, each focusing on a distinctive historical, artistic or cultural theme. The aim of every Academy Travel journey is to combine the pleasures of independent travel with the benefits and shared enjoyment of a group. Academy Travel is an Australian-owned travel company, founded in 2004. The company’s staff includes both academic experts and travel professionals with over two decades’ industry experience. We also have our own office in Rome which organises our tours in Western Europe. This means we have direct control over the selection of hotels, restaurants, coaches and local guides, guaranteeing superior quality.

Carefully planned itineraries All itineraries feature a carefully thought out balance of walking tours, gallery and museum visits, scenic excursions, dining and performances.

Like-minded groups Share your journey with fellow travellers who are in tune with your way of seeing the world. A maximum of 20 participants – not too small and not too large – creates a convivial atmosphere.

Long stays Perhaps the most appealing feature of our program. No whistlestop tours, no 7.00am departures, day after day. In most destinations we enjoy three or four nights to really get to know the place.

Special experiences A private viewing of the Sistine Chapel or the Museum of Modern Art in New York? Tickets to a sold-out performance of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra? Many of our tours feature top-flight events not usually offered on group tours.

Expert tour leaders Our tour leaders combine academic expertise with a genuine passion for the places you visit. Under their expert guidance you see rather than just look, hear rather than just listen and understand rather than just observe. Your travel experience is transformed.

In-depth information With extensive printed tour materials, including detailed tour notes, destination guides, and daily programs, you’ll build up a coherent understanding of the country you’re visiting, not just a fragmented set of facts. These materials are also available in electronic format.

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