Italy

Florence & Siena

Introduction

Florence is the great centre of Renaissance art and never fails to impress and these short tours give ample opportunity to see its treasures at times of the year that are more conductive to visiting the sights because the high temperatures and large crowds of the summer are avoided. The secular buildings of Florence such as the Ponte Vecchio and the Palazzo Vecchio and its sculptural masterpieces may seem to best typify this city but the vital contribution of the church is evident everywhere from the glory of Santa Croce to the humanity of Fra Angelico's frescoes in San Marco and the charitable institutions like that of the Ospedale degli Innocenti. One day is also spent in Siena, the great rival of Florence, where the magnificence of its religious and secular buildings were an outward sign of the power and success of the city. The Palazzo pubblico and the Cathedral are still today some of the most stunning buildings in Europe and Siena can also boast that it produced the great saints Catherine and Bernadine.

Basic Itinerary

DAY ONE - THURSDAY 6TH NOVEMBER

London or Regional Airports - Pisa - Florence

Morning flight to Pisa and then we travel by coach to Florence (90 minutes) and check in to our centrally hotel. There will be time for a short orientation tour, taking in the Cathedral, Ponte Vecchio and view of the River Arno.

DAY TWO - FRIDAY 7TH NOVEMBER

Florence

After breakfast we have a tour by a local guide of the Cathedral and the outside of the baptistery with 'Gates of Paradise', passing the 'home' of Dante and the church where he first saw Beatrice, and on to the franciscan church of Santa Croce, where apart from the tombs of the famous, there are two chapels with frescoes by Giotto and some lovely medieval stained glass. After time for lunch we visit the Uffizi Gallery (admission included).

DAY THREE - SATURDAY 8TH NOVEMBER

Siena

After breakfast we leave for Siena (75 minutes). On arrival there will be a guided tour by a local guide to include the church of San Domenico (where St Catherine's head is kept!), the patronal home of St Catherine as well as the Cathedral and Piazza del Campo (not forgetting St Bernadine of Siena, who used to preach here). We have some time at leisure in the afternoon before returning to Florence. Dinner is at choice tonight.

DAY FOUR - SUNDAY 9TH NOVEMBER

Florence

We walk from the hotel to the Museo San Marco (admission included), once a Dominican monastery where both Savonarola and Fra' Angelico were one time residents. It is still possible to see Savonarola's cell where he awaited his death at the stake. Of course the most striking thing about San Marco is Fra' Angelico's personal interior decoration with the piéce de résistance being the 'Annunciation' greeting you at the top of the stairs. Walk back to the hotel by way of the pIazza Santa Annunziata and San Lorenzo market area. This afternoon will be at leisure. Today we will have the opportunity to attand Catholic Mass or Anglican Eucharist.

DAY FIVE - MONDAY 10TH NOVEMBER

Florence - Pisa - London or regional airports

Transfer to Pisa Airport for our return flight to London or regional airports.

Travel Dates and Cost:

6th November 2008 - 10th November 2008
Five days
£499

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Terms of Payment:

Deposit of £90 on booking (Plus insurance if required). Balance is payable two months before the departure date.

THIS TRIP INCLUDES:

UK and Italy departure taxes. Scheduled return flights: Stansted - Pisa, East Midlands - Pisa, Bournemouth - Pisa. Transfers by coach or train, Pisa airport to Florence and return. Four nights accommodation at a comfotable hotel located in central Florence in double or twin-bedded rooms with private facilities. Buffet breakfast each day. Guided orientatio tour of Florence, guided tour of Siena. Entry to Uffizi, Museo San Marco and all churches. Services of a Pax Travel tour escort. Porterage at the hotel.

EXTRAS:

Travel insurance at £21 unless insured elsewhere. Single room supplement £88 for the four nights (Limited availability). All food and drink on board the flights. Lunches and Dinners. Supplement for return scheduled flights from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Belfast to Stansted at £60 per person.

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS AND WORSHIP:

Ecumenical