Vesalius Trust Florence, Bologna, Venice, Padua, And The Aeims ...
VESALIUS TRUST
Florence, Bologna, Venice, Padua, and the AEIMS Conference in Milan
October 27 – November 8, 2009
Itinerary
Tuesday, October 27
Depart U.S.
• Depart on independent flights to Florence
Wednesday, October 28
Arrive Florence
• Upon our arrival in Florence, transfer independently to the centrally-located Hotel
Balestri for check in. The site of the Hotel Balestri is on the Arno River, just a few blocks
from the famous Ponte Vecchio.
• Meet an expert local guide for an afternoon walking tour of sites near our hotel, including
the Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, and Brunelleschi’s Duomo.
• Lunch and dinner are independent.
Accommodations: Hotel Balestri, Florence
Thursday, October 29
Florence
• Buffet breakfast is included this morning at the hotel.
• Our guide will lead us on another guided walk, crossing the Arno and arriving at “La
Specola”, the museum of Zoology and Natural History located next the Pitti Palace and
the expansive Boboli Gardens. Here we will visit the museum’s famed wax anatomical
models created in the 18th century by Clemente Susini and the Wax Modeling Workshop.
• Break time for an independent lunch.
• Cross back over the river by foot with our guide and visit the Institute and Museum of the
History of Science, which is located just steps from our hotel.
• Lunch and dinner are independent.
Accommodations: Hotel Balestri, Florence (B)
Friday, October 30
Florence
• Buffet breakfast is included this morning at the hotel.
• This morning visit the University of Florence Museum of Pathological Anatomy to see
their collection of wax anatomical models. Pending confirmation
• Break for an independent lunch.
• Then enjoy a guided tour to the Galleria dell’Accademia, Florence’s legendary sculpture
gallery which is home to Michelangelo’s David.
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• The rest of the day is free to explore Florence at your leisure.
• Lunch and dinner are independent.
Accommodations: Hotel Balestri, Florence (B)
Saturday, October 31
Florence – Bologna
• Buffet breakfast is included at the hotel this morning before check-out.
• Check out of the Hotel Balestri and board a private coach bound for Bologna.
• Upon arrival in Bologna visit the Teatro Anatomico (Anatomical Theater) at Bologna’s
Archiginnasio Palace, just a few blocks from our hotel. This large amphitheater is a
magnificent structure that to this day stands as it was built in the early 17th-century.
• Check in at the Hotel Orologio, which is ideally located in the very heart of Bologna at
the magnificent Piazza Maggiore, and just steps from the ornate Fountain of Neptune.
and enjoy time for an independent lunch.
• Visit the Scuola di Disegno Anatomico at the Istituti Ortopedici Rizzoli Pending
confirmation
• Lunch and dinner are independent.
Accommodations: Hotel Orologio, Bologna (B)
Sunday, November 1
Bologna
• Buffet breakfast is included this morning at the hotel.
• After breakfast meet an expert local guide and take a walking tour of the city, first
strolling through the beautiful Piazza Maggiore, and the Piazza del Nettuno. Visit the
Basilica of San Petronio, one of the largest basilicas in the world. It was originally
intended to be even larger that St. Peters in Rome! Admire the city’s two most famous
towers: the Torre degli Asinelli and its leaning neighbor, the Torre Garisendi. Then visit
the artistic masterpieces of the Pinacoteca Nazionale (Bologna’s National Gallery),
including paintings by Giotto and Raphael.
• The rest of the day will be left for independent exploration of Bologna.
• Lunch and dinner are independent.
Accommodations: Hotel Orologio, Bologna (B)
Monday, November 2
Bologna – Padua – Venice
• Buffet breakfast is included this morning at the hotel.
• After breakfast check out of the hotel and visit the Bologna’s anatomical wax museum, or
Il Museo delle Cere Anatomiche, where anatomy students were taught in the 19th century.
The museum is home to wonderful collections of both anatomical models and
pathological specimens.
• Board a private coach and drive to Padua.
• Independent lunch upon arrival.
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• Visit the Cappella degli Scrovegni, decorated with brilliant frescoes by Giotto in the early
14th-century (pending available time in the schedule).
• At 3:15, take a guided tour of the Teatro Anatomico, housed in Palazzo Bo at the
University of Padua. This was the first of its kind, built in 1594 and still wonderfully
preserved to this day.
• Continue to Venice, and check in at the Hotel Gorizia A La Valigia, located just a few
minutes from both San Marco Square and the Rialto bridge.
• Dinner is independent.
Accommodations: Hotel Gorizia A La Valigia, Venice (B)
Tuesday, November 3
Venice
• Buffet breakfast is included this morning at the hotel.
• Enjoy a walking tour of Venice this morning with an expert local guide. First, visit San
Marco Square and the magnificent Basilica di San Marco, one of the best known
examples of Byzantine architecture. Then experience the Doge’s Palace, opposite the
basilica. The Palace took over a century to build, and was completed in the early to mid-
1400’s. Before lunch, walk to La Fenice, Venice’s beautiful opera house, which
underwent a 2-year, 90 million euro remodeling project in 2001.
• Break for an independent lunch.
• Continue the walking tour with a stroll across the Rialto bridge, Venice’s most famous
and ornately decorated canal crossing. Visit the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei
Frari (referred to as the “Frari”), which stands in the heart of the San Polo district. Also
stop by the neighboring San Rocco church, which houses the relics of St. Roch and is
notable for a series of Tintoretto paintings.
• Dinner is independent this evening.
Accommodations: Hotel Gorizia A La Valigia, Venice (B)
Wednesday, November 4
Venice
• Buffet breakfast is included this morning at the hotel.
• Meet with a local expert and continue to tour the city focusing on the significance of this
city during the life and career of Andreas Vesalius (sites and exact schedule TBD).
• At about 1:00pm, the remainder of the day will be left to independent exploration of
Venice.
• Lunch and dinner are independent.
Accommodations: Hotel Gorizia A La Valigia, Venice (B)
Thursday, November 5
Venice – Milan
• Buffet breakfast is included this morning at the hotel.
• Check out of the hotel and travel to Milan by private coach.
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• Upon arrival in Milan meet an expert local guide and enjoy a guided visit to the Duomo,
one of the largest and most magnificent cathedrals in the world. For those who are
interested, ascend to the top of the cathedral to take in stunning views of the city below
(pending availability).
• Break for an independent lunch.
• Then visit Da Vinci’s Cenacolo (“The Last Supper”), the 15th-century mural depiction of
Christ – possibly the most famous artistic attraction in Milan.
• Check in at the Hotel Fenice, located just a five minute walk from the AEIMS conference
venue: the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano.
• Lunch and dinner are independent.
Accommodations: Hotel Fenice, Milan (B)
Friday, November 6
Milan: AEIMS Conference
• Buffet breakfast is included this morning at the hotel.
• Lunch with coffee and tea is included at the conference.
• The conference dinner this evening is included.
Accommodations: Hotel Fenice, Milan (B, D)
Saturday, November 7
Milan: AEIMS Conference
• Buffet breakfast is included this morning at the hotel.
• Lunch with coffee and tea is included at the conference.
• There will be an optional dinner arranged tonight on board the old Carelli tram, which
tours Milan as you enjoy excellent food and fine wines (additional cost applies).
Accommodations: Hotel Fenice, Milan (B)
Sunday, November 8
Depart for U.S.
• Buffet breakfast is included this morning at the hotel.
• Check out of the Hotel Fenice, board a private coach, and transfer to the airport for flights
to the U.S.
(B)
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