For the love of the automobile

Turin is the birthplace of much of modern Italy and is also the source of some of Italy ’ s most famous brands of cars , furniture , pens and boats . Whilst the spirit of Italian culture is perhaps associated with Florence and Rome , the practicalities of design and production have sprung out of Turin . Let your fascinating love affair with the automobile start here in Turin , which has witnessed the birth of renowned brands such as Fiat and Pininfarina , before exploring another famous brand near Milan : Alfa Romeo . Near Modena you can be entranced by the stallion of motorcars , Ferrari , whilst another exclusive marque , Lamborghini , has its origins nearby too . So , within the space of less than two hundred miles , you have the places of genesis of some of the most famous and romantic cars of all time .

Suggested visits Turin : Museo dell ’ Automobile , Lingotto , Mirafiori motor village , Pininfarina museum , Juventus stadium , the Egyptian museum , the Turin shroud Modena : Ferrari museum , Marinello factory 20 kms away , 3 Michelin star restaurant Osteria Francescana Near Modena : Lamborghini , Maserati museum , Pagani Bologna : Ducati museum

We include : British Airways flights London Gatwick to Turin , returning from Bologna to London Gatwick Two nights ’ bed and breakfast at the Grand Hotel Sitea , Turin in a Classic room Three nights ’ bed and breakfast at the Hotel Rechigi Park , Modena in a Classic room Hire of a group B car for the duration of the holiday

Prices from about £ 1,750 per person

( entrance fees are not included and pre-booking is recommended where possible )

In the footsteps of Palladio

This holiday is not just a highly desirable and justifiable trail seeking out the major works of the great High Renaissance architect , Andrea Palladio , but also a wonderful excuse to explore and discover a little-known region in north-east Italy , tucked between the two great cities of Verona and Venice . Based on the outskirts of Vicenza , and therefore easily accessible by car , you have time to explore both the elegant city of Vicenza itself but also to venture into the countryside to the south and north .

Suggested visits Vicenza : Acquaint yourself with the city of Vicenza : elegant , dignified , compact and home to several of Palladio ’ s masterpieces . Amongst his 23 buildings that are here , be sure to see the Palazzo Thiene , the Palazzo Chiericati and the Teatro Olimpico , and then before heading back to your hotel , visit La Rotonda , one of Palladio ’ s most famous buildings . Villa Pisani , Villa Pojana and Villa Badoer Bassano del Grappa , Villa di Maser and Villa Emo Villa Foscari ( la Malcontenta ) on the Brenta canal

We include : British Airways flights London Gatwick to Verona , returning from Venice ( or Verona if preferred ) to London Gatwick . Four nights ’ bed and breakfast at the Villa Michelangelo , Vicenza in a classic double room Hire of a group B car for the duration of the holiday

Prices from about £ 1,450 per person

In the footsteps of Michelangelo

Michelangelo Buonarroti , sculptor , painter , poet and architect , is often thought of as the archetypal Renaissance man and his work ranks amongst the most famous in existence . His influence on Western art has been profound . With this holiday you can follow in the footsteps of Michelangelo and explore his work in both Florence and Rome , perhaps re-discovering famous pieces you have seen before but also witnessing for the first time new masterpieces in both cities .

Suggested visits Florence : Piazza San Marco , the Accademia , housing David , Prisoners , Pieta di Palestrina and St Matthew . The Church of San Lorenzo houses the Medici tombs and Michelangelo ’ s allegorical statues of Dawn and Dusk , Night and Day . The Pieta or the Deposition of Christ in the Opera dell Duomo . Rome : St Peter ’ s with the Dome , the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and the Pieta . Other works include the Porta Pia in the Aurelian walls , the Palazzo Farnese , the statue of Moses in the church of San Pietro in Vincoli , the statue of Christ the Redeemer in the church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva . We include : British Airways flights London to Pisa or Florence , returning from Rome to London Three nights at the Hotel Helvetia and Bristol , Florence in a classic double room Three nights at the Hotel Inghilterra in a classic double room Private car transfer Pisa or Florence airport to Florence hotel and back to station Private car transfer Rome station to Rome hotel and back to airport First class rail travel from Florence to Rome

Prices from about £ 1,920 per person

In the footsteps of the Medicis

It is impossible to understand Florence , even as we see the city today , without knowing something of the history of the Medici family , a wealthy banking family who enabled Florence to flourish from the 15th Century under the leadership of Cosimo the Elder and then Lorenzo the Magnificent , both benefactors to scholars and artists . With this holiday we guide you to places both in the city itself and suggest you visit some of the numerous Medici villas in the countryside around Florence . The architectural period stretches from the mid 15th Century to the end of the 16th Century .

Suggested visits Florence : Palazzo Medici Riccardi , designed for Cosimo the Elder by Michelozzo and dating from 1444 . A glorious highlight of the palace today is the Chapel frescoed in 1459 by Benozzo Gozzoli , representing the Procession of the Magi . The Church of San Lorenzo , begun by Brunelleschi in 1420 and the Medici parish church . Within the same complex are the Medici Chapels housing the Medici tombs , partly the work of Michelangelo . The Bargello , once a police station and prison for the Medicis and now a national museum displaying sculptures by Michelangelo and Donatallo . Palazzo Pitti . Near Florence : The Medici villas at Poggio a Caiano and Artimino , Fiesole ,

la Petraia and Pratolino

We include : British Airways flights London to Pisa or Florence return . Four nights ’ bed and breakfast at Villa la Massa , Candeli in a deluxe room Hire of a group B car for the duration of the holiday Prices from about £ 1,760 per person