PFW – Italy, 2023

Day 1 – Departure – Sunday, May 28

Depart Home for Florence, Italy

Day 2 – Florence – Monday, May 29

Arrive in Florence, Italy

Airport Transfer

Check-in, Relax & Refresh at Hotel 

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. 

Historical & Cultural Walking Tour of Florence – The Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, Loggia dei Lanzi, Ponte Vecchio, and more…

Lecture: Public Sculpture in the Loggia dei Lanzi.

Welcome Dinner – The group will be taken for an authentic Italian dinner with a wide variety of menu options to cater all diets.

Day 3 – Florence – Tuesday, May 30

Breakfast & Day Briefing

Santa Maria Novella Basilica – Santa Maria Novella is the principal Dominican church in Florence. Several notable works can be found inside, including Ghirlandaio’s frescos in the Tornabuoni Chapel and Masaccio’s Trinity. 

Lecture: Masaccio’s Trinity: Renaissance Patronage in Perspective

Day 4 – Florence – Wednesday, May 31

Breakfast & Day Briefing

National Museum of Bargello – The Bargello Museum is one of the most important museums for Medieval and Renaissance sculpture. Highlights include the competition panels by Brunelleschi and Ghiberti, Donatello’s Bronze David and St. George, and Michelangelo’s Bacchus.

Lecture: Michelangelo’s Bacchus: Pagan Sculpture for a Prince of the Church

Lunch Break

Orsanmichele Church & Museum – The medieval church of Orsanmichele is famous for its unique history (that involves a market, a miraculous fresco and the guilds of Florence) and for an incredible cycle of sculptures from the early renaissance by Donatello, Brunelleschi, Ghiberti and more!

Lecture: The Sculptures of Orsanmichele: Guild Patronage and Artistic Rivalry

Day 5 – Florence – Thursday, June 1

Breakfast & Day Briefing

Basilica of San Lorenzo- The Basilica di San Lorenzo is one of the largest churches of Florence, Italy, situated at the centre of the main market district of the city, and it is the burial place of all the principal members of the Medici family.

Lunch Break

Cappelle Medicee- Located behind the basilica of San Lorenzo, is a place where you can see the majesty of the work of Michelangelo. Besides its sculptures and architectural decorations, this museum also shows the Treasury of the Basilica of San Lorenzo in its reliquaries and liturgical objects, recognized as examples of the goldsmiths of the Renaissance and Baroque.

Lecture: The Medici Chapel: Dynasty, Death, and the Hand of Michelangelo

Day 6 – Florence – Friday, June 2

Breakfast & Day Briefing

Cultural Immersion Day

Day 7 – Florence – Saturday, June 3

Breakfast & Day Briefing

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore – The Cathedral of Florence, known as the Duomo, is the symbol of the city and one of the greatest masterpieces of the history of architecture. The visit includes the Baptistery (with Ghiberti’s gates) and Giotto’s Bell Tower.
Duomo Museum – The Museo dell’Opera del Duomo is located on the eastern side of Piazza del Duomo and it’s where you can see all the artworks that once decorated the interior of the duomo.

Lecture: Michelangelo’s Florentine Pietà

Day 8 –  Florence  – Sunday, June 4

Breakfast & Day Briefing

Cultural Immersion Day

Day 9 – Florence  – Monday, June 5

Breakfast & Day Briefing

Museo del Convento di San Marco – The Dominican friary of St. Mark, commissioned by Cosimo de Medici and now a museum, hosts the most important collection of works of art by Fra Angelico, a former monk in this friary.

Lecture: Cosimo de’Medici and Fra Angelico at San Marco

Lunch Break
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. 

Lecture: Michelangelo’s David and Florence without the Medici

Day 10 –  Florence  – Tuesday, June 6

Breakfast & Day Briefing

Uffizi Gallery –  One of the most important museums in Italy, it hosts the greatest Renaissance art collection in the world.

Lecture: Lorenzo the Magnificent and Botticelli’s Primavera

Day 11 – Florence– Wednesday, June 7

Breakfast & Day Briefing

Palazzo Pitti & Boboli Gardens – The last residence of the Medici family is a great example of the late late renaissance architecture, hosting one of the most important Italian gardens and an important art collection.

Lunch Break

Santo Spirito – Designed by Brunelleschi, the church of Santo Spirito hosts Michelangelo’s crucifix and other important works of art.

Brancacci Chapel – Located inside the church of Santa Maria del Carmine, the Brancacci chapel features some of the most important frescos from the early Renaissance. Our discussion will focus on Masaccio and the art of story-telling. 

Lecture: Masaccio and Sacred Narrative

Day 12 – Florence/Rome – Thursday, June 8

Breakfast & Day Briefing

Train Transfer to Rome 

Rome Walking Tour: Colosseum (from outside), Roman Forum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and Spanish steps.

Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter’s Basilica – The museum displays works from the immense collection amassed by popes throughout the centuries including several of the most renowned Roman sculptures and most important masterpieces of Renaissance art in the world. 

Lecture: Papal Power in Raphael’s Stanze and Michelangelo’s Sistine Ceiling

Day 13 – Florence  – Friday, June 9

Breakfast & Day Briefing

Cultural Immersion Day

Farewell Dinner Aperitivo & Program Closing

Day 14 – Florence  – Saturday, June 10

Breakfast & Day Briefing

Airport Transfer 

Depart from Florence

Breakfast & Day Briefing 

Airport Transfer

Depart Liberia, Costa Rica for Home