An Italian Affair

Unique Travel Experiences

Two Festivals 2014

Two Festivals
Two Festivals

Contact:

Antonella Nichinonni at An Italian Affair:

+61 416 153 632,

antonella@anitalianaffair.com.au

ABN 57271392601

Chris McGetrick, at Bayview Travel:

03 9596 7299

  At An Italian Affair in 2014 we are celebrating the Artisan and the Artisanal Life both literally and figuratively.In this world of interconnection, of instant information & gratification the idea of the Artisan & the Artisanal life is more resonant and relevant than ever. Our tours are hand made and like all hand made products, every outcome is unique.Antonella has a deep connection to the peoples and traditions of her homeland. She has created a pathway between the worlds we live in and the magical world and people of Umbria. In this region many aspects of life have remained essentially unchanged for generations. Antonella takes you by the hand to experience the best, small scale & most authentic of Umbria. Visiting with her family, local characters and friends opens a window to a world of unique and non-commercial experiences.In keeping with our exploration of the Artisan we are firstly journeying to Norcia, at the foot of the Sibillini Mountains, where our focus is engaging in the peak culinary experiences Italy has to offer in Umbria’s most beautiful countryside. Our accommodation is the renowned Relais Chateaux “Palazzo Seneca” in the heart of Norcia. As we journey to the nearby plain of Castelluccio under the wing of our naturalist guide, Biagio we are introduced to the pinnacle of the “artiginale”, slow food production. Here food is grown and prepared simply as it has been for hundreds of years and al lover Italy these local products are treasured for the authentic techniques and exquisite taste. In this heavenly location we will follow the process from pasture to table and be inducted into the secrets of Master Chef Flavio of Vespasia Restaurant in an exclusive hands on cooking course.
il Solstizio
For the balance of the two weeks we divide our time between Città di Castello in the north and Spoleto in the south of Umbria. Our focus becomes the musical and artistic aspects of the “Two Festivals”.The name “The two festivals” highlights our participation in the Festival Dei Due Mondi di Spoleto and at the Umbria Jazz Festival in Perugia. These two festivals are world famous, attracting both major international and emerging artists. We have sought out the most intimate performances to connect with these extraordinary artists. Experience the best of the Arts and of Jazz music under the stars in the beautiful towns of Spoleto and Perugia.In Città di Castello we stay in apartments in a renovated 15th century abbey in the heart of the city. This central location enables us to stroll through the Renaissance streets of this beautiful town and soak up the local hustle and bustle of Italian life. You can visit the local fresh food markets to buy local produce and then sit with the locals at the bar for a cappuccino and a chat, “a fare quattro chiacchiere”.An Italian Affair has crafted an array of intimate activities such as the Vintage car tour as well as a vespa tour with the Vespa Club of Città di Castello.For the last part of the journey we venture to Spoleto. At a relaxed pace you can truly unwind in the heavenly surroundings of the Umbrian coutry side. Start the day with a morning swim or a passeggiata. We continue our daily interludes of language and culture and indulge in the best of this captivating region.Here we close the circle and integrate our previous learning and experiences. This pocket of Umbria is held close to Antonella’s heart, being her place of birth and upbringing. Many of our guests also share this strong sense of “coming home” as the experience & feeling of welcome reaches its pinnacle in the presence of these wonderful mountains, amongst Antonella’s family & friends. In 2014 we invite you to join us in Umbria. We invite you to dive into the slow and deep experience of craftsmanship and dedication, become a true artisan of life.Let your "affair" begin

Tour highlights and inclusions are:

  • 13 nights accommodation (twin share due to high season but there is limited opportunity to secure a single room at additional cost)
  • 13 breakfasts, 13 dinners and 7 lunches with local wines
  • A day tour in vintage cars with the Vintage car club of Città di Castello exploring the Umbrian countryside
  • Vintage vespa tour with the Vespa Club of Città di Castello
  • Attendance at performances at both the SPOLETO FESTIVAL DEI DUE MONDI and at the UMBRIA JAZZ FESTIVAL (pending final festival programme)
  • Cooking class with Master Chef Flavio of Vespasia restaurant in Norcia
  • Aperitivo making course

  • Walking tour of the Castelluccio plain with Biagio
  • Cheese making, stile artigianale (hand made) in Castelluccio
  • Truffle hunt with dogs
  • Olive oil tasting
  • Wine tour
  • Literary Interlude and prosecco with Professor Rodney Lokaj, a Medieval literature expert and enthusiast
  • Home cooked meal at Antonella’s native village of Casigliano di Strettura to meet her family and paesani
  • Language tuition “out and about” (Classes are not compulsory)

Visit:

  • Norcia, Castelluccio, Assisi, Perugia, Spello, Città di Castello and nearby villages, Spoleto and Montefalco.
  • All transfers by air conditioned coach (from Spoleto railway station on the 2nd of July,for entire journey and including the last transfer to Spoleto railway station on the 15th of July for those departing on this day)…ah, “la vita é bella!!!”

Not included:

  • Airfare, taxes and insurance
  • Entry to museums and extras not listed on the inclusions

Spoleto

 

Requirements:

Age requirement: Participants must be over 18 years of age and whilst An Italian Affair does not have an upper age limit. We do, however, encourage each participant to self-evaluate his or her own physical stamina, as the Umbrian region is mostly comprised of very steep hills and cobblestone streets; walking up and down these steep hills is part of the daily An Italian Affair experience.

Accommodations:

Norcia: Palazzo Seneca

Città di Castello: Residenza Antica Canonica

Spoleto: Borgo della Marmotta

Tour Suitability:

This tour is suitable for couples or singles and only to those who have purchased the full package.

You must read and sign a Terms and Conditions and a booking form when you make a deposit.

All fees are non-refundable. Personal Travel and Trip cancellation insurance are mandatory to participate on the tour and should be obtained when purchasing the package.

Small groups of 5-12 participants. In the event it does not reach its minimum number, An Italian Affair reserves the right to cancel, 29 days before the start of the tour. (see Terms and Conditions).

Cost:

From *$AUD 8,900.00 pp twin share (land content only): limited single accommodation available at supplement.

*Subject to currency surcharges prior to final payment.

Contact:

Antonella Nichinonni at An Italian Affair: + 61 416 153 632, antonella@anitalianaffair.com.au

ABN 57271392601

Chris McGetrick, at Bayview Travel:

03 95967299

Umbria
Itinerary
*Cost: from *$AUD 8,900.00 pp twin share (land content only): limited single accommodation available at supplement.*Subject to currency surcharges prior to final payment.

Accommodations:

Norcia: Palazzo Seneca

Città di Castello: Residenza Antica Canonica

Spoleto: Borgo della Marmotta

1st part of the journey: Norcia

Day 1, Wednesday 2nd of July

Arrival in Spoleto railway station by 1pm. Transfer to Norcia in a private bus and check in at Palazzo Seneca (Relais Chateaux).

Lunch at Granaro del Monte.

PM.Guided tour of Norcia with Daniela, aperitivo and dinner at Vespasia in Palazzo Seneca.

Day 2, Thursday 3rd of July

Am: early morning truffle hunt in the countryside of Norcia followed by a hands on cooking class with Vespasia’s Michelin Star chef Flavio. We sit for lunch and enjoy what we have just prepared with a glass or two of local wines at the house of our hosts Carlo andA nna Bianconi.

PM: Aperitivo making course with Italian lesson. Enjoy the aperitivo out in the main “passeggiata” as Italians do.

Dinner not provided so you can explore further Norcia.

Day 3, Friday 4th of July

(Pending Spoleto Festival dei Due Mondi program)

AM: Depart for an unforgettable walk in the area of Castelluccio with our naturalist and guide Biagio. Picnic lunch and rest at the foot of the Vettore mountain for a typical Italian “pennichella” (snooze).

PM: We return from our walk and travel by bus to Castelluccio. Here we will engage in pecorino making with a local producer who still makes it in the old traditional way. We then return to Palazzo Seneca, rest and meet for dinner at Granaro del Monte.

Day 4, Saturday 5th of July

AM: Italian Language classes with Antonella

Lunch not included

PM: We depart to visit and discover this beautiful area of the Valnerina. We return to Palazzo Seneca and later meet for our final dinner with our hosts.

Second part of the journey:

Città di Castello

Day 5, Sunday 6th of July

AM: We depart Norcia shortly after breakfast and arrive at our accommodation in Città di Castello, Residenza Antica Canonica. Check in then off for lunch at Laura’s house in the campagna for a very typical “pranzo di domenica con la famiglia”.

PM: Return and rest or shop. We meet for dinner at a local trattoria to soak up the atmosphere of the town’s summer concerts.

Day 6, Monday 7th of July

AM: Italian Language lessons “out and about” in Città di Castello soaking up the local atmosphere. Lunch at a local trattoria and return to rest.

Lunch not included.

PM: Late afternoon we meet in the local Piazza for a gelato and a caffè to meet the Vespa Club and the vespisti with whom we will tour nearby villages on the back of their beautiful vintage vehicles. We return to Città di Castello for dinner all together.

Day 7, Tuesday 8th of July

AM: Italian Language lessons in house or out and about to enable you to visit as much of Città di Castello as possible including the daily local fresh food market.

Lunch not included.

PM: Meet with Roberta and Laura to visit the Pinacoteca and museums including the Tela Umbra. Shop.

Meet in piazza for an aperitivo and meet our drivers of exclusive vintage cars with whom we will drive in the countryside to visit the surrounding beautiful villages in this area of Umbria/Tuscany. Dinner all together.

Day 8, Wednesday 9th of July

AM: Italian Language classes. Lunch at a local trattoria.

PM: Leave for Montefalco and meet Daniela for a tour and wine tasting of the local Sagrantino di Montefalco. Dinner in Montefalco.

3rd part of the journey: Spoleto

(NOTE: The attendance at performances at both the Umbria Jazz Festival and the Festival Dei Due Mondi in Spoleto will not be finalized until the final programs of these festivals are released).

Day 9, Thursday 10th of July

AM: Italian Language lessons or free time to shop. We plan to leave just before lunch Spoleto.

PM: Arrival in Poreta(Spoleto) at our accommodation Borgo della Marmotta, check in and late light lunch. Late afternoon we travel to Spoleto for a guided tour with Daniela to soak up the Festival Dei Due Mondi atmosphere and we have dinner in Spoleto.

Day 10, Friday 11th of July

(Pending on festival program)

AM: Italian lessons by the pool with Elisa and Antonella.

Light lunch

PM: We depart for Perugia to soak up the Umbria Jazz festival atmosphere. We will go to a local Jazz club to enjoy the performance of two well known Italian Jazz artists while sipping on aperitivos. When this is finished we venture into the main square of Perugia and enjoy the local street jazz performers. Dinner and jazz show.

Day 11, Saturday 12th of July

AM: We depart shortly after breakfast for a visit to one of Umbria’s oldest frantoio (mill) for tasting on our way to Spello and Assisi. Lunch not provided so you can visit the town and shop.

PM: We return to the accommodation and relax. Early evening we venture to the home of Antonella’s dear friend and literary expert, Professor Rodney Lokaj for a literary interlude out on his terrazza overlooking the Spoleto Valley. We experience the Umbrian sunset while sipping a few proseccos. Then we finish with dinner all together.

Day 12, Sunday 13th of July

AM: after breakfast we leave for Antonella’s village where we will have lunch with the paesani and Antonella’s family.

PM: We return to our accommodation and rest. We prepare to attend the closing concert of the Festival Dei Due Mondi of Spoleto (pending program & ticket availability), dinner and fire works show.

Day 13, Monday 14th of July

AM: free morning to pack and relax

Light lunch

PM: We leave for Spoleto for final shopping and aperitivo. Dinner back at the accommodation with a festa.

Day 14, Tuesday 15th

Tour ends and departure (transport to Spoleto railway station will be provided for those leaving on this day only)

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