This exceptional tour will begin in Florence, Italy: the “Birthplace of the Renaissance”. For six days and nights, we will explore in and around Florence, including excursions to Siena, San Gimignano, Lucca, as well as a full-day excursion visiting Renaissance masterpieces in the Tuscan countryside, all with expert local guides.
Our lovely and secluded luxury hotel is located steps from the city center of Florence. Guest accommodations include full breakfast buffet, wireless internet, computer in lobby, a library for guests’ use, and exceptional support by on site Private Italy Tours and front desk staff. The hotel’s perfectly situated location offers guests easy walks to the Piazzas Repubblica and Duomo, as well as all historic sites in the city center. Florence is a city to be explored at all hours of the day and night; from sunrises above the city at Piazzale Michelangelo to sunsets reflecting on the Ponte Vecchio from the Ponte Santa Trinita, the texture and gold-infused light of the city adds greater dimension to our guests’ experiences in this cradle of western art and history — bella Firenze!
Late afternoons on most days are open for guests to explore and shop in the city on their own. Recommendations for places to visit and/or places to find the best values in the city are available from Mark Gordon Smith, who will accompany this group of guests, as well as other Private Italy Tours staff.
Mid-day on our seventh day, we fly to Amsterdam for a six-day exploration of the arts of the Flemish Renaissance. We offer accommodation in the heart of the city, based in a luxury hotel in Amsterdam’s museum quarter. Day excursions to the Hague and Ghent will be balanced with visits to the Rembrandt Museum, the Rembrandt House, and other important collections of the Flemish Renaissance in Amsterdam. Our guests can explore and shop in these two gorgeous, historic cities. Join us for the rarest of opportunities — connect the art of the Italian and Flemish Renaissance through the art experts and the leadership of a full-time, multilingual tour leader.
Itinerary
Please note this itinerary indicates a typical tour with us. Some dates and destinations are subject to change to support the highest quality tour possible.
- Day One: Depart Asheville via bus. Guests joining the tour from across the United States depart from their home cities. Depart Charlotte.
- Day Two: Morning arrival and change of planes in Munich. Arrive in Florence. meet-and-greet at Florence airport by Private Italy Tours staff. Informal welcome dinner early in the evening.
- Day Three: Walking tour of city center including the Accademia (Michelangelo’s David), Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, and many other sites. Group lunch with open afternoon.
- Day Four: Siena day excursion with private guide. Afternoon visit to the walled city of San Gimignano.
- Day Five: Countryside art tour to include Passignano, Carmignano, and Marcialla. Group lunch during excursion.
- Day Six: Visit to the Uffizi and the Museum of the Works of the Duomo with private expert guide. Dinner with olive oil producer near Florence.
- Day Seven: Excursion to Lucca with private guide. Group lunch and open afternoon in the city.
- Day Eight: Transfer to Florence airport for mid-day flight to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. Private transfer to Amsterdam hotel.
- Day Nine: Morning private guided tour of the Rijksmuseum. Following lunch, visit to the Amstelhof Hermitage Museum with private guide.
- Day Ten: Early departure to Ghent Saint Peters station. Tour with expert guide to Sant Bavo’s Cathedral and Ghent Altarpiece. Guided tour of Museum voor Schone Kunsten and the Van Eyck Exhibit. Group lunch in the city before returning to Amsterdam.
- Day Eleven: Morning visit to Museum Het Rembrandthuis followed by an open afternoon to explore, shop, and visit. Optional visit to the Van Gogh Museum.
- Day Twelve: Morning departure to Den Haag. Visit Mauritshuis, Museum of Dutch Golden Age. Tours include works by Johannes Vermeer, Rembrandt, Frans Hals, Jan Steen, and more. Afternoon free for city center exploration.
- Day Thirteen: Reserved for guests to explore the city. Unique optional excursions offered.
- Day Fourteen: Morning departure from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
Details
Included Services
- Meet-and-Greet/Departure private transfers.
- Round trip bus transportation for Asheville area residents to/from the Charlotte airport on their departure day and return to Asheville at the conclusion of the tour. (Flights will be on Lufthansa German Airlines.)
- Private hotel double accommodations at centrally located luxury hotel in the city centers of Florence and Amsterdam. Single travelers will be accommodated in either Single rooms or Double rooms for single use depending upon availability.
- Meet-and-greet upon arrival at the Florence airport.
- Private dedicated guide for each day during the tour.
- Private dedicated transportation throughout the tour with our group.
- Bilingual staff.
- All museum and site entrance tickets.
Submit your review | |
I’ve traveled extensively all my life, to highly varied locations in some 75 countries on six continents. Some travel has been for business and other for pleasure. Over the years, I’ve taken a number of tours, also. And I can say without hesitation that Mark Smith is the single best tour guide I’ve ever encountered.
He is knowledgeable, professional, and highly skilled at creating and leading tours. His effective and nimble responses to the challenges posed by COVID are particularly impressive, revising trip planning and details on a real-time basis. I am, quite simply, in awe of his skills and energy levels.
I recommend Mark highly. You will LOVE his tours and enjoy his engaging personality.