So, we're here! Glorious Florence in springtime with a wonderful welcome awaiting us as our mini-buses from Bologna Airport arrived through the gates of the ITT Marco Polo School. Waiting excitedly for us were our Italian host students and their families, and we could not have asked for a warmer welcome, both from the families and the weather; a balmy 18-19°C which was just perfect for exploring the city.

No sooner had we arrived, than our pupils were off to their residence for the week. Each Dollar pupil had been in regular contact prior to our arrival and the staff were impressed at the familiarity and friendship shown straight away. A busy day awaits tomorrow so it was home for some authentic Italian cooking, a chance to further acquaint themselves with their hosts and then some sleep after a long day's travelling.

This morning we were treated to a fantastic breakfast reception at the school and a chance to tour the building and briefly sample the Italian education system. Then, it was straight to Porto Romana, a 'liceo artistico' - or art school - for secondary pupils. In terms of impressiveness, this state school - located to the south of the Arno River - is off the chart. The level of specialism on display was quite incredible and a true eye-opener in terms of a very different learning experience. The tutors took time to show examples of student work which ranged from fashion portfolios to professional commercial advertising campaigns; very insightful and fascinating to see. At Porta Romana, pupils have access to university-level workshops that contain an incredible array of equipment in jewellery design, multimedia, marble and chalk sculpture, fashion designing and construction, as well as drawing, painting and printmaking studios. All set in a mid-19th century building that used to be the emperor's stables!

Then it was on to one of the Medici strongholds – Palazzo Pitti – which now houses a world class collection of Renaissance masterpieces by Raphael, Titian, Botticelli, Canaletto and Caravaggio. The volume and level of painting on display is, at times, overpowering but thankfully we had the help of our superb Italian guide, Julia, who directed us to key works, and explained in a very relatable manner the fascinating history behind Palazzo Pitti and its staggering collection of paintings, fashion and medieval armoury.

Our group also managed to get started on their sketchbook work and powered through the pages in producing drawings of the palace interior. An inspiring location if ever there was one! Back out in the sunshine, we then toured the incredible Boboli Gardens, for several centuries the countryside residence of the Medici family. These beautifully designed gardens contain tree-lined paths of cypress trees as well as ornate marble fountains, grottoes and ornamental terraces before heading to the world-famous Ponte Vecchio and some authentic Italian ‘gelato’; some pupils taking as their 'reward' four scoops of ice cream. A very good end to a very good day.

Fast, smooth, uber-comfortable; the high-speed train that was our mode of transport this morning got us to Venice within two hours and allowed the group to undertake relaxed sketching in their books while we journeyed and a full day to explore this incredible city. First stop was the must-dos: the Doges’ Palace, St. Mark’s Square, and the Basilica, and we were expertly shown through each by our guide Andrea whose level of knowledge and ability to engage his audience whilst communicating in-depth artistic, architectural and historical subject matter was highly impressive. Our pupils were superb in listening to Andrea bring to life the detailed and fascinating history of this city; its rise to become the medieval superpower of the age and its incredible merchant history, state governance, and patronage of the arts. In addition, they have really embraced the sheer volume and scale of the art and architecture they have seen. It is vast. The tour of the city allowed us to view masterpieces by three of the Venetian greats: Titian, Bassano, and Tintoretto – the latter laying claim to the largest canvas in the world which adorns the Venetian Council Hall inside the Doges’ Palace. With his enthusiasm and style, Andrea was brilliant in bringing to life how Venice became what it is. As a Venetian himself he was able to take us off the beaten track and show us some of the hidden sights and secrets of the city as well as give us an understanding of the engineering and architecture that allowed this city to rise from the water. And talking of water, our day could only conclude one way – on the water, by gondola, along The Grand Canal. Another very good end to another very good day.

9.00am and we were assembled early in The Palazzo della Signoria to await our guide Giulia, who had shown us round Florence so well on Tuesday. Today we would be visiting one of the art meccas of the world: The Uffizi Gallery. A regular in the world’s 10 most visited galleries with around 3.5 million visitors per year, The Uffizi contains the priceless Medici collection of Renaissance art, with the greatest names in art history all featuring: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli, Donatello, Caravaggio, del Verrocchio, Titian, della Francesca, Giorgione, the list just keeps going. It is an incredible gallery for our students to have visited and is simply impossible to do justice fully in just a few hours but Giulia, our guide, took us to key works that are hallmarks of the Renaissance movement. Key works included Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus and Primavera, del Verrocchio’s The Baptism of Christ and The Anunciation by Leonardo da Vinci and Andrea del Verrocchio. We were also shown a fascinating video detailing the restoration of da Vinci’s unfinished work The Adoration of the Magi; a six-year project highlighting the use of cutting edge technology such as air-tight chambers, high strength X-ray photographic techniques and a vast array of specialist treatments to ensure no harm came to such a valuable artwork.  

It was only a short walk next door to the historic Palazzo Vecchio (Old Palace) which is the traditional civic and governmental heart of Florence and, once, the stronghold of the all-powerful Medici family. Our host school, ITT Marco Polo, had very kindly arranged a reception with the deputy mayor who warmly welcomed us to the city and gave us some insight into both the history and current function of this iconic building. We were then guided through some of the magnificent rooms and halls whose walls and ceilings gave a glimpse of the wealth which the Medici commanded.

After the heavy stuff came a chance to relax over lunch in the city centre followed by an afternoon of retail therapy around the bustling designer shops of Via de’ Tornabuoni and Via della Vigna Nuova before heading back, bags in hand, to our respective hosts.

I may have said it before…but a very good end to another very good day.