sign in sign up
<<
Home , Florence Cathedral

FLORENCE, RAVENNA & VENICE ART, & HISTORY

APRIL 3-15, 2018 TOUR LEADER: DR NICK GORDON

FLORENCE, RAVENNA Overview & VENICE ART, ARCHITECTURE & HISTORY Florence, Ravenna and Venice have extraordinary and distinct histories but are united by the sheer density of masterpieces they have Tour dates: April 3-15, 2018 accumulated. This new 13-day tour takes in the best of these cities, from the UNESCO World Heritage Byzantine and Ostrogothic mosaics of Tour leader: Dr Nick Gordon Ravenna, to masterpieces by Botticelli, and Leonardo in Florence, and the splendour of Venice, from its glittering Tour Price: $6,575 per person, twin share mosaics to its quiet islands and excellent modern and collections. Single Supplement: $1,575 for sole use of The tour also takes you to less well-visited sites, such as villas and double room gardens of Fiesole, the Renaissance country houses of Palladio, and , a once thriving medieval city with abundant treasures of its own. Booking deposit: $500 per person The itinerary is rounded out by a private after hours tour of St Mark’s in Venice and fine dining in Florence and Venice. Recommended airline: Emirates

Maximum places: 20 Your tour leader

Itinerary: Florence (5 nights), Ravenna (2 Dr Nick Gordon holds a University Medal nights), Venice (5 nights) and a PhD in History from the University of Sydney. He lectures regularly on art Date published: May 9, 2018 and history for Sydney University’s Nicholson Museum and Centre for Continuing Education, and has taught European history at universities in Sydney for 10 years. His knowledge of and passion for art and history have developed from both academic research and his practice as an artist. He has led tours for Academy Travel since 2007.

“Loved the itinerary – good mix of cultural sites and activities. Nick was an excellent tour leader who took care of our group. He shared his expertise and enthusiasm with us in a friendly and unassuming way, answering our questions and providing further information when asked.” Tour participant on Venice: City, Republic and Empire, 2015.

“Nick was an extremely knowledgeable guide; he organised us very well; he was calm and unflappable; and his lectures were excellent… The information he provided, the places he selected for us, and the art he revealed to us gave us a wonderful insight into Renaissance times.” Tour participant on Florence and the , 2016.

Enquiries and Connect this tour bookings with Naples, Capri and Rome, March 2018

For further information and to Consider combining both of these tours Naples, Capri & Rome and secure a place on this tour Florence, Ravenna & Venice to create a 26-day program touring the major please contact Jemma York at cities and cultural highlights of . Travel from Naples to Venice with 5 Academy Travel on 9235 0023 days in between each tour to celebrate Easter in Italy. For more or 1800 639 699 (outside information please contact Jemma York (details left). Sydney) or email [email protected]

Tour Highlights

PRIVATE VIEWING OF ST MARK’S BASILICA IN VENICE Enjoy St Mark’s Basilica without the crowds on a private evening visit. As one of Italy’s most visited sites, during the day it is filled by hordes of people filing through a narrowly prescribed path. The private, after-hours experience is incomparable: the mosaics are illuminated specially for us allowing you to admire them in peace.

DONATELLO, , BOTTICELLI The artists of Renaissance Florence left an indelible mark on history and in the city of Florence, which has the greatest concentration of Renaissance art in the world. Enjoy expert guidance in the and beyond, as we explore the art and culture of one of history’s most dynamic periods.

THE WORLD HERITAGE MOSAICS OF RAVENNA From the 4th and 6th centuries CE, Ravenna was the capital of successive empires in Italy – first Roman, then Ostrogothic and Byzantine. Each empire left its mark on the city and today it is one of the best places to explore the tumultuous history of Late Antiquity, through the beautifully preserved buildings and mosaics from each period.

ITALIAN VILLAS OF FLORENCE AND VENICE Renaissance Italians sought to emulate the great writers and citizens of the Roman world, and began to build villas to pursue the good life according to classical rules. This new villa culture produced some of the most significant architects of the West, such as Andrea Palladio whose World Heritage listed villas in the Veneto have inspired generations of architects.

FROM MEDIEVAL TO MODERN ITALY Hundreds (and sometimes thousands) of years of constant inhabitation have produced wondrous cities, with medieval cobblestoned laneways and Renaissance palaces forming the backdrop for that uniquely Italian modern style. Find out what’s behind the doors too, whether it’s an altarpiece by Bellini or one of Italy’s many fine collections of modern art. Detailed itinerary

Included meals are shown with the letters B, L and D.

Tuesday April 3 Arrive The tour starts this afternoon, when we meet in the hotel for a walking tour of the historic centre of Florence, from the Ponte Above: the Vecchio, through the medieval streets of the Oltrarno with their artisan workshops, and the palaces of some of Florence’s great Below: Benozzo Gozzoli’s Procession of the Magi, in the private Renaissance families, which now house galleries, designer chapel of the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi, and Michelangelo’s Pieta, in the recently renovated Museo del Opera del Duomo in Florence flagships and boutiques. In the early evening, we enjoy a welcome dinner. Overnight Florence (D)

Wednesday April 4 The Renaissance in Florence From the 1200-1500s Florence was one of the economic and cultural powerhouses of Europe and its citizens - from Dante, to Donatello, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Machiavelli and the Medici - revolutionised banking, literature, politics and art. After a background talk in the hotel, we explore the genesis of the Italian Renaissance. Our morning walking tour includes a visit to and , which has extensive frescoes by Masaccio, Uccello, Ghirlandaio and Lippi. Seeing these works in their original context gives us a better understanding of the social and political relationships behind Renaissance art, and the particularly complex demands placed on artists. In the afternoon, we have a guided visit of the 15th century palace of the Medici, with its jewel like chapel painted by Benozzo Gozzoli, and their local , San Lorenzo – a beautiful church designed by Brunelleschi, with works by Donatello and Verrocchio inside, and the Medici Chapels nearby, with tombs by Michelangelo. Evening at leisure. Overnight Florence (B)

Thursday April 5 Sculpture and the The of Florence’s is symbolic of the confidence, energy and audacity of Renaissance Florentines. When work started on the new cathedral in 1290s, the architects knew they did not yet have the technology to span the space, but proceeded nonetheless. Brunelleschi’s dome was an awe inspiring achievement both in terms of engineering and aesthetics. But the dome was just one part of a much larger project to represent the greatness of Florence and its citizens. After a morning talk, we explore the sculpture and architecture of Renaissance Florence. We visit the for its excellent collection of sculpture and the recently renovated Museo del Opera del Duomo, which has Ghiberti’s extraordinary ‘Gates of Paradise’ and a beautiful Pieta by Michelangelo. In the late afternoon, we ascend to the terraces of cathedral. Evening at leisure. Overnight Florence (B)

Friday April 6 Villas and Fiesole

According to classical authorities, one must have a place to go to relax just outside the city and high enough to provide respite from the summer heat. The hills to the north of Florence provided exactly this, and the villas have been built here since the 1400s. This morning we visit , whose 18th- century formal gardens take perfect advantage of the views across the Tuscan countryside, and Villa Le Balze, whose gardens were designed by Cecil Pincent. After lunch at Villa San Michele, an excellent and exclusive restaurant, we visit the town of Fiesole, with its Etrsucan and Roman ruins, and picturesque views over Florence and the countryside. Evening at leisure. Overnight Florence (B, L)

Saturday April 7 and the Uffizi When the Medici took control of the city in the 1500s, they set about radically transforming it in their image. The Palazzo Vecchio was transformed from a republican city hall to a ducal private residence, and it is lavishly decorated with scenes from history and mythology. The administration of their duchy was moved into the custom-built Uffizi next door. The Uffizi has undergone a lot of changes over the years; most recently it has been renovated and enlarged, so that there is more than double the amount of space to display their treasures. After a talk in the morning, we have a guided visit of the Palazzo Vecchio, including its secret passages, usually unavailable to the public. Above: a view of the parterre at Villa Gamberaia. Above: the In the early afternoon, we have a guided visit of the Uffizi, Romanesque cathedral of Prato followed by time explore the galleries independently. Evening at leisure. Overnight Florence. (B) Below: Theodora, the accomplished Empress of the Byzantine Sunday April 8 Empire, from the 6th-century World Heritage listed mosaics of Ravenna Prato We depart by coach this morning for Ravenna. Our first stop on route the Medici villa at Poggio ai Caiano. This villa was designed for Lorenzo the Magnificent in the late 1400s and completed by his son, Pope Leo X. In addition to being an excellent example of , it has well- preserved 16th-century frescoes by Pontormo and Andrea del Sarto. We continue by coach to Prato, a well-preserved and quiet medieval city that has thrived on cloth production. After touring the historic centre, we break for lunch, and then continue to Ravenna, arriving in the late afternoon. Dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight Ravenna (B, D)

Monday April 9 Ravenna Ravenna was the capital of successive Roman, Ostrogothic and Byzantine empires in Italy and each has left a permanent testament to itself in the city. The changing styles and values of each ruler is most apparent in the World Heritage listed mosaics of Ravenna, which move from the naturalism of Roman mosaics in Sant Appolinare in Classe, to the imperial Byzantine style of Justinian in San Vitale, itself one of the most influential buildings of Late Antiquity. After a talk in the hotel, we explore the wonders of Ravenna. Later afternoon and evening at leisure. Overnight, Ravenna. (B)

Tuesday 10 April Villas of Palladio Palladio’s villas have influenced architects from Inigo Jones to Thomas Jefferson and beyond. His villas in the Veneto are among his finest and best preserved works showcase why his careful use of proportions and balance between beauty and utility has been so perennially popular. We depart Ravenna by coach today. Our first stop is the Villa Barbaro at Maser, one of Palladio’s finest creations, and equally well known for the frescoes by Veronese inside. After lunch at the villa – which still produces its own wine – we continue to the Villa Emo, perhaps the most perfectly conceived and executed of Palladio’s villas. in the mid-afternoon, we continue to Venice. Evening at leisure. Overnight Venice. (B, L)

Wednesday 11 April Venice and San Marco Venice’s unique location, history, and form of government have made it a place like no other. This morning we have a guided tour of the Doge’s Palace, whose interior was decorated by Titian, Tintoretto and others in the 1500s. After a break for lunch, we visit San Giorgio Maggiore, the church by Palladio that dominates the view across the lagoon from San Marco. In the early evening, we meet again for a private, after-hours visit of Saint Marks Basilica. The basilica will be illuminated specially for us, so we can enjoy it in all its glory, free from the usual crowds. Overnight, Venice. (B)

Thursday 12 April Islands of Venice The Venice Lagoon was settled by groups of refugees from nearby Roman cities, who were fleeing the destruction and danger of various barbarian incursions. The earliest settlements were scattered across the lagoon, and some remain today as quieter, smaller island communities with their own identities. Today we travel to Murano, famed for its glass production, and then to Burano, a small island best known for its colourful fishing houses and lacemaking. After a break for lunch, we visit Torcello, one of the earliest and most significant settlements in the lagoon. Torcello’s former significance is reflected in its cathedral and mosaics inspired by the Greek world, and Santa Fosca, 12th century church built in a Greek cross as a mausoleum for two saints from Roman Ravenna. Returning to Venice, evening at leisure. Overnight Venice (B)

Friday 13 April Renaissance Art in Venice Venice has traditionally bridged eastern and western Mediterranean and European cultures and this is reflected in its art, which is traditionally a fusion of influences, little seen outside of Venice. Venetian art and architecture, however, underwent extraordinary changes in the later fifteenth century, that led to the artists, architects, poets and musicians of subsequent centuries being among the most important in Europe: Titian, Palladio, Veronese, Tintoretto, Vivaldi and so forth. Today, we explore the art of Venice visiting the Accademia in the morning. In the afternoon we visit the Frari – home to magnificent works by Bellini, Titian and Donatello – and the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, which has two floors of monumental works by Tintoretto still in their original locations. Later afternoon and evening at leisure. Overnight Venice (B)

Saturday 14 April Modern art in Venice Venice reinvented itself in the 20th century as a city of art, following the success of the Venice Biennale – the first event of its kind. In addition to Italy’s first museum dedicated to modern art, the city has steadily become home to significant private collections. This morning we visit the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. The gallery, which has more than doubled in size since the 1990s, holds the extraordinary works collected by Peggy Guggenheim, who introduced Europe to American art, and several other collections that have been acquired or permanently loaned. In the afternoon, there is an optional visit to the Punta della Dogana – an 18th-century customs house converted into a museum by Tadao Ando to exhibit the contemporary art collection of Francois Pinault. This evening, we enjoy a farewell meal in a superior restaurant. Overnight Venice (B, D)

Sunday 15 April Departure The tour ends this morning. A transfer to the airport will be available for those on flights leaving in the early afternoon. (B)

Hotels

Hotels have been selected principally for their central location. All hotels are excellent 4-star properties that are within renovated palazzi. Florence, Hotel Berchielli (5 nights) This hotel in central Florence offers views across Arno and Ponte Vecchio. www.berchielli.it Ravenna, TBA (2 nights) Venice, Al Codega (5 nights) Hotel Al Codega is a quiet hotel, only a few minutes walk from Rialto and St Marco. www.hotelalcodega.com

Images clockwise from top left: from Paolo Vernoese's in Palladio's Villa Barbaro at Maser; Giovanni Bellini's stunning Madonna and child in the Church of the Frari; from the sculpture garden at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection; the Punta della Dogana, at the entrance to the Grand Canal; San Giorgio Maggiore, an iconic symbol of Venice designed by Palladio; the staggering mosaics of St Mark's Basilica, fully illuminated in the evening

The charming ‘streets’ of Venice

Tour Price Fitness Requirements

The tour price is $6,575 per person, twin share (land content of THIS tour only). The supplement for a single room is $1,575 per person. A non-refundable deposit of $500 per person is GRADE TWO required to secure a place on the tour. It is important both for you and for your fellow travellers that Tour Inclusions you are fit enough to be able to enjoy all the activities on this tour. To give you an indication of the level of physical fitness Included in the tour price required to participate on our tours, we have given them a star grading. Academy Travel’s tours tend to feature  All accommodation in selected 4-star hotels extended walking tours and site visits, which require greater  Breakfasts daily, plus lunches and dinners as noted in fitness than coach touring. We ask you to carefully consider the itinerary your ability to meet the physical demands of the tour.  Land travel by air-conditioned coach  Extensive tour notes Participation criteria for this tour  Background talks  Services of an Australian tour leader throughout tour This Grade Two tour is designed for people who lead active  All entrance fees to sites mentioned on itinerary lives and can comfortably participate in up to five hours of  Qualified local guides where appropriate physical activity per day on most days, including longer  Porterage of one piece of luggage at all hotels walking tours, challenging archaeological sites, climbing  Tips for all services included in the itinerary stairs, embarking and disembarking trains and/or boats, and a more demanding tour schedule with one night stops or Not included several internal flights.  International air fares, taxes and surcharges (see below) You should be able to:  Travel insurance  keep up with the group at all times  Meals not mentioned in itinerary  walk for 4-5 kilometres at a moderate pace with only  Expenses of a personal nature short breaks  stand for a reasonable length of time in galleries and Air travel OPTIONS museums The tour price quoted is for land content only. For this tour  tolerate uncomfortable climatic conditions such as cold, we recommend Emirates which has flights into Bologna and humidity and heat out of Venice from most Australian cities. Please contact us  walk up and down slopes for further information on competitive Economy, Business  negotiate steps and slopes on archaeological sites, and First Class airfares. Transfers between airport and hotel which are often uneven and unstable are included for all passengers booking their flights through  get on and off a large coach with steep stairs, train or Academy Travel. These may be group or individual boat unassisted, possibly with luggage transfers.  move your luggage a short distance if required Enquiries & bookings A note for older travellers For further information and to secure a place on this tour If you are more than 80 years old, or have restricted mobility, please contact Jemma York at Academy Travel on it is highly likely that you will find this itinerary challenging. 9235 0023 or 1800 639 699 (outside Sydney) or email You will have to miss several activities and will not get the [email protected] full value of the tour. Your booking will not be accepted until after you have contacted Academy Travel to discuss your situation and the exact physical requirements of this tour. Weather on Tour While we will do our best to reasonably accommodate the April is a very pleasant time to travel in Italy. Spring has physical needs of all group members, we reserve the right to arrived but the intense summer heat. Expect average refuse bookings if we feel that the requirements of the tour maximum temperatures of 20º – 23ºC during the day, and are too demanding for you and/or if local conditions mean minimums of 12º - 15ºC at night. It is reasonable to expect we cannot reasonably accommodate your condition. passing showers on a few days. Layering is the key to successful wardrobe choices and don’t forget a waterproof jacket and an umbrella.