Florence and the Medici's
7 Days / 6 Nights
Day 1
Arrive in Florence. Check into hotel. Dinner and overnight.
Day 2: The Medici family. The Mugello.
Breakfast in hotel. Today you will be introduced to this great family which
traces its origins back to the Mugello area, 30 miles north of Florence in the
Appenine hills. Departure for the Villa di Cafaggiolo, built by Michelozzo,
one of the first Renaissance architects. It is the first Medici villa that shows
the transition from a fortified villa to a country house. Visit to the charming
Bosco ai Frati monastery, also designed by Michelozzo for Cosimo il Vecchio
and still inhabited by monks. Inside one can see the original kitchen with all
its furnishings, and in the church you can see the world famous Crucifix by
Donatello. Lunch in a typical trattoria, renowned for its genuine Tuscan dishes.
In the afternoon, on the way back to Florence, visit the Villa Di Pratolino
Park, the last villa built for the Medici family. Return to Florence. Dinner
and overnight.
Day 3: The Medici in Florence, Cosimo il Vecchio.
Breakfast in hotel. Visit the Palazzo Medici Riccardi built by Michelozzo
for Cosimo il Vecchio de Medici. It is the first example of a Renaissance palace,
with its typical large stones and inside cloister. Visit the Convento di San
Marco commissioned by Cosimo il Vecchio for Michelozzo and similar to the Bosco
ai Frati monastery. It is enriched by a wonderful library, which contains manuscripts
from the 14th to the 18th century and is decorated with enchanting Beato Angelico's
frescoes. After lunch, visit the church of San Lorenzo, just outside the Palazzo
Medici, commissioned to Brunelleschi by Cosimo il Vecchio. It is the first example
of a true Renaissance church in Florence. Late afternoon time at leisure. Dinner
and overnight.
Day 4: The Medici Villas surrounding Florence
Breakfast in hotel. Departure to visit the most famous Medici villas built
when the family was at the height of its power and glory. In these villas one
finds a new type of architecture that was to be used everywhere in Italy during
the Renaissance. Visit the Villa Medicea di Poggio a Caiano, a 15th century
jewel built by Giuliano da San Gallo for Lorenzo il Magnifico and completed
during the Pontificate of Leo X Medici in the 16th century. Inside is decorated
with frescoes of Andrea del Sarto, Pontormo and their followers. Visit the Villa
Medicea La Ferdinanda, built in the late 16th century as a hunting lodge for
Granduke Ferdinando I de Medici by Buontalenti. Visit the Etruscan Archaeological
Museum located inside the villa. Lunch in typical restaurant close to the villa.
Return to Florence. Late afternoon time at leisure.. Dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Cosimo I. The most powerful Medici.
After breakfast, visit the Palazzo Vecchio. The guide will show you all the
modifications made by Cosimo I de Medici, Granduke of Tuscany to the world renowned
square (the statues, including Michelangelo's David) and to the medieval Palazzo
Vecchio (the frescoes of the Salone del 500, the apartments of Cosimo and those
of his wife Eleonora di Toledo). In the afternoon, visit the Pitti Palace (the
magnificent private residence of Cosimo and Eleonora de Medici and their descendants)
and the Boboli gardens, the first example of an Italian style garden. In late
afternoon, a short stroll in the Oltramo area to discover its charming antique,
carpenter and artisan shops where you will be able to buy unique hand-made and
precious pieces and Via Maggio, where Florence's most famous and expensive antique
shops are located. Dinner in a typical restaurant outside of Florence, where
you can taste the famous "fiorentina" steak and other Tuscan dishes.
Dinner and overnight.
Day 6: A Day in Unknown Florence
After breakfast, visit Marino Marini Museum, located in the old San Pancrazio
Church, in the heart of Florence, which has been modernized to exhibit the works
of this famous 20th century Tuscan sculptor. In the afternoon, you can visit
the very special Museo delle Pietre Dure, which contains many ancient hand-made
objects by precious stones, like porphyry, coral, marbles, lapis lazuli, etc.
This museum shows a very special Florentine craft, developed by the Medici family.
Dinner and overnight.
Day 7
Breakfast in hotel and departure
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