DIVINE TUSCANY Castles, Museums and Dante's Train

Duration: 3 days 2 nights

 

 

 

DAY 1: FOSDINOVO CASTLE - PISA

Departure for Liguria and visit of the Castle of Fosdinovo, with its battlements and high towers. The Castle has a considerable historical and architectural importance and boasts rooms furnished and frescoed at the end of the 1800s: the entrance hall, the dining room with the large eighteenth-century fireplace and the 17th century pharmacy ceramics, the throne room, the large hall with the adjoining lounges and the trap room with the torture room below. It is said that from this very room the Marquise Cristina Pallavicini, an evil and lustful woman, eliminated her lovers by making them fall into the trap door located at the foot of the bed. And the pitfalls were a prerogative of the castle. In the oldest eastern tower is "Dante's room" where, according to the tradition, the great poet slept when he was hosted in the castle during his exile. The frescoes in the large central hall depict Dante's ancient friendship with the Malaspinas. Free lunch. Departure for Pisa, meeting with the guide and visit of the city with the famous Piazza dei Miracoli hosting the Cathedral, the Baptistery, the Monumental Cemetery and the famous Leaning Tower; the Renaissance Piazza dei Cavalieri, via di Borgo Stretto, the picturesque Piazza delle Vettovaglie, the medieval Torre del Campano and the Lungarni where, next to the churches of the Holy Sepulcher, Santa Maria della Spina and San Paolo a Ripa d'Arno, the most important city palaces including Palazzo Gambacorti, Palazzo Lanfranchi, Palazzo Medici, Palazzo Toscanelli and Palazzo Reale. Departure for Montecatini, hotel accommodation, dinner and overnight stay.

 

DAY 2: FLORENCE

Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Florence. Meeting with the guide (optional) and tour of the city, with Palazzo Pitti, Ponte Vecchio, Palazzo Vecchio, symbol of the civil power of the city, and Piazza della Signoria with the Loggia dei Lanzi, a real open-air museum that houses numerous sculptural masterpieces , the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, the work of Fra Jacopo Talenti and Leon Battista Alberti inside which extraordinary masterpieces are preserved including the Trinity by Masaccio and the Crucifix by Giotto. Free lunch. Continuation of the visit with the Duomo of Florence, the famous Cathedral dedicated to Santa Maria del Fiore whose construction was attended by the most important artists of the century including Giotto, who built the bell tower, and Brunelleschi, author of the dome. At the end of the visit, return by train to Montecatini. Dinner and overnight.

 

DAY 3: DANTE’S TRAIN - RAVENNA

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Borgo San Lorenzo and boarding on Dante's train: a unique experience aboard a historical train that crosses the heart of the Tuscan-Romagnolo Appenino to discover the lands that Dante visited on his journey between Florence and Ravenna. An enchanting journey between famous cities and small medieval villages. Dante's Train represents a unique and extremely innovative tourist experience at national level: the historical train ideally connects the places that have marked Dante's life, allowing guests to "walk" this itinerary discovering an unknown part of Italy . Arrival in Ravenna and free time for lunch. In the afternoon, visit of Ravenna, the capital of mosaics, a unique city for its history and its monuments, eight of which are recognized as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Optional guided tour of the city center, full of shops and pretty cafès.  Return trip.

 

TOUR INCLUDES:

Breakfast and dinner in 3/4 hotel

Ticket for Dante's train

 

OPTIONAL:

Transfer/Flights

Guides