Strabo Photo Tour Collection

Italy: Florence and Pienza with Dan Anderson

Dan Anderson returns to Tuscany with a specially designed itinerary, moving from Florence, south to Pienza, and ending the program with evenings at a villa in the Tuscan countryside. This tour is filled with beauty and rich with photographic opportunities.

Tuscany has perhaps produced more accomplishments in art and science than any other place in history. It is the birthplace of the Etruscan civilization, the Italian language, and the age that shaped modern history, the Renaissance. Imagine a small region that could claim Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Galileo, Dante, and Botticelli as its native sons! The first part of our trip will center on Florence, the capital of Tuscany, the city where the Renaissance began. It is a living museum of art and culture. We will explore and photograph some of its streets, plazas, and great works of art and architecture in the company of excellent guides.

A short drive outside Florence transports us into the beautiful Tuscan countryside. The region has large areas of woodlands, interspersed with vineyards and dotted with medieval towns high on hills and ridges. The quality of light here has inspired generations of artists. Our journey will explore this glorious land in depth. Everywhere there is something of compelling beauty, curiosity, and interest — brilliant architecture, classic Tuscan landscapes, the daily life of the people themselves, providing continuity between past and present.

Dan has fine-tuned this trip by adding some great spots and wonderful towns that he has explored over the last few years. This year we will spend two nights in the southern Tuscan town of Pienza, which will allow us to photograph streets and alleyways early in the morning light before other visitors arrive. There will also be more time to spend exploring some of the other charming towns and places in this region. We will again finish our trip in a lovely small hotel in the Tuscan countryside with a large hillside vineyard right outside our back door. If you have ever dreamed of a leisurely trip to Italy to photograph and just enjoy with no time pressures, then this is the trip for you. September is one of the best times to visit Italy as the weather is lovely and it is past the major tourist season.

The emphasis of our trip is on photography, but this is much more than a photographic tour. Our days will be filled with unique photographic opportunities, in that there are so many wonderful hidden places to explore. Your leader will seek out obscure settings to visit and photograph, places you could not find on your own. While in Florence we can have working instruction on top of the private tower at the Torre Guelfa Hotel. Tuscany provides us opportunity to use a projector for evening talks and photographic critiques.

Itinerary

September 10: USA

We depart home today on overnight flights to Florence, Italy, arriving by late afternoon tomorrow. Since flights arrive at various times individuals will need to take a taxi from Florence airport to the hotel on September 11. You can also reach Florence by train from other cities across Italy. The group tour will begin tomorrow evening at the Torre Guelfa Hotel.

September 11: Arrival in Florence

We will meet early evening at the Torre Guelfa Hotel for an orientation and Welcome Reception, providing our first taste of Florence’s exceptional food and wine. Afterwards we will climb the medieval tower for an overview of this fantastic city, weather permitting we will capture our first beautiful sunset. Afterwards, if you wish to explore, there are restaurants and snack bars nearby. Overnight at Torre Guelfa. (Welcome reception)

September 12 - September 13: The Magic of Florence

The next two days will be spent exploring Florence. After breakfast each day at the Torre Guelfa, the local guide will outline the day’s activities based on the group’s desires. A sunrise walk will be planned prior to breakfast, an excellent time to photograph Florence, as it prepares for another day.

Being in the heart of Florence, our hotel affords us a perfect location so that daily excursions can easily be done on foot. The famous Ponte Vecchio, the most popular and oldest bridge that spans the Arno River, is within fifty yards, just beyond are the massive Pitti Palace, originally built in the fifteenth century and the Boboli Gardens.

We will take some time to photograph Florence’s Duomo, a magnificent cathedral, whose massive dome was designed by Brunelleschi. The cathedral offers endless facets and details to explore, and if you feel adventurous, climb to the dome’s cupola or to the top of the adjacent tower — the four hundred steps are truly breathtaking!

Florence’s town square, the Piazza della Signoria, has been the heart of political life since the fourteenth century. In the spacious Piazza are sculptures that hold an important place in Florentine art, among them is the Neptune Fountain that commemorates Tuscan naval victories and Cellini’s “Perseus.” Also in the heart of the city is the Palazzo Vecchio (Old Palace), built in the thirteenth century and the Uffizi Gallery, housing many great art treasures.

Each day we will have lunch at one of the many trattorias, or you may wish to stay out and photograph, meeting the group later. There will be plenty of time with the group or to wander on your own where you may wish to visit one of many museums or attractions. In the evening, you can go to a restaurant with the group, or explore the neighborhood restaurants. Overnights at the Torre Guelfa. (breakfast daily)

September 14 - September 19: The Tuscan Countryside

As we leave Florence we’ll drive through hills and vistas of the city’s environs. The borders of this area are almost exactly those defined in 1716 by the Grand Duke of Tuscany, who for the first time in history created a legal document defining a production area for quality wines. More than sixty percent of Chianti remains forested, as there are strict limits on how much land can be cultivated.

We will spend our first two evenings in the center of Pienza, at the lovely Il Chiostro, where we will take advantage of early morning light in the quiet streets and alleys of this renaissance town. Pope Pius II was born here in 1405, when it was called Corsignano, the pope renamed it Pienza in his own honor, and commissioned Bernardo Rossellino to build the Duomo, papal palace, and town hall. Away from the grandeur of the main square, Peinza has various local shops selling local produce and the well known pecorino, cheese made from sheep’s milk.

Just outside Pienza, we may have time to visit the Monastery of Sant’ Antimo, a splendid Romanesque abbey and church built around the year 1100, set in quiet, unspoiled surroundings. There we can explore the Monastery itself as we listen to Gregorian chants, and photograph the olive groves, vineyards, and natural areas that surround the ancient buildings.

The next four evenings will be spent at the Villa Rosa, which is just a half hour outside Florence, but the contrast is striking. In front of the Villa Rosa is a large forested hill; behind are rolling vineyards and olive groves, whose paths lead to small villages, and stone farmhouses. We’ll walk amongst the olive groves and follow a dirt road to the village of San Leolino. We will stop at a beautiful little church, which has a commanding view of the town of Panzano and the surrounding countryside. The hamlet of Monterenaldi is located near the villa on a quiet country road that winds through vineyards and farms. This area offers exceptional photography, with vistas extending to the distant hills. We will spend a morning here to photograph at leisure.

Day trips allow us to visit several of Tuscany’s picturesque towns, most being within a ten-mile radius. Radda in Chianti is a small village set high on a hill that retains its medieval town plan. Seven kilometers north we come acrossVolpaia, one of Chianti’s most beautiful fortified villages, built of honey-colored stone, and boasts a castle from the tenth century. Montefioralle, is perched on a ridge that overlooks the town of Greve in Chianti, we may have time to walk the enticing alleyways, which have a few electric cables, reminding us that we are still in the twentieth century. A bit further south is Castellina in Chianti, a charming town, featuring a tunnel street; soldiers’ walk dating from the town’s days as a Florentine bastion.

About an hour away is San Gimignano, “city of the beautiful towers”, and the poster child for Italian hill towns. Fourteen of the original seventy towers remain, giving the town a striking appearance. Its origins are filled with being a crossroads for pilgrims, an important trade link and as a strategic site in political struggles. We visit these alleyways, narrow streets, wells, courtyards, and stunning artwork that provide a wealth of opportunity for exploring with your camera. Monteriggioni is one of the most perfectly preserved fortified villages in all of Italy. Dante mentioned its vantage points in the Inferno, as the circle of Titans guarding the lowest level of Hell.

Overnights at Villa Rosa include breakfast and dinner, while in Pienza, breakfast is included. Lunch will be included on one day at a lovely winery, as well. On our final evening, we’ll celebrate our stay in Tuscany with a Farewell Dinner at the Villa Rosa.

September 20: Florence – Onward Destinations

After breakfast you will return to Florence for afternoon flights home, or on to your next destination. (breakfast)

Accommodations

The accommodations we have chosen combine simple elegance and excellent location. In Florence, we will stay at the Torre Guelfa hotel, one of the city’s best-kept secrets. Located just a block from the Arno River and the famous Ponte Vecchio, this small, family-run hotel offers an ideal location from which to explore the city. Its guest rooms, each with a private bath, are comfortable and spacious, and the large public rooms echo the elegance of its past as a private palazzo. It also offers us a special treat, from which it takes its name. It boasts the tallest private tower (torre) in Florence, whose terrace offers stunning vistas of the city. This is a feature that we’ll frequently take advantage of, especially at sunset. We will overnight two evenings at the lovely Il Chiostro Hotel in Pienza. This ancient convent of the fifteenth century offers a premier location overlooking the Orcia Valley. In the Tuscan countryside, we will stay at the Torre Guelfa’s sister hotel, the Villa Rosa di Boscorotundo, a meticulously restored country villa. Situated precisely halfway between Florence and Siena in the famous Chianti region, the Villa Rosa is set among rolling forested hills dotted with vineyards, olive groves, quaint villages, and stone farmhouses. It provides an absolutely perfect location for walks and day trips. Each of its ten guest rooms has a private bath. We will also spend two evenings further south in Pienza.

Guides

Please contact us for more details.

Food & Drink

Meals are taken quite seriously in Italy, so when in Tuscany we do as the Tuscans. We will learn about the local cheeses, olive oils, pasta, wines, breads, salads, and the many antipasti. In Florence, we will show you splendid local restaurants that offer exceptional quality and value. Adding a good wine to your dinner will make your meal memorable. Coffee and gelati breaks will be welcome treats during our walks. At the Villa Rosa, along with other restaurants, traditional Tuscan dishes will be served. We will visit small towns during the day for tasty lunches and snacks. In short, the meals will be an unforgettable part of your experience.

Notes

Note: The land cost is based on current exchange rate between the Euro and US dollar. Should these rates change significantly, there may be an adjustment in the trip price, positive or negative.

Pricing Info

Tour land cost: $4,295 US Dollars based upon minimum of 9 paying participants. There is a small group surcharge of $350 if 5-8 paying participants. All our program prices are based on double occupancy unless noted in exceptions.

Single room supplement: $875; single rooms are subject to availability and are not guaranteed. We try to accommodate travelers who request single accommodations, as well as travelers who are looking for a roommate. If a single room is requested, or if we are unable to find a suitable roommate, you will be required to pay the supplement.

Note: The land costs on international tours is based upon current exchange rates. Although the rate has been relatively stable, should it change, there may need to be an adjustment in the land cost.

General Tour Info (includes, excludes and other details)