Siragusa Tours Ltd

Description

This tour will be based in Siena, one of the loveliest cultural and artistic centres in Tuscany. The pedestrianised centre of the city preserves much of its medieval character, and the magnificent Campo, the setting for the famous horse race the Palio, is one of the most beautiful piazzas in all Italy. Indeed Siena seems a city dedicated to beauty – even the covers of the state account books were decorated by prominent Sienese artists – and it is a perfect base from which to discover the wealth of her artistic heritage and to explore some of the surrounding countryside.

Siena grew up around the Via Francigena, the main trade and pilgrimage route from Northern France to Rome, and like so many other Italian towns, boasts of Roman foundations. She grew to prosperity on the back of her mercantile and banking activities and in the 14th century had an important local school of many artists, rivalling that of Florence, her more overbearing neighbour.

The visit will enable us to see how the talents of Duccio di Buoninsegna, the Lorenzetti brothers and Simone Martini were put to work in the service of both church and state and to understand why and how their panel paintings and frescoes were produced. We shall be able to enjoy some of the most outstanding sculpture of the 14th century in the works of Nicola and Giovanni Pisano and appreciate the impact on Siena made by her two outstanding “local” saints, Catherine and Bernardino. But perhaps above all we shall be able to enjoy the truly “civilised” ambience of Siena, her palaces and churches, impressive walls and gateways, her bustling main thoroughfare and the steep cobbled streets of the fiercely proud local districts, the contrade.

On the days spent in Siena time will be allowed for independent exploring and shopping during the lunch break.

NB. Siena is a hill town and, like San Gimignano, many of the streets are steep. The trip will involve a considerable amount of walking and is not recommended for anyone for whom this may pose difficulties.

Other Details

Accommodation

Centrally located Hotel Chiusarelli*** in Siena, bed and breakfast in twin-share room with private facilities.

Course Cost

£560 inclusive of tuition, airport transfers, accommodation and breakfast, and dinner on first day.

Single Room Supplement

£95 (limited rooms available), £140 double room at single use

Travel Insurance

Once tour is viable and if we have booked a flight for you through Travelpack, you can call Larraine on 08444 930465 for an immediate quote (unless you already have insurance)

Flight

Ca. £190 scheduled flight to Pisa or Bologna. Note that this is an estimate (if it is less you play less), please see Booking Conditions for more information concerning nominated flights.

Local Transport

All transfers by coach

Group Size

16

Tutor

Daphne Joynes is a historian and art historian and has worked for the universities of Surrey and the Open University. She has extensive experience of lecturing in continuing adult education with the WEA, NADFAS, the National Trust and U3A, and has led many study tours to Italy. Her particular field of interest is early Italo-Byzantine painting and the Italian Renaissance

Related OU Courses

General Interest/AA315/A216

Itinerary / Study Programme

Day 1: Thursday, 1st March 2012

Arrival

Flight from London Gatwick to Pisa or Bologna. Continue by coach to Siena enjoying the spectacular scenery of the Apennines and the Chianti en route. After settling into our hotel it may be possible to take a short orientation walking tour of the city. Evening: Dinner included.

Day 2: Friday, 2nd March 2012

Town Hall and Churches

We will walk through Siena to the Campo to visit the 14c Town Hall (Palazzo Pubblico) and study the frescoes of Good and Bad Government by Ambrogio Lorenzetti and the Virgin in Majesty of Simone Martini – and those with energy and stamina will have time to climb the 102 metre Torre della Mangia and enjoy the spectacular views. We will then visit the state archives. In the afternoon we will visit two of Siena’s great 13c churches, Santa Maria dei Servi and San Francesco.

Day 3 : Saturday, 3rd March 2012

Hidden Siena and the Contado

Today we will take in some of Siena’s lesser known places: the Fonte Branda, the house of St Catherine of Siena, and San Domenico, before heading off by private coach into the countryside to visit San Gimignano with its “Manhattan skyline” of towers. In San Gimignano we will visit the church of the Collegiata, where we shall be able to see the magnificent 14c frescoes and 15c chapel dedicated to Santa Fina which was painted by Ghirlandaio; the Civic Museum and Art Gallery housed in the 13c Town Hall; and the church of St Augustine.

Day 4: Sunday, 4th March 2012

The Church and the Painters

In the morning we will visit the main art gallery of Siena, the Pinacoteca to see the outstanding collection of Sienese art dating from the 13c to the 16c, housed in a 15c palazzo, and then spend the afternoon exploring Siena’s religious centre – the Cathedral followed by the recently discovered Crypt, the Baptistery and the Cathedral Museum.

Day 5: Monday, 5th March 2012

Departure Day

The group will return by private coach to Bologna to catch the flight back to Gatwick. Depending on the time of departure there may be time for last minute shopping or an optional visit to the 13c hospital of Santa Maria della Scala.

This itinerary and study programme is provisional and may be subject to change in response to local conditions