Tuscany

Our home in Tuscany is nestled within the ancient walls of Lucca. Delve into this lively medieval city and spend twelve days pursuing your On Assignment project, whether it's a collection of portraits or a short story set in a colorful seaside village. Work in teams with the guidance of your trip leaders and National Geographic expert Massimo Bassano. A typical day begins with a workshop or an exercise designed to hone your photography or writing techniques. Then we head out into the field to experience the region through hands-on activities. On a visit to Florence, record your impressions of Michelangelo's marble masterpieces in the Accademia, or photograph different coast to seaside villages architectural styles of the city's palaces and churches. Interview local artisans about their craft and learn to make pasta at an authentic Italian cooking class. Travel by train to explore picturesque Tuscan villages. Climb Pisa's legendary leaning tower, or visit Machiavelli's rural Tuscan estate. Head to the coast to explore Cinque Terre, where five brightly painted seaside villages are tucked in along the rocky shores below impossibly steep mountains. On hikes in the countryside, capture images of tapered cypress stands on the hilltops, or take portraits of local farmers framed by fields of sunflowers. Take advantage of free time in the afternoons to play a pickup game of soccer with Italian teenagers, or sample the flavors in one of the world's oldest family-run gelaterias. In the evenings, attend a workshop on oral storytelling, or set out to capture Lucca in different light on a nighttime photo shoot. On the last day of the program we share our final On Assignment projects with the group.