GRAND TOUR OF ITALY MARCH 21 – APRIL 7, 2017 TOUR LEADER: MICHAEL TURNER

NAPLES, ROME, ASSISI, SIENA, FLORENCE & VENICE

Overview On this 18-day tour we travel from the splendour of the ancient Roman world, through the atmospheric medieval and Renaissance towns of central Italy, home to some of the greatest masterpieces of the Renaissance, to the remarkable art and architecture of Venice. The itinerary is filled with exclusive events not normally available on group tours. In Naples we have a private boat tour to the island of Capri and the spectacular Amalfi Coast. In Rome you will be among the privileged few to make a private, after-hours visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. In Venice we enjoy a private VIP visit to St Mark’s Cathedral and a farewell lunch at the legendary Locanda Cipriani on the island of Torcello. We also take you away from the tourist crowds by visiting some lesser-known gems of Italy, such as the lush countryside of Umbria with masterpieces by Perugino, Lippi and Gozzoli in its medieval towns. This tour offers a broad range of experiences, with visits to archaeological sites, galleries, museums and churches balanced with time to relax, observe everyday life and sample the culinary delights and regional wines of the Italian peninsula. It is ideal for those wanting more than an overview of Italy’s remarkable history and culture, and perfect for those wanting the personalised service of small-group travel at a relaxed pace. Our carefully selected hotels - four and five-star establishments, in central locations in Florence, Rome and Venice, a panoramic location on the Bay of Naples, and a converted farm villa in Umbria - allow you to enjoy all the comforts of modern life while exploring more than two millennia of Italian history and culture.

Your tour leader Michael Turner is an antiquarian and art and garden historian. He graduated from the University of Sydney in 1999 with the University Medal for Classical Archaeology.

Since 2005 he has been Senior Curator of the Nicholson Museum at the University of Sydney, home to the oldest and largest collection of antiquities in the southern hemisphere. Michael is also editor of MUSE, the Sydney University Museums magazine.

In 2009 Michael was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in London and since 2014 has been a member of the English Historic Gardens Society. Michael has appeared regularly on television, radio, and in the press. In 2012, he was co-presenter of the 20-part ABC series Extraordinary Curiosities and has been a featured guest on the ABC’s In Conversation with Richard Fidler.

Grand Tour Of Italy Naples, Rome, Assisi, Siena, Florence & Venice

Tour dates: March 21 – April 7, 2017

Tour leader: Michael Turner

Tour Price: $8,250 per person, twin share

Single Supplement: $2,200 for sole use of double room

Booking deposit: $500 per person

Recommended airline: Emirates

Maximum places: 20

Itinerary: Naples (4 nights), Rome (3 nights), San Luca, Montefalco (4 nights), Florence (3 nights), Venice (3 nights)

Date published: May 17, 2016

Enquiries and bookings

For further information and to secure a place on this tour please contact Hannah Kleboe at Academy Travel on 9235 0023 or 1800 639 699 (outside Sydney) or email hannah@academytravel.com.au

The splendour of baroque Rome: Scipione Borghese, Caravaggio and Bernini

In 17th-century Rome, parties were all the rage. Princes of the Church, the aristocracy and even wealthy merchants-made-good built small suburban villas expressly for the purpose of hosting parties, demonstrating their hospitality, currying or returning favours and, of course, showing their impeccable taste. Accordingly, the decoration of party villas – from mythologies in ceiling frescoes, to the placement of art objects or the design of surrounding gardens – was highly important.

The Borghese family, whose meteoric rise is exemplified by Pope Paul V and his cardinal-nephew Scipione, is an excellent case for how party villas and art patronage consolidated the political and cultural position of a dynasty. From 1606, Cardinal Scipione worked on a villa to display his collections of antiquities, paintings and sculptures. Until 1902 – when the building, its collection and extensive parklands were sold to the government – the Villa Borghese remained within the family. Some key sculptures were sold to the French in the 19th century (Prince Camillo Borghese was Napoleon’s brother-in-law), but the majority of Cardinal Scipione’s collection is still in situ.

The Cardinal was a great patron of two key artists. One was Caravaggio, the mercurial painter who consorted with thugs and courtesans but was acknowledged as one of the most innovative artists of his day. Caravaggio arrived in Rome in the 1590s as a still life painter, but found a significant patron in Cardinal Francesco Del Monte. His dramatic canvases, with their flashes of light and dark (chiaroscuro), faithful attention to the everyday and emotive renditions of holy stories, increasingly resonated with viewers. But Caravaggio always walked a fine line and ultimately never found a personal equilibrium – he fled Rome in 1606 after killing a rival on a tennis court and he died in exile.

Cardinal Borghese’s other favourite was Gian Lorenzo Bernini, whose virtuosity and attention to life’s drama are perhaps all he had in common with Caravaggio. As a teenager Bernini’s skill was feted by the pope and he was considered Michelangelo’s successor. Deeply religious, he found a way to work expressively within the Counter-Reformation Church’s rules and produced some of his most impressive sculptures for Cardinal Scipione’s villa. His Rape of Persephone, showing Hades’ abduction of Ceres’ daughter, and Apollo and Daphne, where a nymph metamorphoses into a laurel tree to escape the god’s unwanted attentions, were commissioned for the villa and displayed here. It is a highlight of any visit to Rome to see these and other masterpieces of Cardinal Scipione’s art collection inside the Villa Borghese.

The Borghese Gallery in Rome, housed in the former Villa Borghese Pinciana, is rated as one of the world’s top 10 small museums

Tour Highlights Private evening visit to the Sistine Chapel Private boat tour of Capri and the Amalfi Coast Private after hours visit to St Mark’s Cathedral in Venice Lunch at Locanda Cipriani on Torcello on the Venetian

lagoon Extended visits to Pompeii and Herculaneum The Borghese Gallery in Rome, home to magnificent

sculptures by Gian Lorenzo Bernini Four nights in Umbria, visiting Assisi, Spoleto and small

hill towns Day trip to the magnificent medieval city of Siena Three nights in Florence, visiting major galleries and

learning about the city’s dynamic medieval and Renaissance history

The superb 6th-8th century mosaics of Ravenna Three nights in Venice, visiting major sites and relaxing in

the unrivalled scenery of the canal city Illustrated background talks on Italian history and culture

Above: the Sistine Chapel deserves time for quiet contemplation

Above: the Marina Grande, main port of Capri

Above: detail of the 6th-century mosaics in Ravenna

Above: a section of the Roman Forum

Detailed itinerary Included meals are shown by the letters B, L and D.

Tuesday March 21 Arrival

Tour leader Michael Turner will meet the group at Rome airport to commence the tour. Travel together by coach to Naples. Light dinner and overnight in Naples (D)

Wednesday March 22 NAPLES and Herculaneum

The centre of Naples is filled with palaces, churches, convents, monasteries and museums, offering an abundance of sights. Today we venture out into this spectacular city, walking from vibrant Spaccanapoli, the heart of the ancient Greek city, to the 18th-century Palazzo Reale. In the afternoon we head to the seaside town of Herculaneum, which was covered over by Vesuvius in 79 AD. We return to Naples by coach for our welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight Naples (B, D)

Thursday March 23 AMALFI COAST BY PRIVATE BOAT

The Costiera Amalfitana is one of Italy’s most scenic coastlines. Steep limestone cliffs meet a crystal clear sea, providing an unforgettable experience. We spend the day cruising these stunning waters by private boat, stopping to visit the island of Capri. Our boat tour ends at Amalfi, the coast’s largest town, where we admire its lovely 10th-century cathedral with bronze doors cast in Constantinople. We return to Naples by coach. Overnight Naples (B)

Friday March 24 NAPLES AND Pompeii

This morning we visit the Palace of Capodimonte in the hills above Naples, a world-class art gallery containing paintings by Raphael, Titian, El Greco and Caravaggio. We then travel to the ruins of Pompeii, where we visit the forum, theatres, temples, shops and houses which make Pompeii such a compelling window on everyday life in the ancient world, and perhaps the most famous archaeological site in the world. Overnight Naples (B)

Saturday March 25 Archaeological Museum – Travel to Rome

The National Archaeological Museum is home to an outstanding collection of Roman antiquities, including sculptures, paintings, mosaics and everyday items found at Pompeii and Herculaneum. Afterwards we head to Rome, where we have dinner at a local restaurant close to our hotel in central Rome. Overnight Rome (B, D)

The stunning limestone cliffs of the Amalfi coastline (above) Shops and houses of all kinds once opened onto the bustling streets of Herculaneum and Pompeii; the casts of disaster victims from Pompeii (below) provide a window into the everyday life of sites like these

Sunday March 26 Classical Rome

We begin our time in Rome exploring the ancient heart of the Roman Empire, with a walking tour of the Colosseum and Forum. After lunch we visit the excellent Capitoline Museums, containing a collection of ancient sculpture as well as Renaissance paintings. Overnight Rome (B)

Monday March 27 Renaissance Rome – Vatican museums

Today our walking tour begins in the atmospheric Campo dei Fiori. From here we continue to the Piazza Navona, adorned with Bernini’s Four Rivers fountain, before heading to the Pantheon, a Roman temple intact from the 2nd century AD. Following an afternoon at leisure, we gather in the hotel and then head to the Vatican for our private viewing of the Sistine Chapel. Free from the hordes which usually crowd the chapel, we will have two hours inside the Vatican Museums and plenty of time to contemplate Michelangelo’s masterpiece. Dinner after our visit will provide an excellent opportunity to discuss what we have seen. Overnight Rome (B, D)

Tuesday March 28 Galleria Borghese – travel to Umbria

This morning we visit the Borghese Gallery, dating from the 17th century, which contains the collection of the aristocratic Borghese family, as well as superb classical works and fine paintings by Titian, Caravaggio and many others. The gallery is renowned for its baroque sculptures by Bernini, such as the astounding Apollo and Daphne. Following our visit, we travel to Umbria, where we will visit a local vineyard. We arrive at San Luca, near Montefalco, in the early evening and have dinner in our hotel. Overnight San Luca (B, D)

Wednesday March 29 Spoleto and the Nera Valley

This morning we visit the nearby town of Spoleto for a guided tour then head for the nearby valley of the Nera River. Nestled in the foothills of the Apennines, this quiet valley is a long way from the tourist beat. Lunch is at an excellent local restaurant. Overnight San Luca (B, L)

Thursday March 30 Spello and Montefalco

This morning we explore the walled medieval town of Spello, built on Roman ruins, with simple Romanesque churches, and Renaissance paintings by Perugino and Pinturicchio. After free time for lunch, we visit nearby Montefalco. The town is also known for its Sagrantino red wine, and there are a number of cellars. We then enjoy dinner at local restaurant. Overnight San Luca (B, D)

A detail of Benozzo Gozzoli’s frescoes of St Francis (above) in the Montefalco museum The colourful medieval town of Spello (below), built on Roman ruins

Friday March 31 Assisi

In spite of its fame, Assisi retains a strongly spiritual atmosphere which gives it a special place among medieval Italian hill towns. In Assisi we tour the basilica of St Francis, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture and frescoes, some of which are attributed to Giotto and others to the Sienese artists Lorenzetti and Martini. Overnight San Luca (B)

Saturday April 1 Siena – travel to Florence

We depart Umbria this morning, heading for Tuscany. Most of the day is spent in Siena, a once prosperous medieval city. We tour the Palazzo Pubblico, and the overwhelming cathedral, where every available space is decorated with sculptures, floor mosaics and fine frescoes. In the afternoon we arrive in Florence, our base for the next three days. Dinner is at a local restaurant. Overnight Florence (B, D)

Sunday April 2 Florence fine arts and the Medici

Today we visit the Accademia, home to Michelangelo’s David. In the late afternoon we visit the Uffizi Galleries, with their world-famous collection of Italian paintings, including major works by Botticelli and other Florentine masters of the golden 1400s. Overnight Florence (B)

Monday April 3 Streetscapes and the oltrarno

This morning we view some of the fine public and religious buildings of Florence, home to some great art. This includes intriguing granary-cum-sculpture laboratory of Orsanmichele. There us time to venture to the western side of the Arno, crossing the Ponte Vecchio and strolling through the quiet streets of this lovely neighbourhood. Overnight Florence (B)

Tuesday April 4 Ravenna – travel to Venice

Early this morning we cross the Apennines to northern Italy. Most of the day is spent visiting Ravenna, capital of the Byzantine Empire in Italy for three hundred years. We continue to Venice in the late afternoon, arriving at our hotel by private launch. Dinner is at a local restaurant. Overnight Venice (B, D)

Wednesday April 5 Venice

This morning we have a guided visit of the principal historic quarter of Venice, around St Mark’s Square and the nearby church of San Zaccaria, with its wonderful masterpiece by Bellini. This afternoon we explore the Giudecca canal by ferry, site of many fine monuments,

Looking up at the Mangia Tower (above) in the Piazza del Campo, Siena Detail of Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus, 1486, (below) which is one of the many masterpieces held in the Uffizi Galleries, Florence

Hotels Hotels have been selected principally for their central location. All hotels are four-star properties, with the exception of the Grand Hotel Vesuvio which is a five-star hotel on the waterfront. Naples, Grand Hotel Vesuvio (4 nights)

www.vesuvio.it Rome, Hotel Ponte Sisto (3 nights)

www.hotelpontesisto.it

San Luca, Villa Zuccari (4 nights) www.villazuccari.com

Florence, Gallery Art Hotel (3 nights) http://www.lungarnocollection.com/en/the-collection/florence/gallery-hotel-art/design-hotel-in-florence/

Venice, Hotel al Codega (3 nights)

www.hotelalcodega.com

including Renaissance architect Palladio’s two Venetian churches. This evening, we have a special private after-hours visit to the 7000 square metres of mosaics and a dazzling array of columns, screens and sculptures plundered from the east in St Mark's Cathedral. Overnight Venice (B)

Thursday April 6 Venetian Art and Locanda Cipriani

This morning we visit the Galleria dell'Accademia, displaying important works by Bellini, Carpaccio, Giorgione, Titian, Tintoretto, Tiepolo and others. We then make our way to the island of Torcello for our farewell lunch at Locanda Cipriani. Overnight Venice (B)

Friday April 7 Departure

This morning there is a water taxi transfer to Venice airport for those joining flights. (B)

With over 7,000 square metres of gold leaf mosaics (above), St Mark’s epitomises the importation of the luxurious Eastern style

The charming ‘streets’ of Venice (below)

Tour Inclusions

Included in the tour price

All accommodation in selected 4- and 5- star hotels All breakfasts and selected lunches and dinners in

hotels and local restaurants as indicated in the itinerary Land travel in Italy by air-conditioned coach Extensive tour notes Services of a tour leader throughout the tour All entrance fees to sites mentioned in itinerary Local guides for cities and sites Porterage of one piece of luggage at all hotels Tips to local guides and drivers

Not included in the tour price

International airfares, taxes and surcharges (see below) Airport transfers if not coordinating with Emirates flights Travel insurance Meals not stated as included in this itinerary Items of a personal nature such as laundry, phone calls

or internet use

Air travel The tour price quoted is for land content only. For this tour we recommend Emirates which offers flights into Rome and out of Venice from most Australian cities. Please contact us for the best possible prices on economy, business or first class fares. Transfers between airport and hotel are included for all passengers booking their flights through Academy Travel. These may be group or individual transfers.

Enquiries and bookings For further information and to secure a place on this tour please contact Hannah Kleboe at Academy Travel on 9235 0023 or 1800 639 699 (outside Sydney) or email hannah@academytravel.com.au

Weather on Tour March is a very pleasant time to travel in Italy. Spring has arrived so the days are warm and the evenings cool. Expect average maximum temperatures of 20º-23ºC during the day and minimums of 12 º-15 º C at night. It is reasonable to expect passing showers on a few days. Layering is the key to successful wardrobe choices and don’t forget a waterproof jacket and an umbrella.

Fitness Requirements of THIS tour

Grade Two

It is important both for you and for your fellow travellers that you are fit enough to be able to enjoy all the activities on this tour. To give you an indication of the level of physical fitness required to participate on our tours, we have given them a star grading. Academy Travel’s tours tend to feature extended walking tours and site visits, which require greater fitness than coach touring. We ask you to carefully consider your ability to meet the physical demands of the tour.

Participation criteria for this tour This Grade Two tour is designed for people who lead active lives and can comfortably participate in up to five hours of physical activity per day on most days, including longer walking tours, challenging archaeological sites, climbing stairs, embarking and disembarking trains and/or boats, and a more demanding tour schedule with one night stops or several internal flights. You should be able to: keep up with the group at all times walk for 4-5 kilometres at a moderate pace with only

short breaks stand for a reasonable length of time in galleries and

museums tolerate uncomfortable climatic conditions such as cold,

humidity and heat walk up and down slopes negotiate steps and slopes on archaeological sites,

which are often uneven and unstable get on and off a large coach with steep stairs, train or

boat unassisted, possibly with luggage move your luggage a short distance if required

A note for older travellers If you are more than 80 years old, or have restricted mobility, it is highly likely that you will find this itinerary challenging. You will have to miss several activities and will not get the full value of the tour. Your booking will not be accepted until after you have contacted Academy Travel to discuss your situation and the exact physical requirements of this tour. While we will do our best to reasonably accommodate the physical needs of all group members, we reserve the right to refuse bookings if we feel that the requirements of the tour are too demanding for you and/or if local conditions mean we cannot reasonably accommodate your condition.