Our daily religious services along with thought provoking lectures and discussions, children’s program, plus exciting optional sightseeing tours will round out a truly incredible Pesach experience.
TRANSFERS & OPTIONAL TOURS
Passover 2019
Transfers & Tours in Tuscany
Adventures in Northern Italy (AINI LLC) will be handling airport transfers and all group tours for our Passover guests. In order to better serve you, please reserve all your transfers and tours by March 22, 2019. For more information, please contact David Leibowitz; see his contact information below.
Adventures in Northern Italy is very happy to offer the following private transfers and group tours, and can also custom-design any other excursion you may wish to undertake in Italy. All payments are made directly to Adventures in Northern Italy through Credit Card, PayPal or bank wire transfer.
CONTACT PERSON: DAVID LEIBOWITZ
info@adventuresinnorthernitaly.com
www.adventuresinnorthernitaly.com
t. +972 525025089 | +39 328 6978083
TOURS
Sunday, April 21, 2019
1) FLORENCE BY NIGHT
9:15pm – 11pm, 55€/person
An exciting nocturnal walking tour that will give us the chance to appreciate the charm of Florence and its history. First we’ll ascend by van to a high point affording magnificent views over the entire city, which for many centuries was the capital of the independent and proud Florentine/Tuscan state; then we’ll descend on foot towards the Arno river, visiting some of the city’s most famous sites such as Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio – famous ‘Old Bridge’ over the Arno, Piazza del Duomo, Piazza Pitti, as well as other hidden corners as we unveil the city’s identity and personality by night.
Monday, April 22, 2019
2) JEWISH SIENA & KOSHER CHIANTI
9am – 5:30pm, 129€/person
In its golden age Siena was a proud republic, European financial capital, and arch-rival of Florence. The city boasts an incredible historic center of summits and slopes that harness the hilly terrain and create unexpected panoramas of brick, stone, and beauty. All roads in Siena seem to lead to the Campo, the inviting, lively, shell-shaped main Piazza, heart of the city day and night. The former Jewish ghetto is situated near this square, the synagogue hidden behind it with an anonymous facade, as was common for all synagogues built before ghetto emancipation.
Led by an art historian and a member of the Jewish community, we’ll have the pleasure of wandering through this marvelous town, learning more about its very particular history and present: life here is still based around the seventeen different neighborhoods or contrade whose medieval rivalry comes to a head twice a year at the dramatic bareback horse race called the Palio. We’ll tour the lovely 18th century synagogue and museum, meet local community members who will share personal or historical accounts of Siena ebraica. Afterwards, we can visit the Adarveadar atelier and admire the magnificent Jewish-Italian illumination work of the artists.
In the afternoon, we’ll make our way through the countryside of the Chianti region, with its splendid medieval hill towns and castles, rolling vineyards and olive groves. It is as if we are walking into a painting. We’ll visit the wine-making estate of a kosher Chianti Classico producer, and savor what is one of Italy’s best reds, before continuing north back to Florence.
Tuesday, April 23, 2019
3) JEWISH & CLASSIC FLORENCE
9:30am – 12:30pm, 85€/person
Our guide will introduce Florence on a walk through the city center, where we’ll discover the unexpected presence of Jewish history in some of the most famous landmarks such as the Duomo (cathedral) area and the Baptistery’s ‘Gates of Paradise’ where Tanach stories are illustrated, Piazza della Repubblica where the ghetto stood until the late 19th century, Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio area and Via dei Giudei (the ‘Jews’ street’), site of the first Jewish settlement. We’ll visit the grand post-ghetto Florence synagogue and museum, and meet local community members who will regale us with stories from the past as well as recount present-day challenges and opportunities.
Tuesday, April 23, 2019
4) DAVID
2pm – 3:30pm, 95€/person
We’ll be led by a superlative art history university professor to discover Michelangelo’s David, arguably the world’s most important sculpture.
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
5) FASHIONABLE FLORENCE
9am – 1pm, 89€/person
We will start with a tour of the Costume Gallery in Palazzo Pitti. The costumes on show range from the restored Renaissance dresses found in the tombs of Cosimo de’ Medici and his family (long the ruling family of Florence/Tuscany), to the collections of “Gala” dresses from the 18th to the 20th centuries. We will continue with the visit of the Ferragamo Museum, housed in a precious medieval building and showing the design shoes created by Salvatore Ferragamo. We’ll then continue our tour with a visit to several artisan workshops, which produce various special Florentine products, such as unique jewelry, perfumes, furniture, wood carving and leather goods. Our guide is happy to provide additional advice on the highest quality shops to visit in Florence’s historic center, from clothes to accessories to jewelry stores, so you can best plan your shopping experience.
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
6) UFFIZI GALLERY
2:30pm – 5:30pm, 95€/person
Again led by a superb art history university professor, we’ll explore one of the great museums of the world: the Uffizi houses the premier collection of Italian Renaissance art, featuring works by such masters as Botticelli, Titian, Michelangelo and da Vinci.
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
7) THE MALL – LUXURY OUTLET
9am – 1pm, 49€/person (without personal shopper)
1:30pm – 7:30pm, 99€/person (with personal shopper)
Situated a 45-minute drive away from our hotel, The Mall is a luxury outlet tailored to offer the visitor products from the world’s top designers at the very best prices: Alberta Ferretti, Armani, Bottega Veneta, Etro, Fendi, Gucci, Hogan, Lanvin, Loro Piana, Moschino, Pomellato, Ferragamo, Tods, Valentino and Versace are but a few of the big names present. Enjoy a truly unique shopping experience in a splendid architectural space, surrounded by the serene Tuscan countryside.
Those departing at 1:30pm will be accompanied by an expert personal shopper who will present the extensive offering available at the luxury mall on the bus ride over, help orient participants upon arrival and be available all afternoon for shopping advice and assistance.
Thursday, April 25, 2019
8) PHOTOGRAPHY IN FIESOLE
9am – 12:30pm, price varies with participant #
Fiesole is a small hill town situated 20 minutes away from the center of Florence. Photography enthusiasts can take in the sweeping views over Florence while learning from a renowned professional photographer. Apart from the panorama, there is much to stimulate the curiosity here: Fiesole has a glorious past as an important Etruscan and later Roman settlement, so we can visit the Etruscan and Roman archeological area and museum, and then stroll the idyllic country lanes leading out of town through the olive groves.
Thursday, April 25, 2019
9) SPLENDORS OF FLORENCE FROM THE HILLS
9am – 12:30pm, €79/person
Discover the perfect beauty of the hills, just a few minutes away from the busy city center, on this walking tour. Florence is surrounded by a crown of gentle hills with lovely views over the city, small medieval churches, olive groves and magnificent old villas: one of the most enchanting aspects of the city is in fact its vicinity to this rural splendor. Our walk will conclude with a tour through a historic villa gardens.
Thursday, April 25, 2019
10) PRIVATE FLORENCE & GARDENS
2pm – 5pm, 89€/person
We’ll begin the tour with a panoramic view of the city and surrounding countryside, before descending to two splendid gardens, the antique Bardini and Boboli gardens. While tourists crowd the city, we will find peace in these green oases, which will likely be in spring bloom. Then, we will visit a privately-owned villa and/or gardens, uncovering a part of Noble Florence that is rarely seen by visitors.
Thursday, April 25, 2019
11) KOSHER ITALIAN WINE TASTING
5pm – 6:30pm, 59€/person
We’ll have the opportunity to learn more about the fascinating and varied Italian wine regions from a sommelier, who will lead us on a voyage of discovery and tasting of five Italian kosher for Pesach wines.
Itineraries subject to change. Art Direction Giulia Alemani
© 2018 AINI LLC. All Rights Reserved. Photography Gabriele Basilico
CUSTOM TOURS
In addition to the above-described group tours, Adventures in Northern Italy looks forward to custom-designing any other trip you wish to organize before, during and after your stay in Florence. Some interesting ideas include the following:
Activities & Museums for Kids – There is a lot of fun to be had for kids and parents alike: in Florence, we can organize a marbled paper – making workshop, a frescoe -painting workshop, a show at Palazzo Vecchio with English-speaking actors, as well as visits to the Da Vinci museum, where we can experience the genius of Leonardo da Vinci through a guided look at his inventions, the Galileo museum with its great collection of scientific instruments, La Specola museum with its centuries-old wax anatomical models representing the human body with an impressive realism, and Palazzo Davanzati, where we can see how noble people lived in Florence in the 1300s – there is beautiful antique furniture, frescoed rooms, bathrooms and kitchens to explore. Outside Florence, the Stibbert museum is famous for its armor collection, Pinocchio park is a magical world for those in love with Tuscan author Collodi’s famous wooden boy, the Pistoia zoo is also wonderful and can be combined with a visit through Pistoia’s well-preserved historic center, and there is the Cavallino Matto amusement park and Il Gigante adventure park for older children.
Medici Villas – Between the 15th and 17th centuries, the Medici ruling family of Florence and Tuscany constructed a number of splendid palaces in the countryside, many of which also have fine Italian-style gardens that can be visited. We can organize a visit, for example to marvelous Villa La Petraia, led by an art historian guide.
Cinque Terre – The Apennine mountains dramatically conclude at the Mediterranean Sea at these five villages known as the ‘Cinque Terre’. A full day trip can be organized with a local Ligurian walking guide; it is also possible to go off-the-beaten-path to areas near the Cinque Terre that are beautiful and less frequented.
Truffle Hunt – An intriguing walk through splendid countryside led by a hunter of the elusive truffle fungi and his talented expert dog companion.
Volterra & San Gimignano – Explore two fascinating towns, the former famous for its expansive Etruscan ruins, the latter for being the medieval “Manhattan” of Tuscany with its stone ‘skyscrapers’.
Historic Spas – In Southern Tuscany, there are a series of natural hot springs that have been enjoyed for many centuries, such as that of Bagno Vignoni near Montalcino. Here, one can relax in a modern spa facility situated alongside a medieval pool that has been frequented by personalities since the 15th century.
Walking in the Chianti Hills – Hike on trails through a sea of olive groves and vineyards, exploring medieval hill towns enroute. Could be combined with a visit and tasting at a kosher Chianti producer.
Personal Shopper – Private guided shopping with an expert who has deep knowledge in the areas of fashion, art, craftsmanship and design.
In the Air – Spectacular private helicopter and plane flights over Florence, Lucca, Pisa and the Mediterranean Coast.
GENERAL TERMS
Adventures in Northern Italy (AINI LLC) requests that tours be booked by March 22, 2019. Any bookings made after that date will be subject to availability. Adventures in Northern Italy reserves the right to cancel tours, any time prior to departure, with the only obligation of the restitution of the amount collected. All excursions require a minimum number of 7 participants, except for the Kosher Italian Wine Tasting, which requires a minimum of 12 participants; custom tours however can have any number of participants.
CANCELLATIONS
- Up to March 22, 2019, Adventures in Northern Italy (AINI LLC) will refund full payment.
- From 22 March 2019 to 12 April 2019, AINI will refund 50%.
- For cancellations after 12 April 2019, AINI may partially refund depending on the circumstances and date of cancellation, but is not obligated to do so.
CONDITIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES
Adventures in Northern Italy (AINI LLC) and/or their employees act only as agents for the passenger in regard to travel, whether by car, boat, or airplane and assume no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay, or irregularity that may be caused either by reasons of defect in the vehicle or for any reasons engaged in conveying the client or carrying out the arrangements of the tour. They can accept no responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine, or other causes. All such expenses will have to be borne by the passenger.
DELAYS
Adventures in Northern Italy (AINI LLC) is not responsible for extra costs caused by delays or cancellation of air, road, lake, river or trail travel due to bad weather conditions, civil or government strikes or sickness.
INSURANCE
Adventures in Northern Italy (AINI LLC) HIGHLY recommends that our clients protect themselves with travel insurance to prevent any financial losses.
