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Art Cities
of Umbria
& Tuscany
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WEDNESDAY 03 TO WEDNESDAY 17 SEPTEMBER 2008
EURO 4050 or AUD 6650 per person in twin shareCall 1 300 65 66 79 (Australia) to reserve a place
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A unique experience introducing you in a relaxed way to life in Italy's least exploited region
for 14 nights staying in Montefalco,
with guided visits to Spoleto, Perugia, Orvieto and Assisi in Umbria as well as Siena, Arezzo
and San Sepolcro in Tuscany
Click here for the tour
extension PAINTING UMBRIA |
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Combine an exploration of late Medieval and early Renaissance frescoes in Umbria with the discovery of a region rich in history and architecture - Etruscan arches, Roman roads and Romanesque churches decorated by familiar and unfamiliar masters, and ancient piazzas which at the same time are the centres of modern Italian life. Day trips across the Valley of Umbria will take you to exciting 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. Architectural wonders like the great Gothic cathedral of Orvieto with the apocalyptic fresco cycle by Luca Signorelli, and Perugia's Etruscan gate await you. A day trip into Tuscany takes us to visit the mystic works of Piero Della Francesca in Arezzo and in his birthplace at San Sepolcro.
The tour is organised around guided day trips to impressive locations where you will benefit from the expertise and knowledge of your guide, artist and historian Neil Moore (www.neilmoore.it), who has lived in the area for many years. Neil is equally at home explaining the details of Roman architecture or Renaissance frescoes. This is a unique experience and will introduce you in a relaxed way to real life in one of Italy's least exploited regions.
Whether wandering through local markets, delightful piazzas and truffle-rich oak forests, participating in regional cooking classes and wine tastings, or admiring the many architectural and artistic features that enrich the central Italian province of Umbria, you will be brought face to face with a vibrant and attractive way of life that has deep roots in an ancient past.
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*An exploration of the artistic heritage of Central Umbria, including works by Giotto, Piero Della Francesca, Perugino, Pintoricchio and Gozzoli
*Talks by Neil Moore (www.neilmoore.it) on specific art works to be
visited.
*Tasting of Montefalco's award winning wines
*A Cooking class in a nearby villa
*A concert in one of Umbria's evocative venues |
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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 and there are lounge areas in two of the buildings. There is a garden and terrace with spectacular views across the Vale of Umbria to Assisi, Trevi and Spoleto. This is often used as an outdoor eating area but is also a wonderful place to read or just take in the sun. The rooms are not air-conditioned, but the thick walls and shady trees keep the temperature pleasant even on hotter days. 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. |
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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.
Wed 3 Sept
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. Late lunch and afternoon at
leisure. The evening meal is at the accommodation every night unless
described otherwise. (L D)
[We highly recommend - particularly if travelling
with Emirates - arriving one day early and staying overnight at the
Airport Hilton Hotel to refresh after the flight.]
Thu 4 Sept
Montefalco
artisans and Museum
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. (B L D)
Fri 5 Sept
Perugia
We drive to
Perugia, an important city since Etruscan times. Our itinerary
includes the medieval ghost town under the Renaissance Rocca Paolina,
the Etruscan Gate and the National Gallery with works by Perugino
and other great artists of the Renaissance. Free time for shopping.
(B D)
Sat 6
Sept Spoleto
A town rich in
Roman and medieval history. The guided town visit begins by crossing
the magnificent medieval aqueduct and includes the church of San
Pietro Fuori Le Mura with its outstanding Romanesque façade, as well
as an exploration of the ancient Roman centre with the Duomo and
Filippo Lippi's final fresco cycle. Lunch is in our favourite
garden restaurant. On our way home we visit the paleo-Christian
basilica of San Salvatore. (B L D)
Sun 7
Sept An artist’s home
and evening Concert
Morning at
leisure and lunch at the accommodation. Visit Neil Moore’s studio
home in a 13th century tower in a small village where he will
provide an etching demonstration. In the evening we travel to a
concert in one of Umbria’s evocative hilltown venues. After dinner a
talk with slides on the fresco cycles by Giotto and Simone Martini
in the Basilica at Assisi. (B L D)
Mon 8
Sept Assisi
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.
(B D)
Tue 9 Sept
Truffle hunt
We are
accompanied into the forest by a professional truffle hunter and his
trained dogs and afterwards join the family for a simple meal of
wine, bruschetta, pasta and truffles at the truffle hunter's
home. Late afternoon at leisure. After dinner there will be a talk
on the frescoes of Pintoricchio. (B L D)
Wed 10 Sept
Siena
The city
contains many art treasures including Pintoricchio’s fresco cycle
on the life of Aeneas Piccolomini. This particular work is a
masterpiece of the elegant manner of his style with its landscapes
of descriptive clarity, his lyric narrative fitting well with the
medieval setting of the cathedral. Free time to explore the shops
and streets of the town. (B D)
Thu 11
Sept Cooking class and Wine tasting
This morning we
walk around the ancient walls of Montefalco to a cooking class where
we explore the regional Umbrian cuisine. Lunch is included. In the
afternoon we visit a selection of wine cellars in the countryside
around Montefalco where you will taste the award winning Sagrantino
wine. (B L D)
Fri
12 Sept
Bevagna
and
Spello
A
treasure house of Roman and medieval antiquity with a very fine
small piazza. Visit two beautiful Romanesque churches, Roman baths
with mosaic floors and the vaults of a Roman theatre below medieval
houses. We explore the hilltown of Spello and visit the Baglioni
Chapel with frescoes by Pintoricchio. After dinner there is a
talk with slides on the apocalyptic fresco cycle by Luca Signorelli.
(B D)
Sat
13 Sept Orvieto
Perched
on a cliff looking over a plain covered in vineyards. The Duomo is
among the greatest of all Italy’s cathedrals and contains the
dramatic work of Luca Signorelli. (B D)
Sun
14 Sept Day at leisure
Wander
through the town of Montefalco or simply enjoy the countryside. An
optional excursion will be offered. (B L D)
Mon
15 Sept Arezzo
A
well-preserved ancient town in southern Tuscany of Etruscan origin
which houses frescoes of the great Renaissance master Piero della
Francesco. After lunch we travel to San Sepolcro, birthplace of
the artist and home to two of his great masterpieces. (B D)
Tue 16 Sept
Deruta Ceramics & Torgiano
Deruta with
more than three hundred ceramics outlets has been a major ceramics
centre since Roman times. We visit a workshop and a selection of
shops in the old centre. Return to the accommodation, then travel to
Torgiano and visit the Lungarotti private wine museum. This evening
we say farewell with cocktails in the garden and a ‘last supper’. (B
L D)
Wed
17 Sept
Departure
Morning coach
transfer to Rome airport where you arrive at approximately 12 noon.
(B)
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The price of the tour is EURO
4050
(AUD 6650) per person in twin share accommodation. A deposit of
EURO 600 (AUD 1000) 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 is available at an additional cost of
EURO 800 (AUD 1350). DUS (Single use of a double room)
EURO1200 (AUD 1800). 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. |
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- 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
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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:
- Perugino and
Pintoricchio
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The Giotto fresco cycle in Assisi describing the life of Saint Francis
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The frescoes by Luca Signorelli in the San Brizio Chapel in Orvieto Cathedral
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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?
Late summer is a delightful time to visit central Italy. Daytime temperatures can be warm with a range from 18 to 26 degrees and the evenings are
warm but cooling. You will need a warm jumper or jacket and a scarf for the evenings, and it is reasonable to expect rain on a few days.
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. |
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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.
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