Learn Italian Holidays
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The following illustration of a Learn Italian holiday experience is simply an example of the many Cultural Holidays we can arrange for you throughout the world. It is not intended to provide the details for a specific booking, since our aim is to create a holiday tailored to your particular wishes.
You may also be interested in our Exotic Cuisine Holidays.
Introduction
Tuscany offers beautiful countryside, wonderful history, and was the birthplace of the Renaissance.
Here, you can enjoy daily Italian lessons on the terrace of the charming I Tre Baroni country house hotel, located in the picturesque hills of Tuscany. Here in the gorgeous Italian countryside your Italian teacher will lead small group classes each morning. The atmosphere is welcoming and friendly and every student is encouraged to develop and improve their spoken Italian at their own speed.
There are local excursions every afternoon including visits to a local vineyard and an organic farm.
Contact Us today to join in on this sublime week of culture, language and wonderful food and wine.
Contact Us today to join in on this sublime week of culture, language and wonderful food and wine.
We can assist you in booking whatever travel arrangements you require, whether you prefer to travel by air, train or car - just let us know your wishes and let us do the rest!
If you wish to extend your holiday, Medway Travel can also arrange hiking and cycling trips, cooking classes and city breaks in Florence and Pisa, as well as elsewhere in Italy and Europe.
Overview
This magical 8-day (7 night) trip to Tuscany includes:
- 7 nights in comfortable double/twin accommodation
- All rooms are comfortable and en suite with shower/wc.
- Arrival & Departure transfers from Pisa/Florence Airports
- Welcome dinner including aperitivi & local wines
- Farewell dinner including aperitivi, local wines & musical entertainment
- Breakfast and either lunch or dinner is included daily
- Italian lessons with native-speaker daily
- Conversational opportunities daily
- Sight-seeing programme & transport as outlined in the itinerary
- Pre-trip Italian preparation and suggested reading.
There is no single supplement - this means that single travellers are able to enjoy a double or twin room exclusively.
For a detailed insight into the day-to-day itinerary, please see below...
Saturday
On arrival at ‘I Tre Baroni’ a member of the Baroni family will be waiting to greet you and welcome you to this delightful and peaceful corner of Tuscany. There will be time to relax, unpack and enjoy refreshments by the pool. This evening Welcome Aperitivi will be served on the terrace and introductions will be made. Dinner tonight has been prepared by the chef and will feature typical dishes of Tuscany accompanied by local wines. There will be plenty of opportunity to practise your Italian with the hotel staff, the chef and the Baroni family members.
Sunday
After a leisurely breakfast, your first Italian lesson will begin. The focus is on conversation, meeting and greeting people and a little bit of small talk! Your ‘professore’ will discuss the local area, its history and its people. Guests will also learn about the history of Tuscany and some of its famous citizens including Vasari and Dante. A light lunch of salads, pasta and cheeses will be served at the hotel.
This afternoon you’ll head down into town to visit the nearby medieval town of Poppi, with its spectacular castle and fascinating churches. The arcaded streets of Poppi and the beautiful views from the battlements are breath-taking. Don’t miss the ancient churches of San Lorenzo & Madonna del Morbo. After an aperitivo in the piazza dinner tonight is in Poppi.
Monday
Language learning is all about confidence and you’ll continue to develop conversational skills, whilst working in small groups. Today guests will learn about Arezzo – the wonderful medieval and historic city just a short drive away. Arezzo has been an important city since Etruscan times and even today the medieval quarter is well-preserved. Piero della Francesca painted the fresco of the ‘Legend of the True Cross’ in the church of San Francesco and you will visit this church today. Discovering the skill and vision of this 15th century artist (in Italian of course) – is truly inspirational!
There is plenty of time for exploring and shopping in this elegant and stylish city. Dinner tonight will be at a typical Arezzo trattoria. A visit to Arezzo would not be complete without a visit to Violetta’s the city’s most famous & probably the best gelateria!
Tuesday
After a short practise session at Tre Baroni this morning, you are on a mission – a face to face adventure at the local market! Guests will go to the local market in Poppi, where students will each have a shopping list of items to purchase and some challenges too!
This afternoon guests will go back to the hotel, put on walking boots and trek along the footpath that runs from Moggiona to Sulphur with your special guide, Andrea. Andrea will explain to you the history of the Baroni family and introduce you to this delightful countryside.
A typical Tuscan dinner is served in the restaurant this evening. After dinner guests will adjourn to the private lounge (La Biblioteca) for conversation, reading and perhaps an Italian game or two!
Wednesday
Your lesson this morning will focus on Italian wines and the vocabulary associated with wines and wine production. Then in the late morning guests will head in the direction of La Mausolea, an ancient property owned by the Camaldoli Monks. Here they produce wines – as they have done for hundreds of years – you will visit the cellars and vineyards with Giorgio, the estate manager. This year is a very important ones for the Camaldolese monks because they celebrate the Millennium Anniversary of their order.
In the afternoon you will continue your journey to the Camaldoli Hermitage – an amazing and spiritual place. You'll also visit the Monastery (still inhabited and still active) and the incredible Monastery Farmacia (an ancient pharmacy) where the monks still sell herbal teas, tisanes, regular teas, creams, herbs and pottery.
A Pizza dinner this evening in Camaldoli at Locanda dei Baroni (the other restaurant belonging to the famiglia Baroni)!
Thursday
Today your lesson will be based on cooking and culinary terms. The chef will assist and educate guests on the art of pasta making – better work hard as lunch is based on your efforts!!
This afternoon you'll head out into the Casentino National Park for a walk in the forest and an Italian style merenda (afternoon snack). Look out for wildlife and wild fruits and herbs!
A relaxing family-style dinner is served in the hotel. An Italian game of Scarabeo is available for willing participants this evening.
Friday
After a revision session based on conversation, comprehension and improved confidence, you will enjoy a really exciting day heading down to La Vialla – an organic farm (fattoria biologica) run by the lovely Lo Franco family.
Here a tour of the picturesque farm is practical and fascinating; vineyards, olive groves, hen houses, pasta-making, tomato harvesting, fruit & vegetable preserving. All these tasks are carried out at La Fattoria (depending on the time of your visit). Lunch is include at La Fattoria and is an excellent opportunity to understand and taste the products of a ‘fattoria biologica’.
There is also a charming shop where you can purchase pasta, sauces, cheeses and wines. A mail order service (including to the UK) means that you can purchase to your heart’s content!
As you head back to the Tre Baroni this evening – there is the opportunity for informal conversation with Marta and Andrea. This evening there will be aperitivi, musical entertainment and a Farewell Dinner.
Saturday
After breakfast this morning there will be transport to Pisa and/or Florence Airports for guests departing today. However you may want to consider extending your stay to enable you to practise and consolidate what you’ve learnt this week. An additional 3 night stay can be arranged here at the Tre Baroni or in the heart of Arezzo at a very reasonable cost.
Essential Information
Weather
The climate in Tuscany is generally very mild with differences depending on the geography of each area.
The coast and valleys tend to have hotter summers than the hills or mountains. April and May as well as October and November are good months to visit Tuscany - they have sunny days but the chances of rain are higher. Winter offers many sunny, mild days but nights are cold, particularly in hill areas.
The warmest months are generally July and August, while June and September offer both nice warm weather in general without it being too hot. Of course, there are always exceptions or dry spells that cause a few days to get really warm.
Passports and Visas
British nationals will need to have a valid passport to enter Italy. Visas are not required. Ensure that your passport is valid for the duration of your stay in Italy.
Health
You should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK, which is not a substitute for medical and travel insurance, but entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as Italian Nationals.
For the latest medical requirements for travel to Italy, please consult your GP.
Insurance
We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions from the policy, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake whilst on holiday. Medway Travel can provide you with a quote for this - please contact a member of the Leisure team for further details.
