Visit some of the most splendid and ancient mosaics in Santa Maria Maggiore (5th -13th- 14th century), with its extremely well-preserved cycle of mosaic panels dating to the 5th century. A short walk takes to the Basilica of Santa Pudenziana (4th century), possibly the oldest Christian church in Rome with its incredibly vivid mosaics.

Lunch and short walk to the Basilica of Santa Prassede (6th century).

Possibility to visit San Giovanni in Laterano and the Domus of Palazzo Valentini. Dinner in a traditional trattoria romana.

Overnight in Rome.

Breakfast and introduction of a very interesting theme: mosaic conservation work and copying. Stop at an artisan’s laboratory (dedicated to crafted stone), where micro-mosaics are created using the 17th-century Roman micro-mosaic technique. Visit the Studio del Mosaico Vaticano, where the 10.000 square meters that cover the walls of Saint Peter’s Basilica are being restored.

Dinner in a private palazzo.

Overnight in Rome.

Breakfast and private transfer through the ancient Roman road, Via Aurelia, towards the north. Amazing views over the southern Tuscany landscape, land of Etruscans.

Lunch and visit the Tarot Garden, a sculpture garden created by Niki de Saint Phalle. Final transfer to Orbetello.

Overnight in Orbetello.

Visit the Fai Museum in Villa Settefinestre and the villa itself.

Light lunch overlooking the sea.

Stair climb to reach Pitigliano, a unique town carved into volcanic stone. Pitigliano is also known as Little Jerusalem, thanks to the large Jewish community it hosted in the 16th century.

Overnight in Pitigliano.

Travel north through the famous winemaking region. Stop at Podere Forte, cellar and home of a magnificent mosaic by Clara and Mario Sarcinelli.

Light lunch and wine tasting of Montepulciano and Brunello di Montalcino varieties. Visit Montepulciano and the workshop of the Sarcinelli family where enamel, marble, ceramics, and metal become fragments of light and produce mosaic compositions of particular expressiveness and vitality.

On the way to Siena, quick stop to admire the magnificent Roman mosaic in Asciano. Dinner at leisure.

Overnight in Siena.

Visit Siena, to enter the Duomo and admire the mosaics of Antonio Federghini and the internationally renowned floor. Walking tour of Siena, with time to admire Piazza del Campo and learn about the famous Palio.

Overnight in Siena.

Private transfer to Florence. Morning at leisure. In the afternoon visit the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and the Baptistery of San Giovanni (with its 13th-century mosaic dome) with time to discover many interesting corners.

Light dinner on the terrace of a private palace in the heart of the city, Palazzo Gondi, where is said that Leonardo painted ‘La Gioconda‘.

Overnight in Florence.

Morning tour of the city center and visit the Uffizi Museum. In the afternoon visit the Opificio delle Pietre Dure, originating from the previous grand ducal laboratory, established in the 16th century to train workers in the precious art of Florentine mosaics. Visit of the mosaic studio Scarpelli that still uses the ancient technique of multi-coloured stones to create ‘stone paintings’. Visit a private palazzo.

Light dinner in the private garden of the palace.

Overnight in Florence.

Transfer to Airport.