THE GREATESTS OF THE ITALIAN 14th CENTURY

Day 1: Arrival in Florence

Day 2: Florence

Day 3: Florence and Certaldo

Day 4: From Florence to Ravenna

Day 5: Ravenna

Day 6: From Ravenna to Marradi along the Dante’s trail

Day 7: From Marradi to Arezzo along the Dante’s trail

Day 8: Arezzo

Day 9: Departure

Day 1: ARRIVAL IN FLORENCE

Arrival in Italy and transfer to Florence center, accommodation in Hotel and time at leisure.

Day 2: FLORENCE

First day in Florence. Meeting with your guide for visiting the most important places connected to the life of DANTE ALIGHIERI.
His house (that is not his real house but a fake turned into a museum) and his real one from outside, not too far from there, then the little church of Santa Margherita dei Cerchi, where he met Beatrice for the first time and where she got merried, the Cathedral with the most famous fresco dedicated to him, the baptistery, and many other places that are also included in the Divina Commedia.

Day 3: FLORENCE and CERTALDO

Deparature in the morning to Certaldo where we will visit the House of Giovanni BOCCACCIO.
Certaldo is a medieval little town of the most evocative of Tuscany that has retained a magical atmosphere of the past. Certaldo is famous for being the birthplace of Giovanni Boccacci in 1313.
In the afternoon time to visit San Gimignano, one of the symbols of tuscan middleage. Lunch time in a local farm where we will have a special tasting of local delicacies including wine, bruschetta, cheese. Back to Florence in the evening.

Day 4: from FLORENCE to RAVENNA

Departure after Breakfast to Ravenna. Due to the exile to which Dante was sentenced after the defeat of his political faction, he left Florence and considered Ravenna the most appropriate place to complete his “Divine Comedy”.
Arrival in the afternoon and time to visit the area of the town dedicated to the poet’s memory. The city perpetuates the memory of the Poet with the programme of talks, readings, exhibitions and concerts of “Settembre Dantesco” and houses his relics and memorabilia inside Dante Museum.
Along with Dante’s Tomb, Quadrarco di Braccioforte and Basilica of San Francesco, the Museum is part of the so-called "Zona del Silenzio" (Area of Silence), that encompasses the places of Dante in Ravenna.

Day 5: RAVENNA

Morning dedicated to the visit of roman heritage of Ravenna, including the Mausoleum of Teodorico and the one of Galla Placidia (sister of the Roman emperor Honorius) preserving amazing Mosaics.
Afternoon at leisure. Dinner in a local restaurant to taste regional delicacies of Romagna: Tortellini, Ham, the Piadina with Squaquerone and more.

Day 6: from RAVENNA to MARRADI along the DANTE'S TRAIL

Departure after breakfast to travel across the “Dante Way”, an itinerary that links Ravenna to Florence and tells us about the poet's experience during his exile and his numerous attempts to return to his hometown, Florence.
First stop will be Brisighella where you absolutely must walk in the one-of-a-kind raised Via degli Asini (donkey's trail). Here begins the Regional Park of the Vena del Gesso Romagnola (Chalk regional park) and in fact in the surrounding countryside there are numerous chalky ridges that are tinged with a silver gray.
Second stop will be Marradi, that was the hometown of poet Dino Campana, the great poet known for his dramatic biographical story. Suffering from psychic disorders never accurately diagnosed, he was interned in the asylum of Castelpulci, near Florence, where he died at the age of 46 after having published a single collection of poems, I Canti Orfici. Verses and prose that did not spring from madness, as one might be led to think, but from a lucid, cultured and visionary poetic soul (published in 1914).
Last stop will be the Acquacheta Waterfalls. Nice easy walk in the wood to catch some wonderful pictures of this natural waterfall mentioned in the XVI canto of Hell where the thunderous roar of its waters evoke to Dante that of the infernal river of the Flegetonte.
Arrival in Hotel and overnight.

Day 7: from MARRADI tO AREZZO along the DANTE'S TRAIL

After breakfast departure to San Godenzo, another hamlet that has a history related to Dante’s. In fact, a conference was held here between exiles from Florence, both Ghibellines and white Guelphs, to arrange a military offensive and regain power in the city. But the mission failed even before it began.
However, the Dante Ghibellino Association stages a historical re-enactment every year in memory of that event. Before leaving the town, don’t forget to visit the Abbey of San Gaudenzio and go up to the raised presbytery where you will find a commemorative plaque and a mosaic depicting the Coronation of the Virgin (1929) in which Dante is also portrayed. Just off San Godenzo there is a trail leading to the medieval bridge of Cicaleto, that Dante walked so many times on his way to and from Florence.
Heading Arezzo our journey will take us to Poppi to visit one of the imposing castles of Guidi family (Romena or Poppi). The Guidi counts hosted Dante many times, even if it is not possible to say to what extent since Dante later retaliated with caustic verses from the branch of the Guidi di Romena, probably for lack of support. In fact, he accused them through Mastro Adamo, a character who really existed and condemned in the pit of the falsifiers (he used to forge false florins for the Guidi and is mentiond on a plaque on the castle walls).
In the afternoon arrival in Camaldoli and accommodation for the night with dinner.

Day 8: AREZZO

Breakfast and time to discover the Hermitage of Camaldoli with a nice walk in the Casentino Forests of Camaldoli.
Departure to Arezzo that is the final step of our journey on the trace of Dante, Petrarca and Boccaccio. In Arezzo we will visit the house of PETRARCA and the historical center of this charming medieval town where we will be amazed also by Piero della Francesca frescos in the Bacci Chapel of the Cathedral of San Francesco.
Overnight in Arezzo or departure

Day 9: DEPARTURE

Price from € 670,00 per person in sharing double room.

Rate is valid min 15 pax.

Possible to choose Silver Package (3* hotel) or Gold Package (4* hotel + customized services) for accomodation.

It is possible to extend the stay. Extention has to be requested at reservation.

Supplement for single room on request.

SUPPLEMENTS ON REQUEST: bus, van or car transfer for the program, extra guides, entrance fees for museums and exhibitions.

This tour is suitable also for individual or larger groups; just ask for the quotation.

Accomodation: 8 overnights in 3* hotels in BB basis in double rooms (3 overnights in Florence, 2 overnights in Ravenna, 1 overnight along the Dante’s trail, 2 overnights in Arezzo).

Food: 8 breakfasts, 1 light lunch with wine tasting in San Gimignano, 2 dinners (beverages are not included).

Other Services Included: guide service in Florence, Ravenna, Arezzo and along the Dante’s  Trail, UmbriAction assistance.

Price Does Not Include: city tax (to be paid on spot at check out), meals when not mentioned, beverages and what is not mentioned in the services included.