Tuscany Announcement
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TUSCAN JOURNEY October 8 - 18, 2009 Villa Ca’di Pesa Panzano, Tuscany Italy Based in the heart of the Chianti region of Tuscany, this ten-day program offers a harmonious menu of activities designed to be intellectually and aesthetically invigorating, personally restorative, and environmentally illuminating. Home will be the exquisitely restored Villa Ca’di Pesa, where Mona Lisa once lived, conveniently situated close to Florence, Sienna, and Pienza, and other sites to which we will make excursions. This thoughtfully curated ten-day seminar explores the inspiration and regenerative powers of this ancient land: its soil, light, crafts, arts, and the gifts of the earth. The program combines visits to cultural sites and lectures by Reed College Professor Lena Lencek; classes in yoga and Tuscan cooking; watercolor lessons by New York artist Bibi Lencek; and, of particular interest, training in earth, body, and spirit wellness by professional facilitators Jeff Goebel and Fawn Fitzsimmons Russo. TRIP HIGHLIGHTS: - Experience daily life in a Renaissance villa - Explore Pienza, the paradigmatic Renaissance city; Sienna; the fortress town of Volterra; Certaldo, Boccaccio’s birthplace; and Florence - Visit thermal spas for healing mud baths, massage and hydrotherapy; - Study ceramic pottery at Montelupo - Sample wines in a holistic vineyard - Prepare a Tuscan meal - Compile a “watercolor diary” - Practice yoga - Learn techniques of consensus for sustainability - Tour backstage at “Il Trovatore” with member of the opera orchestra SCHEDULE BY DAY: Day 1: Depart USA for Florence, Italy Day 2: Arrive in Florence/ proceed to Hotel Pendini in city center/ afternoon at leisure/ program briefing/ welcome dinner/ opera (optional) “Il Trovatore” or “Highlights of the Italian Opera” Day 3: Transfer by private car to Ca’ di Pesa, Panzano, in the Chianti region of Tuscany, for a welcome by owner and author Jessika Auerbach. The afternoon is for settling in; first workshop. Festive dinner in villa wine cellar. Day 4: Morning yoga/ visit to the open-air market in Panzano. Lunch at the Fattoria di Montagliari / afternoon workshop/watercolors/ and class in Tuscan cooking/ Dinner at Villa Ca’di Pesa Day 5: Morning yoga and workshop/ afternoon excursion to Montelupo FIorentino, to the most important ceramic school in Tuscany, and to the workshop of ceramic master Bellini Carlo/ evening workshop and dinner at the Villa. Day 6: Morning yoga and workshop/ excursion to organic vineyard and bakery/ lunch in Certaldo at La Saletta di Dolci Follie/ free evening in Greve Day 7: Morning yoga/ excursion to Sienna/ Lunch in Sienna/ continue to Pienza for tour of town and panoramic landscapes of Val d’Orcia/ overnight at Relais Il Chiostro di Pienza, a restored monastery in the center of town/ dinner at Trattoria Latte di Luna Day 8: Travel to the fortress town of Volterra by way of Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggio/ afternoon in mineral springs of Terme Giusti in Monsumanno Terme for mud baths and massage/ sunset stroll and dinner in San Giminiano/ return to Villa Day 9: Morning yoga and workshop/ optional individual or group shopping (the Prada and various designer outlet malls are easily accessible) or sight-seeing excursions/ Festive group dinner Day 10: Transfer to Florence, Hotel Pendini; day for guided or independent museum or shopping excursions with gelato at Gelateria Carabe/ dinner at Marinicca/ optional concert “Omaggio a Bach” by the Amici della Musica Day 11: Depart Florence for USA PRICING (per person, double occupancy) $5, 445.00/ $5,955.00 (single) Includes round-trip coach airfare (Portland, OR. /Florence/Portland, Oregon); travel insurance; accommodations and three meals a day; admission to museums, excursions, spa, and concert tickets; classes (yoga; cooking; watercolor). A deposit of $1,000 is required to reserve a space on this trip. Deposits may be made by check or credit card. Final payment must be made by check to: RENEWAL WORKSHOPS ACCOMMODATIONS: The historic Villa Ca’ di Pesa was featured on the cover of Conde Nast Traveler’s June 2006 issue and identified as a borgo (an entire medieval village) transformed into stylish accommodations.” The Villa is located outside of Panzano, in the heart of rural Chianti, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. The town of Panzano, nearly equidistant from Florence and Siena (30 km) is close to famed Chianti towns Greve, Castellina in Chianti, and Radda, and is famed for its exquisite cuisine and hand crafted leather goods .In Florence, the centrally located Hotel Pendini has been gracefully restored to preserve the feel of an old fashioned pensione. In Pienza, the Relais il Chiostro di Pienza is housed in the 15th century convent in the heart of the Renaissance city. TOUR SIZE: This tour is limited to a total of 18 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. The minimum group size is 14. Should the minimum not be met, we reserve the right to cancel the program, RESERVATION DEADLINE: September 19, 2009. CONTACT: http//www.renewalworkshops.org Prof. Lena Lencek: [email protected] Fawn Fitzsimmons Russo: [email protected] Telephone: 503-812-1033 Renewal Workshops PO Box 455 Manzanita, Oregon 97130 YOUR GUIDES: Lena M. Lencek, Professor of Russian and Humanities, Reed College, grew up in Trieste, on the Adriatic, and has a “home away from home” in San Gimignano, Tuscany, where, over the years, she has developed an insider’s knowledge of the region. Jeff Goebel, MRP, Certified Sirolli Institute and Covey Leadership Center Facilitator, is an internationally recognized consensus builder and sustainability planner. Fawn Fitzsimmons Russo is an internationally trained alternative healer, yoga and massage therapist who teaches wellness by aligning body, mind and spirit. Bibi Lencek, a professional artist, is based in New York City, where she teaches art and offers workshops in watercolor techniques. She spent last summer painting watercolors in and around San Gimignano. RECOMMENDED READING Giovanni Boccaccio, The Decameron. Biba Caggiano, Biba’s Italy. Dante, Divine Comedy E.M. Forster, A Room with a View James Hamilton-Paterson, Amazing Disgrace Paul Johnson, The Renaissance. A Short History. Frances Mayes, Under the Tuscan Sun Gary Paul Nabhan, Songbirds, Truffles and Wolves. An American Naturalist in Italy Elizabeth Romer, The Tuscan Year. Tuscan Life and Food in an Italian Valley. Beppe Severgnini, La Bella Figure. A Field Guide to the Italian Mind. A. Richard Turner, Renaissance Florence. The Invention of a New Art. Wes Walker, Tuscan Country. A Photographer’s Journey Tara Austen Weaver & James O’Reilly, Travelers’ Tales Tuscany Insight Guide Tuscany Fodor’s Florence’s 25 Best Made in Italy. A Shopper’s Guide .