Day 1 - Bologna

Scheduled flight to Bologna - transfer with our tour manager in our private executive coach to the 4* Tre Vecchi Hotel in Bologna - dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 2 - Bologna & Pinacoteca Nazionale

Guided tour of the buildings and porticoed streets of Bologna, home to medieval palaces and the oldest university in Europe - afternoon visit to one of Northern Italy’s finest galleries, the Pinacoteca Nazionale housing works of the great Northern Italian artists including Giotto, Raphael and Perugino.

Day 3 - Ferrara, Palazzo Schifanoia & Castello Estense

With many medieval houses, a 12th century cathedral, the palaces of the d’Este dynasty and one of the region’s greatest walled towns, Ferrara is one of Italy’s hidden gems - guided tour of the magnificent Palazzo Schifanoia with its wonderful Cycle of the Months fresco by Francesco Della Cossa and Ercole de’ Roberti - afternoon guided tour at the 14th century Castello Estense taking in such sights as the 15th century frescoes, the dungeons and the wonderful views from the Torre dei Leoni.

Day 4 - Basilica of Sant’Apollinare & Ravenna guided tour

Morning visit to the beautifully decorated 6th century Basilica of Sant’Apollinare in the small town of Classe - guided tour of Ravenna, once the capital of Rome’s Western Empire and one of the great seats of Byzantine art in Europe, taking in the magnificent 6th century Basilica di Sant’ Apollinare Nuovo and the mosaics of St Vitale and the Mausoleo di Galla Placidia.

Day 5 - Mantova - Palazzo Ducale & Palazzo Te

Guided tour of the Palazzo Ducale, once one of Europe’s largest palaces and now housing a wonderful art collection including the frescoes in the ‘Camera degli Sposi’ by Mantegna - visit to the magnificent Palazzo Te and Giulio Romano’s ‘Room of Giants’.

Day 6 - Bologna

Morning free before our transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight home.

Five nights at the 4* Tre Vecchi Hotel, located a ten minute walk from Bologna’s historic centre. Dinner is served at a restaurant close to our hotel on the first night and the remaining four nights are on bed and breakfast basis. All rooms are en suite.

Single room supplement £119

Insurance

Entrance fees to places of interest (State run museums free to over 65’s)

Gratuities

Remember this itinerary is just our suggestion. Tailor make this tour exclusively for your group to suit your members’ budget or preferences. You could:

• combine with visits to Florence or Parma & Modena
• stay at a 3* hotel
• on half board basis
• with fewer or different excursions
• for more (or fewer) days
• bring your own specialist lecturer
• include all entrance fees & gratuities