Detailed Port Descriptions

Day 1 - September 11            Florence

Your journey begins in Florence, the Cradle of the Renaissance. Although widely tied to art and architecture, Renaissance Florence was also the cradle of technical, scientific and medical innovations. This evening, get to know your fellow travelers at a welcome reception before enjoying dinner at a local restaurant. (D) Hotel: AC Firenze Marriott, Florence

Day 2 - September 12 Florence

After breakfast we will start our full day of CME sessions. (B)

Day 3 - September 13 Florence

Dive into Florence with a look at the Ospedale degli Innocenti (Hospital of the Innocents). Founded in 1419, this orphanage provided medical care and support to children for 600 years. Designed by the master Brunelleschi, the orphanage unites form and functionality as per the beliefs of Renaissance architecture. Next visit the city’s most famous citizen, Michelangelo’s David, not only a masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture, but an outstanding example of anatomical study. Your next stop brings you to the Misericordia (Mercy). Dating back to 1244 and still running today, this lay brotherhood dedicated to offering medical transport is considered Europe’s first ambulance service. The remainder of the day is to explore how you choose. Maybe you’ll explore one of the city’s world-class museums such as the Uffizi, or browse the stands of the Mercato della Paglia in search of leather goods. (B)

Day 4 - September 14 Florence

This morning, it’s your choice! Visit the childhood home of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. Then explore La Specola Museum, which houses the 1,400 pieces composing one of the world’s most important collection of anatomical waxworks -OR- Explore Florence’s bohemian Oltrarno district during a guided walking tour of the city’s Left Bank, where you can find the true spirit of the city. It’s where the last craftsmen, the market stalls, gardens and churches, the typical restaurants and cafés still move at the gentle rhythm of everyday life, away from the hustle and bustle of Florence’s more famous monuments. Later in the afternoon, embark for the Chianti countryside. Savor a winery visit showcasing the wine cellar, family estate, and stunning Tuscan views. Then, delve into the local culture as you participate in a cooking class where you learn the art of Tuscan cuisine. Enjoy the fruits of your labor for tonight’s dinner. (B&D)

Day 5 - September 15 Florence—Bologna—Abano

Today we leave Florence and head to Bologna and Abano.  Bologna is home to the oldest operating university in the world, Alma Mater Studiorum, where the Hippocratic Oath was reintroduced in the 16^th century. Today, you can decide if you want to explore from a medical or cultural lens because it’s your choice! Delve into Bologna’s contributions to medical history with a visit to the Luigi Cattaneo Museum, with its collection of anatomical waxes dating to the 18th and 19th centuries, when medical scientists began shifting their attention from the study of human anatomy to that of pathology, in order to understand the cause and development of certain anomalies. Afterwards, embark on a walking tour from the museum to the city center.-OR- Explore Bologna’s cultural charms during a tour of the Old Town featuring the notable Two Towers, and the impressive Cathedral before enjoying some time on your own. Whatever your pick, meet up over a lasagna lunch in a local eatery. Savor the taste of traditional products such as Parmigiano cheese, balsamic vinegar, mortadella cured meat and more. This afternoon, take in the views during your journey to Abano, your home for the next 3 nights. After settling in, relax over dinner at the hotel this evening. (B,L&D) HOTEL: Plaza Hotel, Abano

Day 6 - September 16            Abano –Padua-Euganean Hills-Abano

Get to know Padua, an ancient city rooted in legend. Set in the picturesque Veneto region, some believe that Padua was founded by war heroes after the fall of Troy. Visit Palazzo Bo, the historic seat of the University of Padua, established in 1222 C.E. Tour the first permanent anatomical theater in the world, inaugurated in 1595 by Hieronymus Fabricius – the "The Father of Embryology." Wrap up your morning in the bustling fruit and vegetable stalls of Piazza delle Erbe, where university students traditionally celebrate their degrees. Spend the afternoon however you’d like with free time in Padua. After lunch on your own in the city, return to the hotel for a learning session. Later, take in the sights of the Euganean Hills on your way back to visit Villa Valsanzibio, a 350-year-old property with a garden that was planted in thanks to God from the owners who survived the plague. Tour the property with the owners and take in the estate’s impressive 16-foot boxwood hedge labyrinth. Sip an aperitif on the terrace before saying goodbye to the garden.(B)

 Day 7 - September 17 Abano—Padua—Abano

Visit the Orto Botanico (UNESCO), Padua’s Botanical Garden. Founded in 1545, it is the oldest existing university botanical garden in the world. The Senate of the Venetian Republic approved its foundation for the cultivation of medicinal plants. Explore the original Renaissance Garden and see the contrast with the newest addition, the Biodiversity Garden, in the company of a local expert. Enjoy some free time to grab lunch on your own in Padua, soaking in the vibrant atmosphere of this university town that counted Copernicus, Vesalius, and William Harvey among its most prominent students. Return to the hotel in the afternoon for a learning session. Relax afterward with an included dinner in your hotel.(B&D)

Day 8 - September 18 Abano—Venice

Board the coach and head to Venice (UNESCO). You’ll trade wheels for water and take a boat to the isle of Murano. Famous for its glass-blowing foundries, Murano’s history with glassmaking dates back 1,500 years. Enjoy an expert glass-blowing demonstration, a renowned tradition on the island. You’ll also learn about a historic Venetian pathology that this craft caused: the “glassman’s emphysema”. Next, spend time getting to know the Scuola Grande di San Marco, one of seven Venetian sodality institutions assisting those in need. The imposing building houses both the Museum of Medicine and a fully functioning hospital, which has been serving the community for over 200 years. View the surgical instruments dating to the 1800s and the medical library with its 8,000 medical tomes, some dating from the 1300s. On your return to the hotel, take note of the Ponte di Rialto, the marble bridge spanning the city’s Grand Canal. Once you get back, sit down with your fellow travelers for another learning session. You’ll have dinner on your own tonight ahead of an evening on the town. Tonight, delve into Venice’s classical music heritage while you enjoy a live performance of the Interpreti Veneziani Ensamble, featuring music by the great Venetian composer Antonio Vivaldi. (B) Hotel: Palazzo Veneziano, Venice

 Day 9 - September 19 Venice

Explore the Floating City your way because it’s your choice! For your first choice, explore the Island of Lazaretto Nuovo, where, beginning in 1468, the Senate of the Republic put in place a "quarantine" for ships arriving from the various ports of the Mediterranean, suspected of being carriers of the disease -OR- Dive into local culture and explore the monumental complex of St. Mark’s Square in company of a local expert. Your visit includes views of the majestic Doge’s Palace, a Gothic masterpiece adorned with marble, the Bridge of Sighs, and the Basilica of St. Mark with its dazzling mosaic interiors. Enjoy some free time to have lunch and explore the city on your own. This afternoon, you’ll return to the hotel for one final learning session. This evening, toast to the end of an enriching journey through the art and science of Italy during a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Then bid farewell to Venice as you return to your hotel in grand style during a gondola ride. (B&D)

Day 10 - September 20 Venice 

Today your Italy Art of Medicine tour comes to an end after 9 nights of new friends, new knowledge and memories to last a lifetime. Arriverderci! (B)