The Divine, The Diva, and The David: Italy with Maverick Mosaics
September 25 – October 4, 2015
$3,595 per Person, Double Occupancy
Experience the splendor and magic of Italy with Maverick Mosaics as we open doors for you to learn, create and laugh. Get ready to enjoy a rich and memorable week of mosaics, history, culture, great food, and hands-on art projects. From the Vatican to Niki de Saint Phalle’s Tarot Garden to the treasures of Florentine Art this will be an amazing one of a kind adventure.
Our trip will focus on mosaic art in the cities of Rome, Florence and the Tuscan region. Upon your arrival in Rome you will visit famous “must sees” including the Coliseum and Roman Square, but surely the highlight will be our private visit to the Vatican and its Mosaic Studio where mosaic artisans restore, create and fabricate mosaics for installation worldwide. We spend 3 days exploring Rome, visiting cathedrals, Basilica’s and archeological sites. A private classical Italian cooking class will top off our time in Rome and replace the calories you burned walking the city!
From Rome our private coach takes us through the Tuscan countryside to our first stop, the exotic sculpture garden of Niki de Saint Phalle. The Tarot Garden is comprised of several large-scale mosaic sculptures, and something you have to see to believe. While in this rural area you will have a unique “cowboy” lunch experience at a local family farm followed by a stop at the Saturnia Hot Springs. We travel on to explore the medieval towns of Siena and San Gimigano. You will visit the famous alabaster studio of Volterra where in this magical atmosphere we will watch artisans work with this luminescent and unique stone. It’s always a treat to visit mosaic artists, and the studio of Albo Mazzetti will open their doors to us. Albo has been creating masterworks for countless installations throughout the world for over 30 years and his Tuscan studio will be a memorable experience.
In Florence we visit some must-sees including the Uffizi Gallery and Galleria dell’ Accademia, both outstanding collections of Renaissance masterpieces. And of course there will be time with “David” and time to take in the Florence Duomo Complex, which includes the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Santa Reparata Excavation, the Florence Baptistery and the Museum of the Opera del Duomo.
Another studio visit, and an unforgettable experience, is a hands-on workshop at the artistic studio of the Masters Iacopo and Bruno Lastrucci guaranteed to satisfy lovers of mosaic and stone. We will learn about “Florentine commesso”, a particular kind of mosaic, developed in the 16th century in Florence. Pietra dura (literally, “hard stone”) and semi-precious stones are used in these designs. Only in Florence do the few great masters continue to produce works of art using the technique. Special tools are used and the craftsmanship is beyond compare.
Time will be included for you to leisurely discover the cafes and shops along Florence’s famous Ponte Vecchio.
Our Florence accommodations will be at Villa il Poggiale, a manor house just outside the city. After a long day of learning and exploring you can relax with a dip in the villa’s pool or savor a drink in the garden. We will have a gourmet meal prepared for us at the villa and dine like kings and queens in Italian splendor during our stay.
This trip is designed for adults and space is limited to ensure an intimate and personal experience.
Many of the adventures and excursions on Maverick trips are UNIQUE, one-of-a-kind opportunities with some components not available to the public. We offer hassle free travel, English speaking escorts and university educated guides, wonderful accommodations, and street-level cultural engagement anchored in the world of art and architecture. We plan on making keepsake art-work along the way in workshops lead by local artisans.
Maverick’s inaugural Art Camp trip to France in June 2013 and our recently completed adult adventure to Spain were amazing, thanks in large part to the expertise and planning of our travel and logistics partner A La Carte Travel. A La Carte Travel is this nation’s leader in exclusively providing educational institutions with affordable access to learning opportunities abroad, and Maverick Mosaics qualifies as an educational institution. Hassle free travel is paramount, ground transportation and transfers are included, no waiting in lines for scheduled tours and we have English speaking escorts and guides traveling with us. A La Carte Travel promotes the values of understanding the world we live in through experiencing and learning about different cultures. With over 18 years of experience organizing educational tours, A La Carte Travel is the perfect partner with Maverick Mosaics for this unique travel and learning adventure.
Click here for a detailed itinerary and to register. A La Carte Travel – Italy.
Cost is $3,595 per person. Price includes lodging, all admission fees, ground transportation, (workshops, cooking class, olive oil and wine tastings), full-time English-speaking escort, daily breakfast, special meals as described on detailed itinerary. Price also includes a special gourmet meal at the Tuscan Villa and a closing farewell dinner in Rome. Price does not include airfare and is based on double occupancy.
For anyone traveling from Washington, DC (Dulles Airport) we are researching group airfares that will be below market rate. If you are in the DC area, or wish to depart as a part of the DC group contact us.
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Mosaic Art Retreats 