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Arts Sojourn in Tuscany
The Walled City of Lucca
June 3 - June 13, 2009
Arts Sojourn on the
Italian Riviera
Sestri Levante and
the Cinque Terre
June 13 - June 22, 2009Surf and Turf Sojourn
The Best of Tuscany
and the Riviera
June 3 - June 22, 2009
LUCCA: A TREASURE IN TUSCANY
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June 3 - June 13, 2009Click here for
Important
Trip Information
(including dates, cost and flight
info.)
Our Tuscan Arts Sojourn for 2009 takes us to Lucca, a remarkable walled city in the northwest region of Tuscany. On this Sojourn we offer you our highest standard of luxury hotel accommodation and fine dining – a gracious way to sample the best of Tuscany’s art and history.
Lucca is an elegant small city. Its broad streets, grand piazzas, and massive defensive walls bear testimony to Lucca’s historic wealth and political power. Vehicular traffic is restricted within the historic center, making Lucca a particularly pleasant place for wandering and plein air painting. You will find some of Tuscany’s most impressive cathedrals here; including the eleventh century, San Michele, the twelfth century San Frediano, and the Duomo di San Martino, with its fifth century carvings and works by Ghirlandaio, Civitali and Nicola Pisano. You can explore Roman excavations beneath the church of San Giovanni, or climb to the top of the Torre Giunigi for a spectacular view of the city. These are just a few of Lucca's abundant historical sites.
The birthplace of Puccini, Lucca is alive with culture. There are concerts on many evenings as well as outdoor events and markets in the piazzas. You will enjoy the evening passegiatta, and the animated night-life and café scene. The elegant shops along Via Filungo showcase many of the best Italian designers and should satisfy even the most diehard shoppers. You will have ample time to paint, or just stroll or ride a bike along the wide park-like walls that completely encircle the city. Spend a quiet morning reading or painting in the botanical gardens. Our ten day Tuscan Sojourn will enable you to experience this great city in a way that a brief tourist stop never can.
While Lucca is very impressive in its own right, its prime location makes it an ideal home base for visiting many other fascinating Tuscan cities. The great Renaissance city of Florence is less than an hour and a half away by direct train – a very easy day trip. Pisa is practically next door, as is the famous beach resort of Viareggio on the Mediterranean coast. We will introduce our traveling companions to the nearby spa town of Montecatini Terme where we will take the antique funicular railway up to the charming little hill town of Montecatini Alto for an unforgettable lunch.
OUR ACCOMMODATIONS IN LUCCA
Hotel Ilaria on the Via del Fosso
Our love for Lucca is due, in no small part, to the excellence of our hotel and restaurant partners. For years we had sought the perfect hotel in Lucca . In 2006, after some serious pavement pounding, we discovered Hotel Ilaria within the walls of the old city. We were immediately impressed. From its attractive garden entrance, to the luxurious bi-level suites in the fourteenth century hotel annex, Residenza dell'Alba, it is obvious that great care and attention has been given to the renovations and management of this elegant four-star hotel. Every room is sound-proofed and air conditioned with nicely appointed furnishings, including tiled private baths with hairdryers. There is a lovely outdoor terrace where we will host our evening “show and tell” meetings, as well as a hot tub/spa and well-stocked complimentary snack bar for hotel guests. You will also have free use of the hotel bikes, wireless broadband internet point, and audio guides for planning your own walking tour of Lucca. A very extensive breakfast buffet is served outside in the hotel's winter garden each morning. We are absolutely confident that the level of service and accommodations at Hotel Ilaria will meet the standards of even the most discriminating traveler.
DINING IN LUCCA
The New York Times proclaimed the food in Lucca to be “among Italy's most compelling – almost certainly the best in Tuscany.” A rather lofty claim, but we won't dispute it! As a special treat, we have arranged for eight of our evening meals to be taken at “Gli Orti di Via Elisa,” a typical Tuscan trattoria, just around the corner from the hotel. “Gli Orti” is a very popular and well-regarded local place with a superb kitchen and friendly, courteous dining service. You may select full course meals from their varied menu of authentic Tuscan specialties as well as delicious pizzas made in their wood-fired oven. Every night's meal will be a memorable experience. We will also enjoy two special dinners at “Ristorante Giglio,” which the Times article cited as having “the best combination of authentic food, pleasant surroundings and professional service” of the many fine restaurants in Lucca.
San Michele
WHAT IS INCLUDED
All breakfasts and dinners are included in our price of $2995 per person sharing a double room as well as ten night's luxury accommodations, hotel transfers to and from Galileo Galilei airport in Pisa, all art activities and our pre-departure and in-country orientation services. We also have a limited number of singles and luxurious bi-level suites available at extra cost. See IMPORTANT TRIP INFORMATION for complete details.
When we receive your application we will you send an extensive information packet to help you prepare for your trip and we will begin the Sojourn with an orientation session on location to help you acclimate to the area. You will be amazed at how easy it is for even first-time travelers to explore this lovely part of Italy. Our goal is to help you feel comfortable in your surroundings so that you can get a true taste of Tuscany firsthand and accomplish your own travel and artistic goals at your own pace.
THE PAINTING WORKSHOP
The painting workshop will be conducted in an informal manner; as a group of friends, painting and sharing experiences in a supportive environment. There is no regimentation and no pressure to perform. You may paint when, where, and as little, or as much as you like. We meet together every evening as a group to discuss our work and travel experiences and we take our evening meals together. Matthew Daub is always available for those desiring a painting demonstration or for a one-on-one consultation, but we try to keep the atmosphere of our Sojourn workshops laid back. The emphasis is always on painting for pleasure. Participants may work in any medium of their choice; however careful consideration should be given to the material's portability and its practicality for international travel. Non-artists are always welcome and they have traditionally enjoyed our Sojourns as much as the artists do.
Click here for
Important
Trip Information
(including dates, cost and flight
info.)