A fabulous week long visit to the Umbrian and Tuscan lands of Piero Della Francesca, without question, one of the great artists and pioneers of perspective during the early Italian Renaissance period. He was responsible for creating an artistic style in which monumental, meditative grandeur and almost mathematical lucidity are combined with limpid beauty of colour and light in his paintings.
Day 1: Saturday
On Saturday, we can arrange pick-up and transfer from Ancona Airport to your apartment at rustic La Boccia. On the evening of your arrival there will be a welcome local barbecue and a chance for you to get to know your fellow guests and meet your host for the week, famed British artist, Michael Warren.
Day 2: Sunday
We drive to Monterchi, a hillside town, perched roughly 365 metres above sea level and home to Piero’s Madonna del Parto, one of the most important Renaissance works of art and the only known depiction of a pregnant Madonna. Originally painted to hang in the town’s cemetery chapel, the Madonna del Parto has now been placed in a former school building. There is plenty of time available for you to explore the Via dei Medici or Via della Misericordia, or some of the beautiful buildings which recall the period of the 16th century.
We then travel on to Citterna, a 13th century hill town close by, which has incredible views and panoramas, a horizon ranging from Verna to Mount Subasio and from Catria to the Gubbio mountains. From there we move on to Castle Scorchi, a 500 year old castle, where you will be able to visit the castle and its museum before having a typical Italian rustic lunch.
After lunch, we drive to Anghiari, a stunning medieval hill town which lies between the Tiber and Arno rivers. On the 29th June, 1440 the famous Battle of Anghiari, which was subsequently painted by Leonardo da Vinci in Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, reaffirmed Florentine rule in Tuscany. Busatti, the world famous Italian textile manufacturer is located in Anghiari and there is a chance for you to visit the Busatti shop, before returning to La Boccia to siesta before dinner.
Day 3: Monday
We drive to Cortona, the ancient Tuscan city surrounded by fortified walls, recently made famous by the novel Under The Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes and the movie of the same name. It is said that “an encounter with Cortona is an encounter with art”. Getting to know this timeless city is a real rediscovery of our past. Here you will have an opportunity to visit the Cathedral, Piazza della Republica, Hermitage La Celle and the Church of Saint Niccolo.
We stay in Cortona for lunch before traveling on to Lake Trasimeno, scene of the famous battle between Hannibal and the Roman Empire, where we have the opportunity to take a boat out on the lake to visit Isola Maggiore, the second largest of the three Trasimeno islands. Its name is connected with the legend of Francesco di Assisi, who is said to have stayed there during a stormy night in 1211. Its surroundings still maintain the appearance of a 15th century village, and this is where the poet Matteo was born. Then, it’s back to La Boccia, siesta and dinner.
Day 4 - Tuesday
We travel first to Citta di Castello. For the most part surrounded by town walls dating back to the 16th century, Citta di Castello spreads out along the Tiber valley, on the spot where the Romans founded the township of Tiberinum. It became a commune during the late Middle Ages and was subjected to the rule of Perugia, to that of the Church and then to that of Florence; only in the 16th century, under Cesare Borgia, did it definitely become a dominion of the Papal State. The Municipal Pinacotecca contains important works of art by Raffaello, Signorelli and Domenico Ghirlandaio.
We then travel on to San Sepolcro, a small walled town at the foot of the Apennines, famed as both the location of both the birth and death of its most famous son, Piero della Francesca. Here we have lunch before you have the opportunity to see the house claimed to be Piero’s home, and an opportunity to visit what Aldous Huxley claimed to be “The greatest picture in the world”, Piero’s fresco “Resurrection”, painted on a wall of the Palazzo dei Conservatori, and now revealed in a state of preservation, remarkable for its age. You can also visit the Pinacotecca Communale which houses many other important Piero works. We then return to La Boccia and a siesta prior to dinner.
Day 5 - Wednesday
At leisure. However, we will be organizing transport into Umbertide, a typical Umbrian market town, where you will have an opportunity to relax and shop. We will then transfer to Gubbio for lunch.
Lying on the slopes of Monte Ingino, Gubbio is one of the most ancient towns of Umbria, extremely well preserved over the centuries with rich monuments testifying its glorious past. Take the opportunity to visit the Roman Theatre, the Basilica and the Consuls Palace. Then it’s back to La Boccia and dinner in the evening.
Day 6 - Thursday
We travel to Arezzo, home to many of Piero’s works, namely his “History of the True Cross”, a stunning Renaissance cycle of frescoes located in the Bacci Chapel in the Basilica di San Francesco .
As its architecture shows, Arezzo takes pride in its ancient origin, first as one of the greatest Etruscan towns and then a strategic Roman city. The upper part keeps a remarkable medieval aspect with the Cathedral and the Medici Fortress.
The gothic Cathedral contains fine works of art among which “La Maddalena” by Piero and the stained-glass windows by Guillame de Marcillat.
Day 7 – Friday
Perugia dominates the Tiber Valley from a high, irregular hill, giving the town a very special aspect. The rich artistic and cultural patrimony and the natural environment make Perugia a unique city of major importance. Proud of its historical traditions and the beautiful buildings of the past, Perugia let itself be admired in its thousand picturesque corners where present and past integrate one another and create an unforgettable atmosphere. We will spend the morning at National Gallery of Umbria which contains the most important collection of art in Umbria for the Medieval and the Modern periods. After lunch we visit the Cathedral of St. Lorenzo and the monumental centre of Perugia is represented by the Piazza IV Novembre. The piazza is justly considered one of the most beautiful squares in Italy.
Friday night is our last meal dining out together and we will go to a very special restaurant to celebrate our week together over a fine Umbrian meal.
Day 8 – Saturday
After breakfast, we will return you to Ancona Airport for your return journey home.
