Our 2019 Tuscan Adventures We believe travel should be wanderful and filled with exploration, creating and indulging in the local culinary treasures. Imagine a week of guided visits to picturesque local towns with our own private driver to whisk us through the countryside. One-on-one art instruction to help you capture the beauty of the scenery and the memories of your journey. Lengthy meals paired with delicious wine that will leave you satisfied and loving life. And a small, intimate group of new friends to share the experience with. With nearly a decade of experience traveling through Italy, we have curated a week-long adventure that will leave you feeling relaxed, inspired and simply wanderful. By partnering with some of our beloved locals and visiting our favorite spots, you'll leave our retreats feeling like a local. Ready to discover what s so wanderful about Italy? Pick your flavor Week 1: June 15 - June 22, 7 nights in Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy A quiet week in a countryside villa in Southern Tuscany OR Week 2: June 24 - July 1, 7 nights in the center of Lucca, Italy The bustling Historic city center in two luxurious apartments
Charming Castiglion Fiorentino Villa June 15 - June 22 7 nights in a private villa in Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy Spend a quiet week in one of the charming hillside towns of Southern Tuscany! Known for its olive oil and close proximity to Chianti, Castiglion Fiorentino is one of the undiscovered towns of Italy, often overlooked for its busier neighbors Cortona (location for Under the Tuscan Sun ) and Arezzo (featured in Life is Beautiful ). But we assure you, while it may not be full of tourists (hooray!), it's full of charm, delicious food, friendly locals and lots of inspiration! It s also the perfect backdrop for a peaceful week of creating back home at our private villa, Villa la Guardata. From our hillside home, we ll have the perfect view of the sunset and the idyllic countryside right by the pool. Villa la Guardata: Relax poolside under the Tuscan sun while surrounded by olive trees and vineyards. Villa la Guardata will be our home for the week, tucked up on the hillside overlooking the Val di Chio with the charming town, Castiglion Fiorentino, just over a mile away. The stone farmhouse was rebuilt in the mid 1700s on the ruins of an old military outpost at the foot of Castel d Ernia, an ancient castle of a noble Tuscan family dating back to 1100. Renovated in 1996, our private villa will be filled with old world charm and modern comforts. We will visit the famed town of Cortona (featured in Under the Tuscan Sun ) and have a full day trip to Assisi. Sample local wines and olive oils made fresh by the locals and feel like a local yourself. Castiglion Fiorentino: This charming little town has more to it than the eye can see. With Etruscan-Roman origins, there s evidence of Etruscans living in this town dating back to 4th century BC! Underneath the tower at the top of the hill, the Cassero, and throughout the region there are continuing excavations of Etruscan ruins that predate the Romans. In the main piazza you ll find historic arches from the famed Giorgio Vassari, as well as quiet churches, small shops and tasty restaurants along the calm city streets. The city hosts many cultural events and festivals throughout the year, including the Palio dei Rioni, an ancient horse race and smaller version of the famous Palio of Siena. Most people will recognize this city from the opening scene of Life is Beautiful. It s a quiet town with lots of charm that s easy to fall in love with!
Itinerary: Day 1: Transfer from Train Station Check in at Villa la Guardata Evening group aperitivo and welcome cocktails by the pool. Day 2: Orientation and breakfast at Villa before transfer to Castiglion Fiorentino Walking tour of town Lunch and afternoon sketching Group dinner in town Day 3: Guided painting at the Villa in the morning Catered lunch at the villa Afternoon trip to Cortona for walking tour and visit to Del Brenna Jewelry before dinner Day 4: Day trip to Assisi in our private shuttle Dinner provided at Villa upon our return Day 5: Free Day (activity suggestions & transportation to Train Station provided if needed) or optional day trip to Pienza Day 6: Quiet morning at the villa or in town for painting Afternoon wine tasting at Buccelletti winery with time to sketch in the garden or vineyard Cook dinner together at villa with fresh harvests from the garden Day 7: Transfer into town to see the Local Market and lunch Afternoon cooking class at the Villa with a private local chef Day 8: Check out of Villa Transfer provided to train station *Itinerary is subject to change -- this is Italy after all Retreat Cost: Included: $2650 - Double occupancy $2950 - Single occupancy Lodging for 7 nights in Villa la Guardata All breakfasts at the villa 1 dinner out, 1 catered lunch at Villa, 3 dinners at Villa (includes 1 cooking class dinner) Welcome cocktails and aperitivo 1 cooking class at the Villa (see above) Private drivers for all transfers to and from Villa 2 Day trips, Assisi and Cortona 1 wine and olive oil tasting All art lessons A handmade art journal and tote bag
Lovely Lucca Historic City Center June 24 - July 1 7 nights in Luxurious apartments in the historic center of Lucca, Italy Are you ready to discover the hidden gem of Tuscany? Lucca is often a day trip destination of folks staying in Florence but we get to call this charming town home for a whole week! Right along the train route between the coast and Florence, Lucca is easy to get to even though it may seem off the beaten path. These bustling cobblestone streets are filled with bikes, food, shopping and more! Being able to walk right out of our apartment building and be in the center of lively Lucca is the perfect inspiration for a week of exploring and creating! Corte del Gallo: Our two private apartments are located right in the historic center of Lucca. Locals commute across town on bikes as most of the streets are closed to outside car traffic. Our two apartments are housed in a lovely historic building that dates back 7 centuries. While it has the old world charms you ll expect of Tuscany, it has plenty of bright natural light and modern conveniences (an elevator, for one). You ll be close to everything while being protected from the city noise. Just how close to everything? Exit our building and you ll be a 3-5 minute walk from small grocers, bakeries and cafes, the main Cathedral San Michele, over a dozen restaurants, excellent shopping, bike rentals and more! You ll have the convenience of a larger city to explore with a quiet apartment to escape to at the end of the day for a glass of wine with your new friends. Lucca: There s so much hiding inside these city walls. Lucca has a rich history that dates back to 180 BC when it was a Roman colony but there s evidence of Etruscans even before that. The main feature of Lucca is intact surrounding walls. This rampart wall encircles the main historic center and is now a popular spot for bike riding, picnics or an evening passeggiata. Inside the walls you ll find 8 prominent churches, museums, the Anfiteatro (built atop an ancient Roman amphitheater), the birthplace of Puccini and even a tower with trees on top. During the summer, Piazza Napoleone gets converted into a concert center for the Lucca Summer Music Festival. There is SO much happening inside these city walls just waiting to be explored!
Itinerary: Day 1: Transfer from Train Station Check in at apartments Evening group aperitivo and group stroll around the city...gelato, anyone? Day 2: Orientation and breakfast at apartments Walking tour of town Lunch and afternoon sketching around town Group dinner down the street from our apartment Day 3: Day trip north of Lucca to Ponte della Maddalena and Garfagnana hill towns Dinner in Lucca Day 4: Free day (activity suggestions can be provided) or optional day trip to Pisa Day 5: Quiet morning in apartments before transfer Private cooking class in the hills above Lucca Evening dinner in Lucca Day 6: Florence day trip via trains with guided tour around the city Lunch and unscheduled afternoon for shopping, site-seeing and flexible return home to Lucca by train Day 7: Morning sketching and painting around town Afternoon transfer to private wine tasting at Colle di Bordecheo Group dinner in town Day 8: Check out of apartment Transfer provided to train station if needed *Itinerary is subject to change -- this is Italy afterall Retreat Cost: $2650 - Double occupancy $2950 - Single occupancy Included: Lodging for 7 nights in Lucca historic center in one of our two apartments All breakfasts 2 group dinners in Lucca, 1 lunch in countryside (cooking class) Welcome cocktails and aperitivo 1 cooking class in countryside (see above) Private drivers for all transfers to and from apartment 2 Day trips, North of Lucca and Florence 1 wine tasting All art lessons A handmade art journal and tote bag
Not included in either retreat: Airfare is not included. You may use miles for free flights. We are happy to provide assistance recommending travel itineraries and will provide detailed train travel instructions to arrive at the retreats as well. Travel from airport to the destination city is also not included but we can help arrange for a private transfer if needed. All art materials (brushes, watercolors, paper, etc) are not provided but we are happy to ship you our recommended travel sketching and watercolor supply kit along with your included sketchbook for a fee. Other details: Early birds registrants (prior to February 28, 2019) will get a signed copy of your host s, Chelsea Ward, first published book on drawing, Modern Drawing. Also available at Barnes & Noble and on Amazon. We will be instructing on sketching and watercolor. Please inform us on the mediums you intend to participate in and we will provide you with a suggested supply list if you wish to shop on your own. You are more than welcome to bring any of your prefered art supplies (acrylics, pastels, etc). To hold your spot in the trip, a deposit of $650 must be paid as soon as possible as space is limited. Please make checks payable to Wanderful Retreats. If you would like to use a credit card there is a 3.5% processing fee. The payment for the remainder of the trip can be scheduled, but is due in total by no later than May 30, 2019. It is highly advised that you obtain private travel insurance if you have any concerns about canceling, as all fees are nonrefundable. Reserve your spot today! Have questions? Send us an email: wanderfulretreats@gmail.com Give us a call: (805) 403-1633