Smart Travels Europe with Rudy Maxa: Florence / Italian Hilltowns

Two episodes plus bonus clips: Rich in art, Florence brings the Renaissance to life. Visit the great museums: the Uffizi, Bargello, and Accademia, as well as the landmarks of the Renaissance, the Duomo, Baptistery and Giotto's Tower. Beat the crowds in peaceful Oltrarno. An excursion outside of town leads to a Medici villa, a sleepy Tuscan town and a museum with inventions by Leonardo da Vinci. Italian Hilltowns of Tuscany and Umbria: Castles, vineyards, walled cities and fierce medieval rivalries that linger today--it's the Italian hill towns. Home base in dramatic Siena, with its intensely competitive Palio horse race. From Siena explore the multi-towered town of San Gimignano, watch grapes being harvested and drop in on the cheese festival in Pienza. Then head south to Rudy's secret picks: the haunting hill towns of Pitigliano and Sovana. In Umbria discover Etruscan tombs, visit the home of St. Francis of Assisi and quaint Gubbio.

• history
• nonfiction
• televison
• travel