Italy is connected to Europe by an extensive rail system, so the Roberts hop an overnight train from Paris to Florence, the alleged birthplace of the Renaissance movement in Europe. The family is met in Florence by a local guide, Marco, who takes them to the nearby towns of Pisa, to see just how much that tower leans, and Lucca, where they ride bikes on the ancient castle walls. Back in Florence, they learn about the powerful Medici family and the Renaissance by visiting magnificent buildings and museums. Then they head out into the Tuscan countryside to stay at a villa tucked into one of the local vineyards. They learn how to cook like the locals and ride horses with polo horse trainers, and then they head to an actual polo match and explore un-touristed local towns. The nearby hill towns of San Gimignano and Siena capture their imagination as do the huge slices of pizza and mounds of gelato.