DONATELLA & SERGIO

LARGE HISTORICALLY CHARTED VILLA IN FLORENCE

"...the grace and dignity of the centuries and their purified remembrance seen among the great villas of Florence still alive today."

Discovering art, living and working in an artist's home and studio. For one, two, three or four guests travelling together.

The host family lives in a villa of extraordinary size and character dating to the 14 cent. with many pieces of antique furniture. Donatella holds a degree in Fine Arts, the History of Art, and Italian Language. She has exhibited her art in many countries and works in her studio which is an ancient lemon-tree greenhouse annexed to the villa. Donatella speaks English, and in addition to her painting courses she has a wide knowledge of Florence and its art heritage.
Sergio, a retired executive industrial engineer, is now president of a management company. He plays jazz as a hobby. Their three sons have a degree and are involved in their work. The sons do not live in the villa.
Donatella and Sergio live in their splendid villa ten minutes from the city centre. On the ground floor are the living-rooms, a kitchen and other smaller rooms. On the upper floors are room with instruments and a piano where the family and friends meet to play. Private chapel in house.
Artist's studio for art courses. A large richly-planted garden surrounds the property. Smokers and pets not accepted. Bus stop nearby. Private parking for guest's car.
The bedrooms are on the first floor. One guest bedroom is large with two singles or a double beds, and has its own annexed private shower bathroom. A second bedroom has a single or double bed and a private shower and tub bathroom.

Program 1: CREATIVE PAINTING - DRAWING AND WATERCOLOUR COURSE FOR BEGINNERS

Saturday - Arrival in the afternoon. Welcome visit to house, garden and studio. Welcome dinner with the host family.

Sunday - Breakfast. Free day for guests to visit Florence or other places of interest. Lunch on your own.                                  Evening meal in the family.

Monday - Breakfast. Morning free for guests for visits or shopping. Lunch on your own.                                                       Afternoon: four-hour introductory lesson on drawing techniques: materials, various types of paper, instruments.                           Practical drawing from real-life or from reproductions.                                                                                                                Evening meal at home.

Tuesday - Breakfast. Visit to the hilltop town of Fiesole with Donatella. Visit to Roman and Etruscan sites, excavations and museum. On-the-spot commentary. Light lunch with. Four hours of studio work. Watercolour techniques: paper, brushes and colours.          Practical drawing from real-life or from reproductions.                                                                                                                         Evening meal at home.

Wednesday - Breakfast. Free day for guests. Lunch on your own.                                                                                              Evening meal at home .

Thursday - Breakfast. Excursion with Donatella to the medieval town of San Gimignano. Light lunch. Four hours of studio work. Preparation of a small album of paintings and drawings done in the studio to take home. Further work on watercolours.                       Evening meal at home.

Friday - Breakfast. Free morning for guests. Lunch on your own. Four hours of studio work. Discussion on results accomplished by guest. Farewell evening meal.

Saturday - Breakfast. Morning departure.

Lessons, excursions, and family conversation in English or Italian.
The family will help the guests plan their visits to Florence during free time.                                                                    Guests are welcome to use the lounge and garden for rest and conversation.

Price per week  (only preformed groups travelling together and sharing rooms, lessons and excursions)  including:

Basic painting materials,  7 breakfasts, 7 evening meals, 2 light lunches,

16 hours of lessons 

2 guided excursions, 

Total price for one guest - 1 bedroom and private bathroom  -                     Euro 1.200,oo

Total price for two guests  - 1double bedroom with private bathroom - .      Euro 2.000,oo

Total price for three guests - 2 bedrooms with 2 private bathrooms -          Euro 2.700,oo

Total price for four guests - 2 double  bedrooms, 2  private bathroom. -.     Euro 3.200,oo

Program 2: HISTORY and ART EXCURSIONS
A quest through the history of art in: FLORENCE - FIESOLE - SAN GIMIGNANO

Saturday - Arrival in the afternoon. Welcome visit to house, garden and studio. Welcome dinner with the host family.

Sunday - Breakfast. Free day for guests. Lunch on your own. Evening meal in the family.

Monday - Breakfast. Morning conversation: - introduction to the history of the Etruscan and Roman period in Florence.                Light lunch. Half-day visit to Fiesole, Etruscan and Roman archaeological sites, visit to museum.                                                    Evening meal at home.

Tuesday - Breakfast. Free morning for guests. Lunch on your own.                                                                                              Half-day walk around medieval Florence: the city walls,                                                                                                                Dante's house, the church of Santa Trinita, the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, the Tower Houses.                                                          Evening meal at home.

Wednesday - Breakfast. Free day for guests. Lunch on your own. Evening meal at home.

Thursday - Breakfast. Excursion with Donatella to the medieval town of San Gimignano. Light lunch.                                  Conversation on the Medici family and the Rinascimento. Evening meal at home.

Friday - Breakfast. - Walk around Florence to visit the historical sites of the Medici family and of the Rinascimento: Palazzo Medici, San Lorenzo, Cupola del Brunelleschi, Porte del Battistero, Palazzo Vecchio. Snack in Florence. Visit to Palazzo Pitti.                       Farewell evening meal.

Saturday - Breakfast. Morning departure.

Excursions and family conversation in English or Italian.
The family will help the guests plan their visits to Florence during free time.                                                                       Guests are welcome to use the lounge and garden for rest and conversation.

Price per week (only preformed groups travelling together and sharing rooms, lessons and excursions) including:

7 breakfasts, 7 evening meals, 3 light lunches,  guided excursions as planned                                                                  

Total price for one guest - 1 bedroom and private bathroom  -                     Euro 1.200,oo

Total price for two guests  - 1double bedroom with private bathroom - .      Euro 2.000,oo

Total price for three guests - 2 bedrooms with 2 private bathrooms -          Euro 2.700,oo

Total price for four guests - 2 double  bedrooms, 2  private bathroom. -.     Euro 3.200,oo

Not included in the prices: Museums, castle, palaces, and churches  entrance tickets,

Arrival for both programs

Donatella can meet guests at Florence airport or railway station. Two-way transfer fee by car Euro 65,oo.

Or by taxi.

Guests arriving by car have private parking facilities within the house

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