1 Mon., 5/24
Travel from home to the airport, join group on a scheduled International flight to Italy
 
2. Tues., 5/25
Morning arrival at Leonardo DaVinci International Airport, Rome, travel to Florence, pick-up apartment keys and begin life in Italy.
 
3 Wed., 5/26
Rest, recuperation and unpacking. PM-Orientation. Meet at the train station. Tour to the Central Market for food shopping then to Fuji Studio for orientation and discussion of Program, introductions and safety lecture. (click on the green text for a picture or web site)
 
4 Thur., 5/27
AM-Meet at Fuji Studio, then a tour of train station and information on how to travel using public transportation. Walking tour from train station to the Duomo, Post Office, banks and American Express. Rest of afternoon free or visit monthly flea market. PM- Evening Art History Lecture with guest art historian from Harvard University.
 
5 Friday, 5/28
AM- Our tour begins with a visit to the church of Santa Maria Novella, with frescoes by Filippo Lippi, Paolo Uccello, Masaccio's Holy Trinity and a wooden Crucifix by Brunelleschi. We'll continue on to the Romanesque church of San Lorenzo with remodeling by Brunelleschi and pulpits by Donatello. We'll also see the old Sacristy and Biblioteca (library) with the Mannerist stairway by Michelangelo. PM at leisure or sketching of Central Market area and the church of San Lorenzo.
 
6 Saturday, 5/29
Free Day
 
7 Sunday 5/30
Free Day
 
8 Monday 5/31
AM- Field trip to the Duomo, Florence's most famous landmark and Europe's third largest cathedral. An arduous but amazing climb through Brunelleschi's remarkable double dome leads us to the top with its aerial view of Florence and the Arno valley. We'll complete the morning with sketching from the top of the Duomo. PM- We'll visit the Duomo Museum and see a sculptured Pieta by Michelangelo, Donatello's and Della Robbia's Cantorie, Donatello's Mary Magdalen plus Pisano's original door panels. Continuing to the Baptistery we will view its bronze doors by Pisano and Ghiberti and the 13th century mosaics of the "Last Judgment." Sketching around the piazza & bell tower (campanile).
 
9 Tuesday 6/01
AM-Field trip to the Gothic Church of San Marco. Experience the spiritually moving frescoes by Fra Angelico, paintings by Fra Bartolomeo, Ghirlandaio and others. Around the corner we'll visit the Accademia, home of Michelangelo's David and his unfinished Slaves. PM- Study around P.za Santa Maria Novella, and Alberti's ideal facade. PM- Enjoy an evening of Wine Tasting. Sample some of Chianti's finest wines under the direction of a certified instructor. Learn what to look for and how to test quality wines.
 
10 Wednesday 6/02
Lecture, art-making or critiques in the AM. PM- We'll tour the world renowned Uffizi Art Galleries. See Italian masterpieces from the Gothic to the Baroque by such artists as Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Masaccio, Uccello, Fra Angelico, Giotto, Filippo Lippi, Botticelli, Raffaello, and Caravaggio.
 
11 Thursday, 6/03
Our first day-long excursion will be by train to Pisa. We'll visit the "recycled" Romanesque Duomo, Baptistery and then see the amazing frescoes at the Cemetery. PM- Tour the Duomo Museum. Complete the day with visits to other important churches nearby.
 
12 Friday 6/04
A free day that may be spent with visits to the Church of Santa Croce or travel to other sites in Italy for the weekend. Another option (fee) is the Cinque Terre and a beach on the Mediterranean.
 
13 Saturday 6/05
Free Day
 
14 Sunday, 6/06
Free Day
 
15 Monday, 6/07
Lecture, art-making or critiques in the AM. We cross the river in the PM to visit the Romanesque Benedictine Monastery and cemetery of San Miniato al Monte. The views from here are spectacular.
 
16 Tuesday 6/08
Our second day-long excursion will take us through the beautiful Tuscan countryside to Siena. We'll first visit the Church of St. Katherine and see the shrine that contains the mummified head of this renowned Saint. For the energetic who love aerial views, the Etruscan design for the layout of this hilltop town can easily be seen from atop the Bell Tower (or opt to visit one of several Museums). Explore the back streets on a leisurely stroll to the Gothic Cathedral with frescoes by Luca Signorelli. Spend time sketching in Siena's main piazza. PM- Continue our tour to the Medieval hill town of San Gimignano, the city of towers.
 
17 Wednesday 6/09
AM- We'll walk across the gold merchants bridge, the Ponte Vecchio, to the Church of Santa Felicita to see paintings by Pontormo. we continue on to the Pitti Palace. We'll visit the Galleria Palatina, with works by Raffaello, Giorgione, Tiziano, Rubens and others. We will then visit the Galleria d'Arte Moderna. PM- An afternoon stroll and study in the romantic Boboli Gardens behind the Palace.
 
18 Thursday 6/10
AM-An early morning train will take us on our next excursion to the city of Venice. After room assignments at our hotel we'll start our tours. Highlights for the day will be boat rides along the Grand Canal to visit the major exhibits of the Accademia and the Peggy Guggenheim Museum.
 
19 Friday 6/11
AM- Tour of Venice continues. Day's highlights includes the Church of San Marco and the Doge Palace. PM- Afternoon is free to explore the city.
 
20 Saturday 6/12
Free day in Venice. Return to Florence that evening by train.
 
21 Sunday 6/13
Free day.
 
22. Monday, 6/14 AM-
AM- A sack lunch day. We'll take a panoramic bus ride to the Etruscan hilltown of Fiesole. View a contemporary art exhibit, then wander through the ruins of an ancient Roman village, baths, and amphitheater. We'll then climb the cobblestone road to the hilltop for a breath taking view of Florence. PM- Landscape sketching of the views of Florence, the hills or the old Franciscan monastery above the town.
 
23 Tuesday 6/15
AM- A morning walk to the National Museum (Bargello). This Medieval Palace now contains priceless sculptures with works by Michelangelo and his students, Cellini, Giambologna and others. It also contains a Museum of Minor Arts, with carved ivory, jewelry, tapestry, armor and ceramics. PM- A hike up to the impregnable Fort Belvedere for an afternoon viewing the exhibitions and observing the panorama of the Arno Valley and its' villa-studded hill tops is an option for you.
 
24 Wednesday 6/16
Start the day with a visit to the Medici Chapels. See incredible inlaid stone work and Michelangelo's renowned marble sculptures known as Dawn & Dusk and Day & Night. Return to the studio for group critique. PM- We'll take a bus into the southern hills to visit the Romanesque Benedictine Monastery and cemetery of San Miniato, and discover this outstanding Romanesque church.
 
25 Thursday 6/17
Final personal reviews and critiques or free day. Clean apartment and finish packing for return to USA.
PM- We'll all gather for a big farewell ice cream party and slide show.
 
26 Friday 6/18
Last day in Florence. Apartments cleaned and checked.
 
27 Saturday 6/19
Our fourth excursion begins with an early morning bus ride to Rome. After being assigned rooms at our hotel the Rome Tour will begin. Highlights will include: Piazza Navona and Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers, Caravaggio's paintings at the Church San Luigi dei Francesi, the Pantheon, great ancient Roman monument. Also the famous Trevi fountain, something that nobody should miss if you want to go back to Rome in the future, and the Spanish Steps with the beautiful view of Trinita' dei Monti.
 
28 Sunday 6/20
Second day in Rome. A visit to the sites of Ancient Roman history, the Capitoline Hill, Trajan's Column and market and of course the Colosseum. the afternoon is free to visit places of your choice.
 
29 Monday 6/21
AM- In the morning visit the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. In the afternoon, St. Peter Basilica
 
30, Tuesday, 6/22
Leave by early morning bus to airport. Return flight to USA, cross International Time Zones and arrive home the same day.
 
 
 
ARTIS Reserves the right to add to, subtract from or alter the daily schedule.