Alessandra and I have created a new Aria Tour for 2018.

“Private and Secret Florence, Siena and Tuscany”

The 8-day excursion will begin on March 10th and end on March 17th. These

Spring dates will give us a quieter time in Italy and open the doors to very

special places that are not normally open to the public.

Each day will be created as its own work of art, focusing on a variety of themes.

Here is just a sampling of what we have in mind:

Guest Lecturer: Ross King

We have engaged New York Times Best Selling Author, Ross

King to give a talk to our group in the Duomo of Florence,

based on his book, Brunelleschi’s Dome: How a

Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture.

Understanding the story of Brunelleschi and the miracle of

building the dome, the most iconic image of Florence, is the

key to understanding the Renaissance. We are thrilled to

have Ross King, who also wrote Michelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling and

Leonardo and the Last Supper join us. His indepth knowledge and lively style

will captivate you. There is nothing like having the author share the story –

and in the city where it happened!

Music as You Have Never Experienced

A private concert, as guests of Signora Simonetta

Puccini, (the composer’s granddaughter), is performed by

a singer and accompanist who will play this exquisite

music on Puccini’s piano, the one he used to create his

masterpieces. Imagine sitting in the salon of his home

and listening to not only beautiful arias, but heard as he

would have heard the music originally 100 years ago!

Since Signora Puccini limits the use of the piano to a

very few times per year, it is truly an honor for us to be able to offer this once

in a lifetime experience. (Photo: Signora Puccini with Carol Faenzi)

Literature Inspired by the Beauty of Florence

Many Americans and British expats lived in Tuscany, near

Florence starting in the late 1800s. We have entry to places

where writers and artists lived and wrote about Florence:

Mark Twain, John Singer Sargent, E. M. Forster (Room with

a View), Gertrude and Leo Stein, Bernard and Mary

Berenson, Edith Wharton and many more. Not only will we

visit some of the places where they lived, but we will sit in

the gardens where they enjoyed their tea and share the

passages they were inspired to write.

We will explore further back in history the life of Italy’s most prized poet, Dante

Alighieri, born in Florence and then exiled, famous for writing The Divine

Comedy.

Masterpieces of Art

Masters such as Fra Angelico left incredibly beautiful frescos in the cells for the

Dominican monks in a monastery famous for the fiery priest, Savonarola,

whose “bonfire of the vanities” eventually led to his own flaming end during the

Renaissance. Cosimo de Medici 1 had his own cell for prayer and you will see

how Fra Angelico (himself a priest) used his genius to make frescos come alive

on the walls.

Michelangelo destroyed thousands of his drawings before

he died but he also left hundreds of papers behind,

including his poetry and letters. We have special access

to these hidden archives. It is an emotional experience

to view them, in part because there are clues to

understanding the artist that are evident only by viewing

the original firsthand.

NOTE: Currently, the Casa Buonarroti in Florence

where these archives are maintained sent several of

these drawings to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in

New York City for a special exhibit on Michelangelo –

expected to bring thousands of people a day – our group will be in a private

room to view drawings and poems without the crowds or glass barriers.

(A fresco of The Last Supper, second in beauty only to Leonardo’s also awaits

you.)

And much more.

Political Intrigue & Science

The Medici family left their imprint on

almost every area of life in Florence for

over 300 years. We will visit their tombs

where the Michelangelo-designed room,

seldom visited or understood, will surprise

you as we unlock its fascinating hidden

messages.

Galileo Galilei, excommunicated by the

Church for his scientific discoveries, was

protected by the Medici and lived the rest

of his life in a peaceful home and garden

near Florence. We will visit and also share

the secret of his final resting place.

The Tuscan Table and its Glorious Wine

Not only will we enjoy excellent Tuscany wines and

cuisine every day, we will visit special wineries,

steeped in history and stories – places that reach

back to the Renaissance nobility.

We will make an enlightening visit to a fifth-generation pasta maker, who will

share the secrets of what makes Italian pasta so great. This is an education

also on gluten and you will walk away understanding how to make healthy

choices.

Lorenzo de Medici

Siena, Arch Rival of Florence

Known for the stunning beauty of its

Cathedral, it is also the birthplace of St.

Catherine, a formidable woman who

changed the course of Papal history and

negotiated peace treaties. We will visit her

home as well as the home of the oldest, still

operating bank in the world, the Monte dei

Paschi Bank.

Siena is most famous for its Palio – the

horse race that takes place on the uniquely

designed Piazza del Campo – itself an

architectural gem. The “contrade” or

separate districts within the city have roots

into the Middle Ages and each is named

after a symbol, such as an animal. These

fiercely competitive districts scheme and

plot each year to win the Palio. We will unlock the secrets to the contrade, and

their mythic symbology.

The Whole Week in a Villa!

We will stay the entire week in our beautiful

17th century Villa, located in the Tuscan

countryside near Florence. We will make day

trips and most of the time, return “home” for

a chef prepared meal and relaxation.

Transportation will be provided in a luxury

Mercedes Benz van, driven by Alessandra’s

husband, Paolo, owner of Tuscany Driver.

A portion of your tour cost is donated to the museums and organizations

that we will visit, including the Puccini Foundation and the Casa

Buonarroti. The funds are used for restoration projects.

The total cost of the tour per person is $8,500 (based on double occupancy).

(Single supplements are available for $990.)

Absolutely everything is included in this cost except airfare.

We have a travel agent available to help you with your airline tickets, travel

insurance and hotel arrangements if necessary.

Summary of What’s Included:

8 days, 7 nights in our comfortable and beautifully restored 17th century villa.

Each room has a stunning view of the Italian countryside and is beautifully

appointed.

A relaxing massage upon arrival.

Luxury Transportation which also includes transfers on the day the tour begins

and the day the tour ends from and to the airport, train station or hotel in

Florence.

Breakfast and Sumptuous Lunch every day. Dinner every day except

Saturday, as the tour ends in the afternoon. (includes wine, of course!)

All fees, admissions, guides, gratuities.

A non-refundable 50% deposit is required to hold your place by check or credit

card. The remaining 50% is due January 1, 2018.

We strongly recommend you purchase travel insurance in the event you cannot

travel. Because we work with small businesses in Tuscany, we cannot issue

refunds for any reason, should you need to cancel the trip. Our travel agent

can easily arrange this for you.

The tour begins and ends in Florence. All you have to do is arrive. We take

care of everything else.

Some Comments from our Guests:

“An immersion into beauty. Carol and Alessandra exceeded our

expectations every day.” – Anne P., Houston, TX

“This is the way to travel, like royalty!” – Bill and Sheila B, Chicago

“Carol shares the wealth of her personal contacts that enable intriguing

and historically significant experiences simply not available to the

average tourist. And the time spent with Alessandra learning the truth

about the Medici’s impact on the world, exploring Michelangelo’s life

both inside and out of his art, was incredibly exciting. Truly an

unforgettable trip”- Kurt and Julie T, Indianapolis, IN

“The best food I have ever enjoyed anywhere in the world.” – Kathy M,

New York City

“Absolutely perfect. Carol and Alessandra’s attention to detail made

every moment an exquisite experience.”- Joan W, Indianapolis, IN

“I loved every minute of this trip.”- Dr. Sheila S, New York City

“Thank you for your passion and planning in putting together the trip of

our lives.”- Tom and Suzanne V, Bloomington, IN

“I have lived in Europe part time for many years, but have never seen

Italy like this. Carol and Alessandra opened many hidden doors that

gave us unforgettable experiences every day. They have created

something very special.”- Carol O, Samos, Greece

Our View of the Countryside