Depart Home for Florence, Italy
Arrive in Florence, Italy
Airport Transfer Orientation Walking Tour - The group will become oriented with their neighborhood, the public transportation systems, nearby pharmacies, markets, ATMs, etc. Additionally, an in-depth safety briefing will be provided for what to do incase of an emergency.
Welcome Apericena - The group will be taken for an authentic Italian apericena - a light dinner made of shared finger food accompanied by a soft drink of choice.
Breakfast & Day Briefing
Historical Walking Tour - Duomo, the Palazzo Vecchio, Ponte Vecchio, and ending at Piazza della Signoria.
Guided Tour of San Lorenzo Market Focusing on Slow Food Movement - a culinary paradise, housed in a stunning 19th-century iron-and-glass structure. Offering a wide array of fresh local produce, meats, cheeses, and gourmet products
Free Time and Lunch at The San Lorenzo Market - a vibrant hub of activity, offering a blend of traditional Italian goods, artisan crafts, and local delicacies.
Uffizi Gallery - One of the most important museums in Italy, it hosts the greatest Renaissance art collection in the world (Audio Guides).
Breakfast & Day Briefing
Accademia Gallery - This is one of the highlights of our trip. We’ll see Michelangelo’s David and several of his unfinished sculptures. Buckle up.
Visit to Manifattura Tabacchi - Built between 1933 and 1940, this historic tobacco factory recently transformed into a cultural and creative hub. The redevelopment project preserved the original industrial architecture, converting the buildings into spaces for cultural events, art exhibitions, artist workshops, and innovative start-ups. With a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability, Manifattura Tabacchi has become a dynamic hub for the creative community and an example of urban regeneration that blends tradition and innovation.
Lunch Break
Meet a Health Professional - Meet a health professional to discuss the health system in Italy, the history and the modern challenges.
Breakfast & Day Briefing
Day Trip Tuscany Countryside - Travel through the beautiful hilly countryside outside Florence, stop to a local farm and learn more about the production of olive oil and wine. Discuss the health and medicinal benefits of olive oil.
Cooking Class and Discussion of Slow Food Movement - Discover the origins of this movement and Italian food’s relationship to culture, diet, and health.
Lunch with Dishes Prepared by Students
Return to Florence
Breakfast & Day Briefing
Train Transfer to Bologna (approx 1h)
Drop Bags at the Hotel
Bologna Walking Tour - Piazza Maggiore: the beating heart of Bologna, hosts the San Petronio Basilica and Neptune's Fountain. Two Towers: city symbols, provide panoramic views for those who climb. University of Bologna: ancient higher education institution, bears witness to the city's academic legacy. Porticoes of Bologna: unique architectures extending for kilometers, lead to the Santo Stefano complex.
San Petronio Basilica - The Basilica is dedicated to Bishop Petronius (5th century), patron saint of Bologna. Its construction was ordered by the city council in 1388.
Check-In, Relax and Refresh
Breakfast & Day Briefing
Visit University of Bologna - Considered to be the oldest university in the Western world. Its history is intertwined with that of the great names of science and literature, it is a keystone and a point of reference for European culture. The University features a Dissection Theatre with many medically important representatives/accolades.
Lunch Break
Meeting with Slow Food Movement Emilia Romagna Region and Visit to the Quadrilatero: a maze of medieval streets known for markets and shops selling local products such as cured meats, cheeses, and fresh pasta. This area represents the commercial and gastronomic heart of the city, offering a lively and traditional atmosphere.
Suggestions:
Sanctuary of San Luca - Located on the hill overlooking the city. This sacred site, reachable through the world's longest portico, offers not only a profound spiritual experience but also a panoramic view of Bologna.
Breakfast & Day Briefing
Train to Modena (approx 30 mins)
Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese Factory Tour - Learn about all the different steps in the production of this world famous cheese (from the milk to the aging process) and taste it!
Free Time in Modena - Explore the city center of this beautiful medieval city, with its porticos, the cathedral and the market.
Visit to “Acetaia” Vinegar Factory - During the visit to the historic vinegar factory located in the heart of Modena, the secrets of the traditional methods of producing traditional Modena balsamic vinegar are revealed. This educational journey becomes a voyage through time, where the ancient techniques of aging and fermentation that give balsamic vinegar its unique and unmistakable flavor are observed.
Return to Bologna
Breakfast & Day Briefing
Train To Florence (approx 1 hour)
Check in Refresh Relax
La Sorbetteria - La Sorbettiera is more than just a gelato shop, it’s a workshop of ideas, a place where I can work among and in direct contact with people.
Breakfast & Day Briefing
Transfer to Viareggio
Free Time at the Beach
Farewell Lunch and Program Closing
Return to Florence
Breakfast & Day Briefing
Airport Transfer
Depart Florence, Italy to Home