Lose Yourself in the Enchanting Treasures of Florence and Cortona, Italy (Europe) for Three Nights in a Four-Star Hotel in Florence and Three Nights in a One Bedroom Apartment in Cortona for Two, Including a Private Half-Day Walking Tour of Florence, Guided Visits to the Uffizi and Accademia Galleries, a Cooking Show with a Private Dinner, and Wine Tasting at a Local Wine Bar (Land Only)

A trip to Italy's Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, and Chianti, one of Italy's most photogenic towns full of vineyards, will leave you mesmerized, no matter how many times you visit. Soak up the romance, nostalgia, traditions, energy and flavors of Florence and the surrounding Tuscan region with a chance to be at peace with the open road with your car rental, a private walking tour, two museum visits, a cooking demonstration accompanied by a private dinner, as well as a wine tasting at a local wine bar. This is the perfect vacation for those who have a great appreciation for Italian beauty - from Florence's artistic treasures to Chianti's immaculately maintained vineyards, stone farmhouses, dense forests, handsome Renaissance villas and imposing stone castles.

Enjoy ancient Florence's most famous sites on your walking tour, on which you'll learn about Florence throughout the centuries, as told through marvelous stories and legends. Walk in the footsteps of over 2,000 years of tumultuous history, study fabulous masterpieces, listen to medieval stories and hear about astounding historical events, and immerse yourself in the Florentine culture on a stroll with an expert English-speaking guide.

No trip to Florence is complete without a visit to the Uffizi Gallery, one of the most famous art museums in the world, to see the masterpieces of great Italian artists, such as Botticelli, Giotto, Michelangelo and da Vinci. You'll hear intriguing stories about the artists that will shed light on the meaning behind their works - muse about the mysterious and stunningly beautiful models in Botticelli's famous Birth of Venus, and experience the flowering of Leonardo da Vinci's genius. You'll then continue on to the Accademia Gallery, where you'll love skipping the long lines to see Michelangelo's unforgettable David! Listen to stories about its amazing creation, learn about the fascinating and difficult genius that was Michelangelo, a tormented poet who died a miserly multi-millionaire, and discover where Michelangelo carved the David.

Italian cuisine gets personal when you spend a magical and aromatic evening enjoying a cooking show in a local restaurant! The demonstration will reveal secrets of the culinary arts, from traditional dishes to sophisticated preparations, and you'll learn to recognize flavors from the area. Your cooking demonstration will be followed by dinner - mangia! Wine lovers have the opportunity to learn all about the fruit of the vine during a tasting at a local wine bar.

Your trip for two includes:
3 nights accommodations in a four star Hotel in Florence
3 nights accommodations in a one bedroom apartment in Cortona
Daily complimentary breakfast
Private half-day walking tour of Florence
Small group visits to the Uffizi and Accademia Galleries
Cooking show, including a private dinner in a local restaurant
Wine tasting at local wine bar
All room-related taxes (including VAT)

Terms and Conditions
Travel package is non-refundable and subject to availability. Certificates/gift cards cannot be replaced. Passport required for travel outside the U.S. Reservations must be made at least 90 days in advance of travel. Local city taxes are the responsibility of the passenger and required to be to be paid directly to hotel. Hotel may be substituted with equal or similar accommodations. Tours, cooking class and wine tastings run on specific days of the week and at specific times. Hotels are open seasonally from March through November. Please email us at auction@stmaryhs.org to find out deadline to travel.