Travel with fellow artists, family & friends! In addition to Non-participating guest options, did you know that other workshops are offered this same week! Enjoy the experience together while immersed in different topics! View calendar for details!
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Cortona "Island in the Sky"
Sharilyn Miller
Wire-Art Jewelry Adventure in Tuscany with jewelry designer, writer & workshop instructor Sharilyn Miller Cortona, Italy August 27 - September 3, 2011 NEW DATES!!! _______________________ Come and be inspired... by the medieval hilltop town of Cortona, Italy, and the Etruscan artists who once made this delightful area their home! We will spend an enchanting week together, exploring the heart of Tuscany with a day-trip to Florence, a trip to visit Montepulciano, visits to both Cortona's and Arezzo's antiques markets, all while dining on delicious meals accompanied by fine wines, consuming as much gelato as we can hold, and making beautiful wire-art jewelry using time-tested techniques.
Join us for six intensive days of instruction on using sterling-silver wire and your favorite beads to fashion beautiful, durable jewelry that will be treasured and passed down to future generations. Students of all skill levels are invited to participate in this unique opportunity! Lovely Cortona will be our muse as we design and craft jewelry pieces that are as unique as our experience in Italy together.
All-inclusive* workshop includes: Escorted group travel Florence to Cortona **** August 27, 2011 Instruction in the classroom and on location Seven nights three-star accommodations in historic Cortona** (Private room & bath) Tuscan Cooking Class Local Etruscan Museum & Museo Diocesano All meals*** (Italian breakfast, lunch and dinner) Daily wine tasting opportunities Day shopping and sightseeing trip to Florence Day trip to Montepulciano Arezzo antiques market Cortona anitiques market A farewell wine tasting dinner
**Included with "all-inclusive" plans only. See details. ***Included with "Group Meal Plan" only. See details. ****Specific departure time only; to be announced *All-inclusive plans are Hotel plans A, C, E, G only. Air travel and ground transportation to/from Cortona is not included and is the responsibility of each participant. ___________________________________
New program for 2011 coming soon! Special Participant kit fee additonal and to be announced
Woven Cuff Button Bracelet
Itinerary
-Saturday 8/27 - Arrival day -Escorted group travel from Florence to Cortona -7:00p Welcome to Cortona ...evening wine and chocolate reception -8:00p Dinner in Cortona -Sunday 8/28 Cortona -Morning visit to Cortona antiques market in Piazza Signorelli -1:00-2:30p Lite Lunch in Cortona. -3:00-7:00p- Our afternoon workshop: the Swirl Stick Pin! This gorgeous pin can be made in sterling silver, gold-filled, or copper wire and the beads or pearls of your choice. Lots of fun to make and embellish, and we'll finish our pins in time to wear them out to dinner! -7:30p Wine tasting -8:00p Dinner in Cortona.
-Monday 8/29 - Cortona -9:00-1:00p Morning Workshop -1:00-2:30p Lite Lunch in Cortona. -3:00-7:00p Afternoon Workshop -7:30p Wine tasting -8:00p Dinner in Cortona. -Tuesday 8/30 Montepulciano & Cortona -morning trip to Montepulciano -12:30-2:00p Lite Lunch in Montepulciano -3:00-7:00p Afternoon Workshop -7:30p Wine tasting -8:00p Dinner in Cortona.
-Wednesday 8/31 - Cortona -9:00-12:30p Morning Workshop -12:30-2:00p Lite Lunch -2:00-5:30p Afternoon Workshop -6:00p Tuscan cooking class & dinner
-Thursday 9/1 - Florence - Early departure for day trip to Florence -Optinal visit to The Beaded Lily -4:13p depart Florence -7:30p Wine tasting -8:00p Dinner in Cortona.
-Friday 9/2 - Cortona -9:00-1:00p Morning Workshop -1:00-2:30p Lite Lunch in Cortona. -3:00-7:00p Afternoon Workshop -7:30p Wine tasting -8:00p Dinner in Cortona.
-Saturday 9/3 Departure & Arezzo antiques market -9:00a departure from Cortona (conclusion of workshop) -10:00a Arezzo antiques market (Optional independent stay in Arezzo overnight)
-Sunday 9/4 OPTIONAL Independent visit to Arezzo antiques market with Sharilyn
Note: Toscana Americana reserves the right to alter this itinerary.
Cortona is one of the true jewels of the Tuscan “hill towns.” Cortona, which is often called the “City of Art,” has its origin as an Etruscan city that pre-dates Roman times with sections of its walls dating back some 2500 years. As is typical of Tuscan hill-towns, Cortona is a walled city that, for purposes of defense, was built atop a prominent geographical point. The stone buildings and streets not only have the romance, style, and charm that are particular to Tuscany, but also speak of the lives and times Cortona has witnessed. An encounter with Cortona is an encounter with music & art, with history and with spirituality. Getting to know this timeless city is a real rediscovery of our past. Cortona offers testimony to its history as well as an enchanting view of the landscape enclosed by Lake Trasimeno and the Apennine mountains.
Meet your hosts in Tuscany...
Angela Lucani was born and raised in Cortona and never tires of living within the walls of this vibrant Tuscan hilltown! She trained as an elementary school teacher and taught in various locals within Cortona from its mountain villages to the growing post-war part of Cortona known as Camucia. Angela has always been passionate about Tuscan cooking, which she began to learn at an early age aiding her mother in the kitchen. She maintains respect for local cooking traditions and recipes and shares that with Italians and foreign visitors through cooking classes conducted both in Italy and in America. She has extensive knowledge of Cortona's various areas, from the mountains to the fertile Val di Chiana, and continues to learn about its long and colorful history. She is also passionate about travel and enjoys learning about and experiencing customs, traditions and characteristics of other countries, cultures & people. Her travels destinations have included the United States, England, Egypt, South America, France, Ireland, Germany, Austria and Greece. She enjoys serving as a bridge between visitors to Tuscany and the local culture.
Patrick Mahoney (Miami University BA'80, MA'82) lives in Cortona where he continues a thirty-year career in the field of Arts & Entertainment producing events, workshops and tours and providing opportunities to share the Italy experience with travelers, artists and people who share his interests for foods, wine, art, culture. Patrick's passion is to conceive and realize various ways in which the human spirit can express and demonstrate its capacity to create. His ability to fearlessly think, conceive, and work "out of the box" has earned him the attention of artists & musicians, colleges & universities, public & private organizations, and business and industry. Patrick brings integrity and a unique vision to Toscana Americana and he is committed to realizing the opportunity for participants to create in an atmosphere of peace, joy, respect and mutual support. As a "slow traveler" and a supporter of "slow food" Mr. Mahoney rides trains, walks, lingers over lunch, dinner or a cup of espresso, stops to smell the roses and savors the sensory feast wherever he is!
