October 2-11, 2025

The food, the art, the architecture—this city leaves nothing to be desired.

Settle in and immerse yourself in the beauty of Florence, the gateway to the greater Tuscany region. This hub of modern culture and influential history is lined with cobblestone streets, is overflowing with masterpieces from some of the greatest minds in Renaissance art, and is the place to go for world-renowned food, wine, and luxury writing instruments. Unpack only once and discover why the city shines as the Tuscan capital.

Overnight Flight | 1 night

Day 1: Travel day

Board your overnight flight to Florence today.

Florence | 8 nights

Day 2: Arrival in Florence

🍴 Included meal: Welcome dinner

Welcome to Italy! Settle into your hotel. Then, gather with your Tour Director and fellow group members at a mixer before enjoying a welcome dinner, served with beer or wine.

Day 3: Pitti Palace & Boboli Gardens

🍴Included meal: Breakfast

Cross the Arno River for a guided tour of the Pitti Palace, the Medici family’s 16th-century residence and world-class art museum and the marvelous Boboli Gardens, the first example of the Italian style garden.

• Tour the lavish Palatine Gallery, which displays artwork by notable figures such as Titian, Raphael and Rubens.
• View the the Modern Art Gallery, which holds 30 rooms of work that span from the 18th century to the early 20th century.
• Step outside to explore the hilltop Boboli Gardens, a grand space filled with grottos, large fountains, centuries-old oak trees, meadows, Camellias, and more.

Please note: Travelers should feel comfortable walking for 2 hours across gravel paths with some slopes in Boboli Gardens.

Day 4: Workshop day

🍴Included meal: Breakfast

This morning, gather together for a writer's workshop organized by your Group Coordinator before enjoying an afternoon of free time to get to know Florence at your leisure.

The rest of the day is yours to spend however you would like with plenty of free time. Perhaps take a day trip outside of the city to explore the various Tuscan hill towns like San Gimignano, Siena, or Chianti—each with their own medieval charm.

Day 5: Workshop day & local artisan visits

🍴Included meal: Breakfast

Start the day with a writer's workshop organized by your Group Coordinator before setting off this afternoon to visit Pineider and Stipula, artisans who craft leather goods and luxury fountain pens.

Want to spend the evening winding down like a local? Scope out a restaurant and order a bowl of ribollita, a hearty vegetable soup bulked up with chunks of bread. And don’t be afraid to linger: Dopopranzo—the concept of relaxing at your table with post-meal conversation—is welcome.

Day 6: Visconti tour & evening Tuscan cooking class

🍴Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Enjoy a morning visit to a local pen manufacturer Visconti arranged by your Group Coordinator.

This evening, join a local chef for a cooking class where you’ll make pasta by hand, create two kinds of bruschetta and craft tiramisu for dessert. Savor your creations for dinner with accompanying wines.

Day 7: Uffizi Gallery & Galleria dell'Accademia

🍴Included meal: Breakfast

Get to know Tuscany’s capital and the world’s greatest treasure trove of Renaissance art and architecture during visits to some of the most iconic art museums in the world.

• Begin at the Uffizi Gallery, home to some of the planet's most important paintings and sculptures.
• Spend the morning exploring the more than 40 rooms that are filled with not only masterpieces from the 13th and 18th centuries, but also rare, ancient artifacts that the Medici family collected.
• Head over to visit to the Accademia Gallery, home to a wealth of Renaissance masterpieces, including Michelangelo's iconic statue of David.

Day 8: Medieval Lucca & farmhouse lunch

🍴Included meals: Breakfast, Wine tasting, Tasting, Lunch

Visit the gorgeous Tuscan town of Lucca, famous for its Renaissance-era city walls, medieval churches, and awe-inspiring towers.

• Enjoy free time soaking in the town's history before making your way to the provincial town of Colle Verde in the Tuscan hills.
• Visit an authentic agriturismo, or farm stay, to learn about the process by which olive oil is extracted and refined.
• Enjoy a tasting of wine and olive oil produced right on the farm before sitting down to a lunch in the farmhouse to savor more locally made products.

Day 9: Free day in Florence & Villa Machiavelli farewell dinner

🍴Included meals: Breakfast, Farewell dinner

It's your last day in Florence! Spend a full free day discovering the city on your own. Need inspiration for your free day in town? Dive into the vibrant Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio, which has served locals for more than 100 years. Smaller than its more famous counterpart, the Mercato Centrale, its market stalls burst with fresh produce, regional delicacies, and traditional wares—all offering an intimate look at the local lifestyle.

For tonight’s farewell dinner, travel to the majestic Villa Machiavelli. Home to the famed diplomat Niccolò Machiavelli during his banishment from Florence in the early 1500s, this sprawling estate-turned-museum not only boasts an impressive history but also produces award-winning wines and olive oils. Enjoy a glass of Prosecco before touring the rooms of this hilltop villa, then celebrate your tour over a multi-course Italian dinner, served with local wine and unparalleled views of the Tuscan countryside.

Flight Home

Day 10: Departure

🍴Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.