Art Cities Winter Festivals 2009

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Umbrian Winter Festivals

Sunday 04 to Sunday 18 January 2009

Special off season price EURO 3300 or AUD 5500 per person in twin share

Click here for the Florence extension 28 December 2008 to 04 January 2009

A unique experience of Umbrian Winter Festivals, introducing you in a relaxed way to life in Italy's least exploited region

14 nights staying in Montefalco
with guided visits to Spoleto, Perugia, Orvieto, Assisi small towns and villages and private homes

Highlights of the tour
The Accommodation
Detailed Itinerary
How much does the tour cost?
What is included?
What is not included?
Talks and lectures

Focusing on post Christmas winter activities including the Befana and other 'Presepe Vive' which have been developed essentially to brighten up the short days and to keep the circulation flowing through winter. The mood is still very festive with live Nativity re-enactments in small towns and villages where local donkeys, cows, babies, virgins and the occasional camel with three wise men are propped up against the backdrop of ancient walls and straw filled stables for public visual consumption. Ambitious locals sell warm spiced wine and hot fresh baked bread, and there are often fires outside to warm our hands as we explore. Combine all of this with cooking classes, award winning wine, bruschetta and oil tastings as well as an exploration of late Medieval and early Renaissance frescoes inside atmospheric churches and the picture is complete. Except for the exceptional concert which will materialise at the time in one of the spectacular Umbrian venues . Day trips across the Valley of Umbria will take you to hilltowns where extraordinary treasures such as the cycles by Giotto at Assisi, Fra Filippo Lippi in Spoleto, Benozzo Gozzoli in Montefalco, Pintoricchio in Spello, Perugino and the young Raphael in Perugia, as well as Fra Angelico who is well represented in the National Gallery of Umbria.

This is a unique experience and will introduce you in a relaxed way to local winter festivals and real life in one of Italy's least exploited regions.

Highlights

Warm fires, award winning wine and local post Christmas festivals
An exploration of the artistic heritage of Central Umbria, including works by Giotto, Perugino, Pintoricchio and Gozzoli
Two Cooking classes in private homes
At least one concert in an evocative Umbrian venue

Accommodation

You will be staying in one comfortable centrally located accommodation at the Fabrizi family estate located just outside the walls of the medieval hilltown of Montefalco. The accommodation is ideally situated for our visits to nearby towns and villages. In 1991 a cluster of four of the farm buildings was converted into high quality accommodation, with a swimming pool added later. There are twenty-two rooms, all with their own bathroom and private entrance. Meals are held in a pleasant dining room with a large central fireplace and there are lounge areas in two of the buildings also with fireplaces. The thick walls and cosy central heating keep the temperature in the rooms pleasant even in intrepid weather. There are spectacular views across the Vale of Umbria to Assisi, Trevi and Spoleto. The region also produces some of the finest natural produce in Italy. The estate is still a working farm producing its own wine and olive oil which are used to prepare the delicious simple meals which are such a feature of the tour. Dinner is usually at the accommodation unless otherwise described.

Detailed itinerary ***UNDER CONSTRUCTION****

This is a preliminary itinerary and will be altered to accommodate seasonal activities, local festivals or the availability of guides or lecturers. However the essential content of the itinerary will remain the same. B L D means that breakfast, lunch and/or dinner will be included that day.

Sun 04 Jan 2009 Rome to Montefalco
You will be met at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci Airport at Fiumicino at 12 noon. Coach transfer to Montefalco in Umbria. Afternoon at leisure. Early dinner at the accommodation. (D)

Mon 05 Jan Montefalco artisans and Museum B L D
Neil Moore will introduce you to Montefalco while describing the local history and art. In Montefalco’s main piazza the Welcome lunch includes a feast of regional specialties and the award winning local wine. We visit traditional weaving outlets and Montefalco's beautifully presented Museum with fresco cycle by Benozzo Gozzoli and work by Perugino. The evening meal is at the accommodation every night unless described otherwise.

Tue 06 Jan Cooking class and Festival in Marcellano B L D
This morning we travel to a private home for a yet another blazing fire, robust home made wine and a cooking cooking class using home grown produce. An abundant lunch is included. Afternoon at leisure. In the evening the small town of Marcellano in the Umbrian hills becomes transformed as if by a filmmaker into the recreation of the ancient Christian scene of stable, virgin, baby and wise men, fully accompanied by animals, straw and manger. After we have passed the census taker we are treated to a falling star - literally plunging on a rope from the village steeple over our heads to arrive with appropriate timing at the manger scene.

Wed 07 Jan Wine tasting & Befana (Epifany) B D
In the morning we visit a selection of wine cellars in the countryside around Montefalco where you will taste the award winning Sagrantino wine. Tonight the star on a string converts to a witch on a rope swinging down from a spire into the piazza. In most towns and villages across Umbria a witch will appear miraculously on a broomstick and distribute gifts to the wrapped up children escorted from the warm indoors by their parents who have previously colluded with the witch and delegated the carefully labelled gifts. For the children, this is a bigger event than Christmas and often bears the most expensive gifts. If they have behaved badly during the previous year they receive only charcoal ( appropriately sweetened and edible however - no punishment in Italy should be too harsh).

Thur 08 Jan Day at leisure B D
Dinner is followed by a talk preparing you for tomorrow's excursion.

Fri 09 Jan Assisi B D
The home of St Francis, Italy's favourite saint. We visit the medieval castle overlooking the town, the Roman remains under the still-standing temple of Minerva and the Basilica of San Francesco decorated with frescoes by Cimabue, Giotto, Pietro Lorenzetti and Simone Martini.

Sat 10 Jan Todi and evening Concert B D
Morning visit to Todi. In the evening we travel to a concert in one of Umbria’s evocative hilltown venues.

Sun 11 Jan An artist’s home B L D
Morning at leisure and lunch at the accommodation. Your visit to a studio home is followed by visits to some of the small mountain villages which dot the Umbrian landscape on the road to Montefalco.

Mon 12 Jan Montefalco markets & Spoleto B D
Today is market day in Montefalco so there is a walk around the town to experience the atmosphere. Leaving from the markets we travel to Spoleto, a town rich in Roman and medieval history. We visit the church of San Pietro Fuori Le Mura which boasts one of the most outstanding Romanesque facades in Umbria before crossing the magnificent medieval aqueduct on our way into the city. We explore the ancient Roman centre of the town including the Roman house and visit the Duomo to see Filippo Lippi's final fresco cycle. On our way home we visit the fascinating paleo-Christian basilica of San Salvatore and the mysterious Tempietto at Clitunno.

Tue 13 Jan Bevagna & Spello B D

Down in the valley and just a short distance from Montefalco, Bevagna is one of Umbria's most popular towns. Originally a Roman town, it has a beautifully evocative piazza encircled by three churches and containing roman ruins. We visit a medieval house and roman mosaics as part of the exploration of this small gem. In the afternoon we travel to the delightful small hilltown of Spello and include a guided visit to the Baglioni Chapel decorated with superb frescoes by the Umbrian Renaissance master Pinturicchio. Free time in the town to explore the ancient roman backstreets and modern art shops.

Wed 14 Jan Perugia & Deruta B D

Departure for Perugia, Umbria’s largest town. In the morning a guided tour including a walk through the medieval ghost town under Rocca Paolina, a stroke of genius by the architect who was ordered to destroy the quarter of the city and build a Palace. Instead it became a virtual underground city. Free time for lunch, followed by a visit to an Etruscan well and the extraordinary Etruscan gate from the 2^nd century BC. We visit the ceramics town of Deruta ont he way back with over 300 shops and outlets.

Thu 15 Jan Gubbio B D
This morning we drive to Gubbio, an exceptionally well-preserved medieval hilltown nestling in a remote valley in northern Umbria. We visit the museum in the imposing Palazzo dei Consoli to see the extraordinary Eugubean Tablets, the most complete record of religious practices from anywhere in the ancient world. After free time we drive to the monastery of Sant' Ubaldo where the ancient 'Ceri' that form the focus of Gubbio's annual festival are kept.

Fri 16 Jan Assisi B D
We spend the day in Assisi, the home of St Francis, Italy's favourite saint. There is a guided visit of the town, the Roman remains under the still-standing temple of Minerva, and the Basilica of San Francesco decorated with frescoes by Giotto. Dinner at the accommodation is followed by a talk with slides on the apocalyptic fresco cycle by Luca Signorelli.

Sat 17 Jan Orvieto B D
In the morning travel to Orvieto for a guided tour of the town including the Duomo, among the greatest of all Italy’s cathedrals, containing the work of Luca Signorelli. There will be free time to visit the weekly markets and to explore the town centre with its fascinating array of shops, cafes and an award-winning gelateria. Cocktails and farewell dinner at the accommodation. ()

Sun 18 Jan Montefalco to Spoleto B
On the last day of the tour you will be transferred to SRome's Fiumicino Airport leaving the accommodation at 8am arriving not before 11am.

How much does it cost?

The price of the tour is EURO 3300 per person in twin share accommodation. A deposit of EURO 600 per person is required to reserve a place on the tour. This deposit is non-refundable unless the tour is cancelled. A limited number of single supplements in double rooms will be available at an additional cost of EURO 400. The full balance is due 60 days before departure. The tour is costed on a minimum of sixteen (16) people travelling and is limited to the 20 rooms available at the accommodation. Subject to final tour numbers and exchange rates the price may vary slightly. You will be notified immediately of any change.

What is included?

Airport transfers from and to Rome's Leonardo da Vinci airport at Fiumicino
Travel in Italy by air-conditioned coach
Full board on 7 days and half board on 7 days.
Meals prepared with fresh local produce
An exploration of the artistic heritage of Central Italy, with relevant art lectures
A booklet detailing the included art and artists
A cooking class with lunch, and a wine tasting
Guided visits to the culturally rich and scenically beautiful hilltowns of Umbria
Admission to all galleries, museums and historical sites included in the itinerary
A concert in one of Umbria's ancient venues
Free time to simply relax and take in the pleasures of your surroundings
The services of a tour leader throughout

What is not Included?

Airfares
Travel insurance (this is a pre-requisite of the tour)
Entry fees to places other than those specifically mentioned in the itinerary
Meals on excursions except where specifically mentioned in the itinerary
An optional excursion may be offered which is not included in the tour price
Personal transport costs, phone calls or tips
Drinks outside normal meal times, or additional wine in restaurants
Laundry: the staff at the accommodation will do your washing and ironing for you at a cost of Euro 20,00 (approx.$30) per machine load

Talks and lectures

A series of lively and informative background lectures on the music we will be hearing and on the history and culture of the region will be given during the tour. Topics to be covered include:

The Giotto fresco cycle in Assisi describing the life of Saint Francis
The frescoes by Luca Signorelli in the San Brizio Chapel in Orvieto Cathedral

Additional Information

What kinds of people go on Living Italy tours? The single feature which distinguishes the Living Italy groups is their desire to understand and appreciate in depth the places they visit. The interests of the group are usually wide-ranging - history, fine arts, music, architecture, food, reading etc. The age of group members varies greatly, but most would be more than forty years old and have travelled. With a maximum of twenty-eight places on the tour the group is large enough for you to find like-minded friends, but small enough for us to get to know you all.

What will the weather be like? We are working our contacts to arrange snow but this can't be absolutely guaranteed. January is winter of course but generally sunny and pleasant. It is a good time to visit central Italy and avoid the heat and crowds of summer. Daytime temperatures can range from 5 to 12 degrees and the sun sets at around 5pm. You will need a long warm coat with light warm under layers, hat and gloves.

How fit do you have to be? In order to visit and enjoy the natural attractions of the countryside and the historical centres of towns it is necessary to be able to walk well, as bus and car access can be difficult. While there are no medical restrictions on who may book a place on the tour, you should be fit enough to stroll for periods of up to an hour (with short breaks) and you should specially note that the towns are not called 'hilltowns' for nothing!. Wherever possible we break up walking tours with coffee stops and extended lunches and we have tried to mix busy and relaxed days in the itinerary. Remember that it is always possible to take time off from the program whenever you like.

Your Hosts

You will be accompanied throughout the tour by a local team of intelligent and graceful local Italians including Analita our official Umbrian tour guide, Cristina, Carol or other local Umbrians who will travel with you most days, and featuring father and son Piero and Giuseppe Fabrizi who own and run the excellent accommodation at Montefalco. The team has collaborated now for over ten years and will ensure events run smoothly for your holiday experience.

Neil Moore (www.neilmoore.it) B.A. (Hons) is a painter and etcher of exceptional ability who has lived with his young family for the last twelve years in the Umbrian countryside. Having graduated and then taught in the Department of Fine Arts at Sydney University, he made a second career as a newspaper illustrator for the National Times, the Sydney Morning Herald and other Australian publications. Now an established artist in his own right who exhibits in Europe and Australia, he divides his time between creative work and operating the Living Italy program together with his wife Carol Searle. Neil’s extensive knowledge and love of the history, art and society of Umbria will become evident as he leads you through this largely undiscovered part of the world.