Day Capers - Florence

Are you visiting your student who is studying abroad and would like a day experiencing Italy like a true Italian?

Perhaps you are tired of touring or site-seeing and would like an in-siders' experience making pasta, take a photography workshop, learn conversational Italian, attend an opera with a prior conversation with a Maestro, or drawing, like the Masters, from a live model...

Join us in a "Day Caper!" Our artists, scholars, and maestros are waiting to share their love for their art and Italy with you... either privately or maximum 10 people.

(Capers in other cities are being developed - stay tuned...)

Walking the footsteps of Leonardo da Vinci

We will meet Joan Reifsnyder, Renaissance scholar, author and translator for the Uffizi. Learn about Sfumato, Leoanrdo's artistic signature and the secret to discovering your creative juices. We'll visit the Uffizi Gallery and walk his haunts in Florence ending with an espresso or gelato!

(Sundays, 1:00 pm, $135 + Uffizi admission - 4 person minimum. This experience depends upon availability of tickets.)

From Martino to Me

Maestro Martino of Como is considered the first "Celebrity Chef." Living in Florence during Leonardo's day, Martino documented ingredients to techniques and made cooking a serious art form. We have a hands-on cooking leasson with a lunch or dinner.

(Monday and Wednesday, two and one-half cooking lesson and one hour lunch or dinner with wine. $120 - minimum 2 people, maximum 10)

How to Listen and Appreciate Great Music

Leonardo referred to music as "the shaping of the invisible." Learning how to listen to great music will permanently enrich your life. It enhances our skills of imagination and to trust our intuition. We feel the Italian culture and history through this universal language. (Fridays, time and price TBA)

Segway Tour ~ Exploring Ancient Florence with a Modern Twist

Glide effortlessly through the ages on your own personal Segway. We will guide you around the historic center of Florence with a expert guide with expertise in art, history and English. We provide a wireless headset to maximize your learning while having fun!

(Everyday except Sunday. 10:00 am and 3:00 pm. $120 - minimum 4 people)

Learn how to draw and paint in Vasari's Palazzo

Leonardo's cornerstone of artistic and scientific works was "Saper Vedere" - knowing how to see. We learn perspective, proportion and composition in our studio workshop. Like the Masters, we will work with a live model - all in Vasari's home! Coffee and Florentine pastry as mid-class break.

(Fridays preferred, but other days are possible. 1:00 - 4:00 pm. $245 - minimum 4 people - includes all supplies and model fees)

Photography ~ Seeing Creatively

Learn how to create that exceptional photograph. The city of Florence will be the backdrop for this hands-on class. Class will start with creating outdoor imagery. Afterwards, we will return to the digital lab for downloading, editing and critiques.

(Fridays preferred, but other days are possible. 1:00 - 4:00 pm $245 - minimum 4 people - includes digital lab fees)

A Taste of the Language

Spend the morning learning conversational Italian in the beautiful Palazzo Borghese, then we have a lunch at a local restaurant to practice what we learned! Informal and tons of fun!

(Monday and Wednesdays. 9:00 - 1:30 pm. $120 - minimum 2 people - maximum 10 people)

Magical, stimulating, liberating, great conversations, learned more about who I am and how fascinating the world can be.

S. Hotham, Warrington, PA