- Arts Sojourn in Tuscany
The Walled City of Lucca
June 3 - June 13, 2011
Arts Sojourn on the
Italian Riviera
Sestri Levante and
the Cinque Terre
June 13 - June 20, 2011Surf and Turf Sojourn
The Best of Tuscany
and the Riviera
June 3 - June 20, 2011
LUCCA: A TREASURE IN TUSCANY
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June 3 - June 13, 2011Click here for
Important
Trip Information
(including dates, cost and flight
info.)
Our 2011 Tuscan Arts Sojourn features a return to Lucca: one of our most popular Sojourn destinations, and rightly so! Lucca is an elegant walled city with a wealth of history and culture, and some of the best food and shopping in Tuscany. Vehicular traffic is restricted within the historic center, making Lucca a relaxing place for plein air painting and exploring its outstanding architectural treasures dating back to the Roman era.
Lucca is the birthplace of Puccini, and you will sense his artistic legacy everywhere. There are concerts on most evenings as well as outdoor festivals, pageants, and markets. You will enjoy Lucca’s lively evening passegiatta, and its vibrant night-life and cafés. The elegant shops along Via Fillungo showcase many of the best Italian designers, but you may choose to wander down Lucca’s web of side streets in search of artisanal shops offering handcrafted leather, ceramic and paper goods. You can spend a peaceful morning reading or painting in the botanical gardens, or take a walk or ride a bike along the wide, park-like walls that completely encircle the city.
Lucca’s ideal location makes it a great base for visiting other fascinating Tuscan towns as well. Florence is less than an hour and a half away. Pisa is practically next door. We have planned a relaxing day trip 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 at La Torre, one of our favorite restaurants.
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 partner. 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 a well-stocked complimentary snack bar for hotel guests. You will have free use of the hotel bikes, wireless broadband internet point, and audio guides for planning your own walking tour of Lucca. An outstanding full 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
None other than 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 two memorable dinners included in the Arts Sojourn price. Upon arrival we will have a grand welcome dinner at the very popular “Gli Orti di Via Elisa,” one of our favorite Lucchese trattorias. In addition to serving traditional regional Tuscan dishes, Gli Orti has a wood fired oven for fabulous pizza. We will also host a very special gourmet dinner at Lucca’s renowned, Buca di Sant Antonio – the oldest and finest restaurant in town. We can not say enough about the excellent level of service, preparation, and atmosphere that you will experience here. On other nights you will be free to dine around and enjoy Lucca’s other fine restaurants or to simply grab a snack, or attend a concert, or stay late in Florence – as you wish. We know Lucca’s restaurants well and we will be happy to assist you in making all your vacation dining plans.
San Michele
WHAT IS INCLUDED
All breakfasts as well and the special dinners at Gli Ort di Via Elisa and Buca di Sant’Antonio are included in our price of $2550 per person sharing a double room as well as ten night's luxury accommodations at Hotel Ilaria, chartered ground transfer to and from Galileo Galilei airport in Pisa and our hotel, 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. We begin each 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
Our Tuscan painting workshop is 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 nearly every evening to discuss our work and travel experiences. 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 they like; however careful consideration should be given to the material's portability and its practicality for international travel. Non-artists are always welcome and have traditionally enjoyed our Sojourns as much as the artists do.
Click here for
Important
Trip Information
(including dates, cost and flight
info.)