- Essential Umbria
Gubbio, Assisi, Spoleto and Norcia
May 31 - June 13, 2012
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- Upcoming 2013 Sojourns:
Arts Sojourn in Tuscany
The Walled City of Lucca
June 3 - June 13, 2013
Arts Sojourn on the
Italian Riviera
Sestri Levante and
the Cinque Terre
June 13 - June 20, 2013Surf and Turf Sojourn
The Best of Tuscany
and the Riviera
June 3 - June 20, 2013
Essential Umbria: Gubbio, Assisi, Spoleto and Norcia
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 The Corsa dei Ceri Piccola. |
May 31 - June 13, 2012Click here for
Important
Trip Information
(including dates, cost and flight
info.)
Umbria is known as “the green heart of Italy,” and when you join us on our 2012 Arts Sojourn you will immediately see why. For those of you unfamiliar with this glorious Italian region - think Tuscany, with a similar landscape, cuisine and climate - only with fewer tourists and better prices.
GUBBIO AND THE CORSA DEI CERI PICCOLI
The first stop on our itinerary is Gubbio, northern Umbria’s hidden jewel, considered by many to be the best-preserved medieval town in Italy. It is a joy for artists and non-artists to explore. A wealth of ancient discoveries await you there, including a first century Roman amphitheater, but Gubbio's many cafes, trattorias, and fine ceramic and artisanal craft workshops will satisfy the modern traveler as well.
Above all, Gubbio is renowned for the Corsa dei Ceri, an historic race and spectacular pageant that is televised throughout Italy. As a special treat for our guests we have timed our visit to coincide with the children's race, the Ceri Piccoli, a slightly scaled down version of the main event that prepares the young people of the town to carry on this ancient tradition. But here's the best part. We will be viewing the opening ceremonies and start of the race from the balconies of the private Palazzo Ranghiasci, owned by Alessandra Gardino Ranghiasci (who holds the title of Contessa) and her American husband Rick Montgomery. We will be treated to a tour of the palace, which is not open to the public, and enjoy a three course lunch and wine tasting in the palace's garden wine room. We promise this will be a unique and unforgettable experience available exclusively to our Arts Sojourn guests.
OUR ACCOMMODATIONS IN GUBBIO
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| The Ranghiasci Palace will host our lunch and viewing of the Corsa dei Ceri. |
We will spend five nights in the four star Hotel Bosone, a fourteenth century palace with soaring vaults in the entry and lavish frescoes adorning the walls and ceiling in the elegant breakfast room where we will enjoy cappuccini, fresh baked goods and other Italian breakfast treats. Along with its storied history Hotel Bosone provides all modern conveniences such as hairdryers, mini bars, and individually adjustable air conditioning in every room. We have reserved the hotel’s superior rooms, many with excellent views, for our Sojourn guests. Also included in the cost of this Arts Sojourn is a gala welcome dinner on the beautiful outdoor terrace of the Bosone Garden restaurant, which will include local wines and your choice of Umbrian specialties from the restaurant's ala carte menu.
OUR DAYTRIP TO ASSISI
After our Sojourn in Gubbio we will head south to the famed pilgrimage city of Assisi and a visit to the Basilica di San Francesco, one of the most unique and dramatic of the great churches of Italy. The basilica, whose construction began in 1228, houses the tomb of St. Francis and his earliest disciples, as well as one of the most significant of Giotto's fresco cycles. You will have time on your own for lunch and to briefly explore this famous town before we continue south to Spoleto. On our way we will stop at the Basilica di Santa Maria Degli Angeli to visit the tiny rustic stone chapel where St. Francis began his ministry.
SPOLETO: THE ESSENTIAL UMBRIA
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Ponte delle Torri and Albornoz Fortress in Spoleto. |
Our Sojourn continues to Spoleto, one of our favorite Italian towns, where we will spend the next eight nights. You will love wandering the winding streets and exploring Spoleto's significant Roman archeological sites and medieval monuments like the massive fourteenth century Albornoz castle and the spectacular Ponte delle Torri, an ancient footbridge in one of Italy’s most dramatic natural settings. Spoleto is a lively town with numerous shops, galleries, restaurants, and cafes - a great place for enjoying the simple pleasures of relaxing with an espresso or aperitivo at an outdoor table. Spoleto is famous for its contemporary performing arts Festival dei Due Mondi, which transforms the town into an international stage in late June and July. We have timed our visit to experience the town at its vibrant best, just before the festival crowds move in.
As a regional transportation hub, Spoleto provides us with easy access to other Umbrian towns of great cultural and artistic significance. Perugia can be reached by train in only about an hour and even Rome can be accessed directly in an hour and a half for those wanting to venture a bit farther out. During our stay in Spoleto we will facilitate two day trips via public transportation, one to the charming medieval town of Spello, and another through the wild and beautiful Valnerina, to Norcia, known throughout Italy as a culinary center for all things pork.
OUR ACCOMMODATIONS IN SPOLETO
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A flower-filled street in Spello. |
Our home in Spoleto is the Hotel San Luca, the town's top-rated four star with a great reputation for relaxed elegance, comfort and service. Hotel San Luca retains its old world charm while still providing every modern convenience such as air conditioning, and marble baths with hairdryers. The San Luca’s spacious outdoor gardens and public areas are the perfect spots for us to enjoy a quiet home made breakfast and our evening pre-dinner group meetings. We are also including a "welcome to Spoleto" dinner in the highly regarded trattoria, Il Panciaolle, which boasts not only great Umbrian cooking, but also the most scenic outdoor dining terrace in Spoleto. Once again, your wines are included and you may order what you like from the ala carte restaurant menu.
WHAT IS INCLUDED
All thirteen nights of four star lodging and all breakfasts as well as our welcome dinners in Gubbio and Spoleto and the special viewing of the Ceri Piccoli with lunch and wine tasting at the Ranghiasci Palace are included. Our price of $2795.00 per person sharing a double room also includes ground transportation to and from Fiumicino airport in Rome and our hotels with the stopover in Assisi along with all art activities and orientation services. A limited number of single rooms and upgraded luxury rooms are available in both hotels for an additional supplement. If you desire a single room you must register early as the single rooms usually go very quickly.
When we receive your application we will you send an extensive information e-packet to help you prepare for your trip. We begin every Arts Sojourn with an orientation session on location to acclimate participants to the area. Our goal is to help you feel comfortable in your surroundings so that you can taste Italy firsthand and fulfill your own travel and artistic goals.
THE PAINTING WORKSHOP
The painting workshop is conducted in an informal manner, as a group of friends vacationing together, painting and sharing experiences in a supportive environment. There is no regimentation and we encourage your independence. Our emphasis is always on painting for pleasure. You may paint when, where, and as little, or as much as you like. We meet together as a group every evening before dinner to casually discuss our work and travel experiences. Non-artists are always welcome to join us and traditionally have enjoyed the Sojourns and our group meetings as much as the working artists do.
Our group leader, Matthew Daub, is a university art professor and nationally known watercolorist with works in many important public and private collections including the Metropolitan Museum. Matthew is always willing to have you accompany him to a painting site or for a one-on-one consultation. Although his teaching is always informal many Sojourn artists return home with new insights about their work. 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.
Arts Sojourn is neither a guided tour nor a traditional artists’ workshop. As such, it should not be expected that participants will be escorted at all times while in Italy. Please be certain that ours is the kind of program that you seek. We combine the substantial advantages of group travel with the freedom of a self directed vacation. Adventurous, though not necessarily experienced travelers of diverse ages and backgrounds are invited to apply. If your goal is to share in a rich and rewarding cultural travel experience with soon-to-be good friends, we welcome you to join us.
Click here for
Important
Trip Information
(including dates, cost and flight
info.)