Alessandra and I have created a new Aria Tour for 2018. Private and Secret Florence, Siena and Tuscany The 8-day excursion will begin on March 10 th and end on March 17th. These Spring dates will give us a quieter time in Italy and open the doors to very special places that are not normally open to the public. Each day will be created as its own work of art, focusing on a variety of themes. Here is just a sampling of what we have in mind: Guest Lecturer: Ross King We have engaged New York Times Best Selling Author, Ross King to give a talk to our group in the Duomo of Florence, based on his book, Brunelleschi s Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture. Understanding the story of Brunelleschi and the miracle of building the dome, the most iconic image of Florence, is the key to understanding the Renaissance. We are thrilled to have Ross King, who also wrote Michelangelo and the Pope s Ceiling and Leonardo and the Last Supper join us. His indepth knowledge and lively style will captivate you. There is nothing like having the author share the story and in the city where it happened! Music as You Have Never Experienced A private concert, as guests of Signora Simonetta Puccini, (the composer s granddaughter), is performed by a singer and accompanist who will play this exquisite music on Puccini s piano, the one he used to create his masterpieces. Imagine sitting in the salon of his home and listening to not only beautiful arias, but heard as he would have heard the music originally 100 years ago! Since Signora Puccini limits the use of the piano to a very few times per year, it is truly an honor for us to be able to offer this once in a lifetime experience. (Photo: Signora Puccini with Carol Faenzi)
Literature Inspired by the Beauty of Florence Many Americans and British expats lived in Tuscany, near Florence starting in the late 1800s. We have entry to places where writers and artists lived and wrote about Florence: Mark Twain, John Singer Sargent, E. M. Forster (Room with a View), Gertrude and Leo Stein, Bernard and Mary Berenson, Edith Wharton and many more. Not only will we visit some of the places where they lived, but we will sit in the gardens where they enjoyed their tea and share the passages they were inspired to write. We will explore further back in history the life of Italy s most prized poet, Dante Alighieri, born in Florence and then exiled, famous for writing The Divine Comedy. Masterpieces of Art Masters such as Fra Angelico left incredibly beautiful frescos in the cells for the Dominican monks in a monastery famous for the fiery priest, Savonarola, whose bonfire of the vanities eventually led to his own flaming end during the Renaissance. Cosimo de Medici 1 had his own cell for prayer and you will see how Fra Angelico (himself a priest) used his genius to make frescos come alive on the walls. Michelangelo destroyed thousands of his drawings before he died but he also left hundreds of papers behind, including his poetry and letters. We have special access to these hidden archives. It is an emotional experience to view them, in part because there are clues to understanding the artist that are evident only by viewing the original firsthand. NOTE: Currently, the Casa Buonarroti in Florence where these archives are maintained sent several of these drawings to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City for a special exhibit on Michelangelo expected to bring thousands of people a day our group will be in a private room to view drawings and poems without the crowds or glass barriers. (A fresco of The Last Supper, second in beauty only to Leonardo s also awaits you.) And much more.
Political Intrigue & Science The Medici family left their imprint on almost every area of life in Florence for over 300 years. We will visit their tombs where the Michelangelo-designed room, seldom visited or understood, will surprise you as we unlock its fascinating hidden messages. Galileo Galilei, excommunicated by the Church for his scientific discoveries, was protected by the Medici and lived the rest of his life in a peaceful home and garden near Florence. We will visit and also share the secret of his final resting place. Lorenzo de Medici The Tuscan Table and its Glorious Wine Not only will we enjoy excellent Tuscany wines and cuisine every day, we will visit special wineries, steeped in history and stories places that reach back to the Renaissance nobility. We will make an enlightening visit to a fifth-generation pasta maker, who will share the secrets of what makes Italian pasta so great. This is an education also on gluten and you will walk away understanding how to make healthy choices.
Siena, Arch Rival of Florence Known for the stunning beauty of its Cathedral, it is also the birthplace of St. Catherine, a formidable woman who changed the course of Papal history and negotiated peace treaties. We will visit her home as well as the home of the oldest, still operating bank in the world, the Monte dei Paschi Bank. Siena is most famous for its Palio the horse race that takes place on the uniquely designed Piazza del Campo itself an architectural gem. The contrade or separate districts within the city have roots into the Middle Ages and each is named after a symbol, such as an animal. These fiercely competitive districts scheme and plot each year to win the Palio. We will unlock the secrets to the contrade, and their mythic symbology. The Whole Week in a Villa! We will stay the entire week in our beautiful 17 th century Villa, located in the Tuscan countryside near Florence. We will make day trips and most of the time, return home for a chef prepared meal and relaxation. Transportation will be provided in a luxury Mercedes Benz van, driven by Alessandra s husband, Paolo, owner of Tuscany Driver. A portion of your tour cost is donated to the museums and organizations that we will visit, including the Puccini Foundation and the Casa Buonarroti. The funds are used for restoration projects. The total cost of the tour per person is $8,500 (based on double occupancy). (Single supplements are available for $990.)
Absolutely everything is included in this cost except airfare. We have a travel agent available to help you with your airline tickets, travel insurance and hotel arrangements if necessary. Summary of What s Included: 8 days, 7 nights in our comfortable and beautifully restored 17 th century villa. Each room has a stunning view of the Italian countryside and is beautifully appointed. A relaxing massage upon arrival. Luxury Transportation which also includes transfers on the day the tour begins and the day the tour ends from and to the airport, train station or hotel in Florence. Breakfast and Sumptuous Lunch every day. Dinner every day except Saturday, as the tour ends in the afternoon. (includes wine, of course!) All fees, admissions, guides, gratuities. A non-refundable 50% deposit is required to hold your place by check or credit card. The remaining 50% is due January 1, 2018. We strongly recommend you purchase travel insurance in the event you cannot travel. Because we work with small businesses in Tuscany, we cannot issue refunds for any reason, should you need to cancel the trip. Our travel agent can easily arrange this for you. The tour begins and ends in Florence. All you have to do is arrive. We take care of everything else. Some Comments from our Guests: An immersion into beauty. Carol and Alessandra exceeded our expectations every day. Anne P., Houston, TX This is the way to travel, like royalty! Bill and Sheila B, Chicago Carol shares the wealth of her personal contacts that enable intriguing and historically significant experiences simply not available to the average tourist. And the time spent with Alessandra learning the truth about the Medici s impact on the world, exploring Michelangelo s life both inside and out of his art, was incredibly exciting. Truly an unforgettable trip - Kurt and Julie T, Indianapolis, IN The best food I have ever enjoyed anywhere in the world. Kathy M, New York City
Absolutely perfect. Carol and Alessandra s attention to detail made every moment an exquisite experience. - Joan W, Indianapolis, IN I loved every minute of this trip. - Dr. Sheila S, New York City Thank you for your passion and planning in putting together the trip of our lives. - Tom and Suzanne V, Bloomington, IN I have lived in Europe part time for many years, but have never seen Italy like this. Carol and Alessandra opened many hidden doors that gave us unforgettable experiences every day. They have created something very special. - Carol O, Samos, Greece Our View of the Countryside