2027 Senior Study Abroad

Learning by Hand

Morning/Afternoon: Arrive at Il Salviatino (25 minutes from Florence Airport). Check into your 15th-century room and spend the afternoon decompressing. Stroll through the 12 acres of private parkland and tiered Italian gardens.
Late Afternoon: Walk or take a short taxi up to the main square of Fiesole (Piazza Mino). Explore the ancient Roman Amphitheater and archaeological site if open, or simply enjoy a panoramic view of the Florentine valley below.
Evening: Have a relaxed welcome dinner at the hotel’s terrace restaurant, looking out at the illuminated dome of the Duomo in the distance.

Morning: Catch the 9:30 AM hotel shuttle straight to Piazza del Duomo (15-minute ride). Spend your morning exploring the breathtaking exterior of the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, Giotto's Bell Tower, and the Baptistery.
Lunch: Grab a panino from a local spot like All'Antico Vinaio or sit down at a trattoria tucked away in the San Marco neighborhood.
Afternoon: Head into the Accademia Gallery (ensure you pre-book timed entry tickets) to view Michelangelo’s original David.
Late Afternoon: Take the shuttle back to the villa to escape the city’s busiest hours. Lounge by the pool or enjoy an aperitivo on the lawn.

Morning: Take an early shuttle back into town and head directly to the Uffizi Gallery for a pre-booked morning tour. Dedicate 2.5 to 3 hours to Botticelli, Da Vinci, and Raphael.
Lunch: Walk toward the Arno River and find a quiet lunch spot near Piazza Santa Croce.
Afternoon: Wander through the medieval lanes of the Dante Quarter and view the dramatic statues in Piazza della Signoria. Walk across the historic Ponte Vecchio, checking out the glittering goldsmith shops.
Evening: Catch the evening shuttle back up to Fiesole for a quiet night away from the city crowds.

Morning: Ride the shuttle in and head to the bustling Mercato Centrale. Explore the vibrant ground floor stalls filled with local cheeses, truffles, and cured meats.
Afternoon (The Oltrarno): Cross the river to the Oltrarno district—Florence's bohemian artisan neighborhood. Explore the workshop studios of woodcarvers, leather workers, and jewelers. Visit the sprawling Boboli Gardens behind the Pitti Palace for a scenic hillside walk.
Sunset: Walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo or the nearby San Miniato al Monte church for the absolute best sunset view over the Florence skyline.
Evening: Dine at a traditional tavern in the Piazza Santo Spirito area before taking a late taxi or shuttle back to the villa.

All Day: Since you have a solid 6 nights, dedicate this day to the countryside. Either hire a private driver or join a small group excursion into the Chianti Wine Region (approx. 45–60 minutes south). Tour historic castles, taste authentic Chianti Classico, and have lunch at a vineyard estate.
Alternative: If you prefer to stay local, treat this as a dedicated "Villa Day." Enjoy the on-site spa, take a Tuscan cooking class at the property, and read in the parkland.

Morning: Head into town for a final half-day. Visit the striking Bargello National Museum (incredible Renaissance sculptures without the Uffizi crowds) or the exquisite Medici Chapels.
Afternoon: Do any last-minute leather or fashion shopping around the San Lorenzo market or the high-end boutiques on Via de' Tornabuoni.
Late Afternoon: Return to Fiesole. Spend your final evening packing and enjoying a farewell sunset cocktail on the terrace of Il Salviatino, prepping for your transition to Pietrasanta tomorrow.

Morning: Check out of Fiesole and make the 1-hour and 15-minute drive west to Pietrasanta. Arrive at Albergo Pietrasanta in the flat historic center.
Afternoon: After settling into the palazzo, step right out into the pedestrian-only historic core. Stroll down Via Garibaldi and wander into Piazza Duomo, which functions as an open-air contemporary art museum with massive, rotating sculpture installations.
Evening: Enjoy a glass of local Vermentino wine at a sidewalk café in the piazza, watching the lively local passeggiata (evening stroll), followed by dinner at a cozy Osteria nestled in the medieval grid.

Morning: Dive into the town's artistic soul. Visit the Museo dei Bozzetti, a fascinating museum housed in a former convent that showcases the original plaster models and maquettes left behind by hundreds of international sculptors who came here to work.
Afternoon: Walk just on the edge of the center to peek into a working artisan workshop or bronze foundry (like Fonderia Artistica Mariani). Watch masters cast bronze and carve local Carrara marble.
Late Afternoon: Climb the ancient stone path up to the Rocca di Sala (the fortress overlooking the town). It’s a short but steep 15-minute walk that rewards you with sweeping views over the terracotta roofs all the way to the Mediterranean Sea.

Morning: Take a quick 10-minute taxi or a local bike rental to the coast. Spend the morning in Forte dei Marmi, a glamorous beach town known for its high-end fashion boutiques, weekly outdoor market, and pristine, pine-fringed streets.
Lunch: Rent a sun lounger for the afternoon at a traditional Bagno (beach club) and have a long, relaxed seafood lunch with your feet in the sand, eating spaghetti alle vongole.
Evening: Return to the quiet of Pietrasanta’s historic center to escape the coastal beach crowds for a peaceful evening.

Morning: Arrange a half-day excursion or private jeep tour up into the dramatic, jagged peaks of the Apuan Alps to visit the Carrara Marble Quarries. Stand in the staggering white canyons where Michelangelo hand-selected his blocks of stone.
Lunch: Stop in the tiny, historic mountain village of Colonnata to sample their famous Lardo di Colonnata—a local delicacy cured inside hollowed-out marble basins.
Afternoon: Return to Pietrasanta for a final afternoon of relaxed gallery hopping and souvenir shopping for unique local jewelry, art prints, or mosaic work.