New Year's In Florence

Florence was amazing. The speakers were fantastic, I really cannot speak highly enough of her. She was very knowledgeable, witty, personable, and was able to communicate her knowledge easily. I would have missed a good bit had i not attended her lectures. The hotel was perfectly placed and it's staff exceedingly helpful, up to, and including getting me a doctor. They called and the doctor was at my room a few hours later. The doctor was thorough and professional. He diagnosed me with untreated bronchitis that had developed into pneumonia. He provided me with prescriptions that were very helpful. The restaurants were good as were the selections of museums and sights. The Duomo, the Uffizi, and all else were just breath taking.

In the past the review questionnaire has been very specific. This completely open-ended questionnaire is not as useful. We enjoyed the trip very much. Part of it could have been better, but overall, we had a great time. The order of the museums is great and should stay the same. The lecturer was great. The timing of the cooking class was good (at the beginning of the trip while we were just getting to know each other)- even if the chef didn't speak any English ?!? I think you are right to emphasize the treacherous nature of the sidewalks. They were. The New Year's Eve restraurant was particularly good. Great trip.

Florence at New Years was gorgeous and less crowded than Rome with many Italian families active on the street which was a delight. The stunning exterior of the Duomo left me gasping when I first glimpsed it. It is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.

Florence was a delightful somewhat less urban experience than Rome. Full of beauty and good food.

My wife and I, along with another couple, attended the New Year's In Florence program and we couldn't be happier. Our tour leader, Bianca, attended to every need or question with a smile. She was thorough and patient, making sure we reached each destination and no one was left behind. The guided tours of the museums and churches both entertained and educated. Tour guides Suzanne and Elena could not have been better. They possessed a deep understanding of the works of art and architecture we were seeing. The food was excellent, but hey, it's Florence. Overall, we felt we received great value for our money and would recommend this program to anyone interested.

This is a great way to experience Florence for the first time! I highly recommend it.

I had been to Florence a few years ago and what I mostly wanted from this trip was free time for independent exploring. I was not disappointed. As a group we hit the major attractions like the Duomo museum (closed the last time I was there, the Bargello, and the Uffizi. There were three afternoons with free time so my choices were St. Croce which most everyone else also went to, the Brancacci Chapel for its frescoes, and the National Archeology Museum for its Etruscan collection. Several people choose the Pitti palace. The hotel could not be in a better location. It is on a busy street with lots of shops and restaurants but just away from the large crowds, and it is walking distance to all the major attractions. As a single traveler I had no intention of staying in my room, so in the evening it was an easy 10 minute walk to go out and have a beer, watch the crowds, and enjoy the spectacular Christmas lighting. The provided dinners to me seemed more "gourmet" than authentic, so although they were excellent I enjoyed the chances to walk in a restaurant and just pick something off the menu. I did get up enough courage to have a Lampredotto sandwich, but you need a cast iron stomach or a bottle of Tums to handle it. Marco provided very informative lectures before going out. I had taken some art history courses before, but he gave me a new perspective on how the splitting of the Roman empire, divisions in the church, a rigid system of art, and the rise of the merchant class led to the art of the Renaissance. The New Years day trip to San Gimignano, lunch at a farm, and evening concert of opera selections added to the enjoyment of the trip. Oh, and this is my second Road Scholar trip, and I remain very impressed with the organization.

The combination of the most famous art works of the Italian Renaissance plus an amazingly learned and articulate group leader made this a 5-star experience. Throughout the trip, my friend and I kept saying “Weren’t we smart to choose this trip!” Definitely recommended if you love art and love to learn. Well-paced. Excellent food. Comfortable hotel in a safe area and the group leaders made sure we were oriented so we could explore on our own.