Learn Italian in Italy, Travel, and Experience Montepulciano with us!
June 2 – 11, 2018
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Join Melissa and Silvia Celli of il Sasso language school in Montepulciano in 2018 to LEARN & IMPROVE YOUR ITALIAN! Immersing in language and culture and traveling with like-minded individuals is a great way to learn the language in a relaxed and friendly environment. My friends and teachers at il Sasso in Montepulciano and I are planning an exciting language and cultural program in the delightful town hill town overlooking the Tuscan plains.
Highlights of the 2018 program will include guided day trips to Pienza, Castiglione del Lago and the Palazzo dei Duchi della Corgna, Villa Foce in Valdorcia, Orvieto and Bolsena. We will visit a farm and taste locally grown products, take walks along the lake in Castiglione, visit the gardens at Villa Foce, shop the market in Montepulciano and take part in a cooking lesson where we will learn to make local recipes.
The 2017 Program will consist of 10 Days & 9 Nights in Montepulciano, 20 Hours Italian lessons, Unlimited Italian Conversation Practice, Accommodation at a charming Politian Apartments with a magnificent view of Tuscan countryside. Each unit features a kitchenette, private bathroom, sitting area, balcony and access to private gardens. The program includes 5 afternoon excursions to neighboring hill towns, All Breakfasts & Six Evening Meals in local trattorias and restaurants. There will be 2 free afternoons & 3 Free Choice Meals.
The Matta / Il Sasso Italian School Montepulciano
2018 Language & Cultural Immersion includes:
- 20 hours of Italian Lessonsat Il Sasso Montepulciano (classes will be held in the mornings: 8:45 am – 1:10 pm, with two morning breaks, 1 half hour break, 10 min break)
- Unlimited Italian conversation practicewith teachers & Italian friends
- 10 Days/ 9 nights at the Politian Apartments. They are beautifully renovated apartments that feature washing machines, kitchens with fridge & oven, microwave, wifi and internet access
- 6 Dinners included, 3 free choice evening meals
- Breakfasts included (Coffee, pastries served at local bar next to apartment), You are free to purchase breakfast& lunch items and eat in your apartment
- 1 Cooking class in which we will prepare pasta and local recipesand dine on what we have prepared
- Historical Walking Tour of Montepulciano with teacher from Il Sasso
- Excursion to Pienza & walking tour with guide / time also to shop!
- Visit to first bio farm to taste located products located in countryside
- Excursion to Castiglione del Lago to see the Palazzo dei Duchi della Corgna e Rocca del Leone
- Visit to La Villa Foce e the Gardens of Iris Origo / Introduction and brief history of the history of the Villa and the author’s book “War in Val d’Orcia
- Dinner in the Gardens of La Foce
- Market day in Montepulciano visit with guide from the school
- Free Afternoons to relax, shop, wander about the town
- Excursion to Orvieto, Civita di Bagnoregio & Bolsena
- Special Farewell Dinner at the la Fonte an agriturismo in the country.
All levels of language learners are welcome from BEGINNER to ADVANCED. Students will be placed in appropriate classes according to their language levels along with other International students attending Il Sasso Montepulciano. All classes at Il Sasso feature a mix of grammar instruction, as well as Italian Culture, designed to take each student to the next level of speaking and comprehension.
Accommodations
We will be staying at the Politian Apartments, beautifully renovated apartments, feature washing machines, kitchens with fridge & oven, microwave, WiFi and internet access. The Politian Apartments are a 10-minute walk to the school, on the same street.
Book Now! There are only 10 spots!
The price for the “Matta” Montepulciano Language program is $3,600.00. Availability is based on first-come-first-served & a reservation is not guaranteed until the receipt of deposit or full trip payment. A $500 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your reservation. Accepting reservations until June 1, 2018. (After this date, you can still sign up for the program, but we can’t guarantee accommodations at the Politian Apartments. We will help find alternative housing options, but there may be a small price variation.)
The balance of trip fee will be due approximately 60 days before trip start date (7/1/2018). You may also pay the full trip fee at the time of booking. To book with peace of mind and to safeguard your trip investment, in the case of personal emergency or a family life event that might prevent you from departing for Italy, you may want to consider purchasing travel insurance through agencies as such as Travel Guard, AAA or American Express. Please read the Cultura Italiana Arezzo Language School/ Matta Refund Policy & Terms of Conditions.
For more information contact Melissa@StudentessaMatta.com
Day Excursions to Orvieto, la Villa Foce, Civita di Bagnoregio,
Rocca del Leone, Palazzo dei Duchi della Corgna, Bolsena
“Matta” Montepulciano Language Program June 2018
Maximum participants : max. 10 people, couples & singles welcome
Number of Days : 10 days / 9 nights
Morning lessons : from 8:45 am to 1:10 pm with other international students from Monday, June 4 – Friday, June 8, 2018.
Activities by Day
Saturday, June 2: Participants arrive at the apartments (Melissa will work to coordinate arrival times and shared transportation from Florence nearer to trip start date and she has everyone’s flight schedules. She will also coordinate shared group van back to Florence at end of program)
7:00 pm Walking tour of Montepulciano & Welcome Dinner historical city center with a teacher from il Sasso
Sunday, June 3:
Free Morning to get acclimated
3:30 pm – Excursion to Pienza (Unesco Heritage Site) with teacher from il Sasso, Walking tour of city and free time to shop
6:30 pm – Dinner in Montepulciano
Monday, June 4:
8:45 am – 13:10 – Language class at il Sasso
5:30 pm – Visit the first bio farm in Valdorcia taste local products / Dinner at the fattoria with locally grown products (prodotti a km zero)
Tuesday, June 5:
8:45 am –13:10 – Language class at il Sasso
3:00 pm – Excursion to Castiglione del Lago. Palazzo dei Duchi della Corgna e Rocca del Leone con Sara (teacher from il Sasso). Passeggiata/walk along the lake and caffè
6:30 pm – Return to Montepulciano / Free Choice Dinner
Wednesday, June 6:
8:45 am – 13:10 – Language class at il Sasso
3:00 pm – Excursion to la Villa Foce e gardens. Brief explanation of the history of the villa and the author, Iris Origo’s book War in Val d’Orcia
6:30 – Dinner at the Villa in the gardens at the restaurant “Il Dopolavoro”
Thursday, June 7:
8:45 am – 13:10 – Language class at il Sasso with excursion to the weekly town market
Free Afternoon
Free Choice Dinner
Friday, June 8:
8:45 am –13:10 – Language class at il Sasso / last day of class with Brindisi!
3:00 pm – Cooking Lesson in a local fattoria. We will cook local recipes, make pasta, taste wine and dine on what we have prepared
Saturday, June 9:
10:00 am – Excursion to Orvieto, Civita di Bagnoregio & Bolsena
6:00 pm – Return to Montepulciano / Free Choice Dinner
Sunday, June 10:
Free Day – You are free to shop, wander the town, read in the gardens of the apartment. There is a possibility of organizing a Spa day in near by Bagno Vignoni (out of pocket expense for entrance to the spa and taxi to Bagno Vignoni)
7:00 pm – Farewell Dinner at la Fonte, an agriturismo in the country
Monday, June 11:
Baci & Abbracci / Morning departure from the B&B
If you’re coming by airplane, it’s best to fly to Rome (Fiumicino Airport – Leonardo da Vinci, or Rome Airport – Ciampino), Pisa (Galileo Galilei Airport), or Florence (Amerigo Vespucci Airport).
If you rent a car in Pisa, take the “Fi-Pi-Li” (the highway that links Florence, Pisa, and Livorno), getting on the A1 motorway (direction Rome), exiting at Valdichiana/Bettole. If you’re coming from Florence Airport, you should get on the A1 motorway at Florence North (direction Rome) and exit at Valdichiana/Bettolle. From the airports in Rome, take the G.R.A. (the Ring Road) then get on the A1 motorway – direction Florence – and exit at Chiusi/Chianciano Terme. Follow the signs for Montepulciano.
When you arrive at Montepulciano, leave your car in one of the parking lots outside the town and come to the school on foot. The historic center of Montepulciano is a pedestrian area. You are not allowed to drive in town. The school is located on the main street just below the Piazza delle Erbe.
If you’re coming by train, take the Florence-Rome line and get off at the Chiusi/Chianciano Terme station. Attention: Although there is a place called Montepulciano Stazione, it is not where you want to go. Montepulciano Stazione is a small, country station, about 12 km. from Montepulciano with neither bus nor taxi service. Don’t choose this station when you are buying your ticket. From Chiusi take the bus for Montepulciano, getting off at the bus station. From there you can come into the centre on foot or take the little orange bus (“Pollicino”). If you take the “Pollicino”, get off at the Piazza delle Erbe. Please notice that on Sundays there are only a few buses from Chiusi to Montepulciano.
You can find all information about the Italian train schedules at www.trenitalia.com. For the bus schedules please see www.busfox.com.
If you wish to get a pick-up service from the train station, you can book it when you register for the course. The cost from Chiusi is Euro 45. You may also arrange a pick up from the airports. Prices on request (from Euro 200 to Euro 300, one way).
Our partner Auto Europe has the best car rental, chauffeur and airport transfer rates. Check out their latest travel deals and specials at www.autoeurope.com.
Montepulciano Program Enrollment
Please fill out the Deposit / Reservation form to reserve your spot on the 2018 Montepulciano Italian Language Program. When you hit the submit button you will be taken to a new form page. Please continue to fill out ALL the Trip Forms and sign the waivers and hit submit to fully enroll in the program. Thank you!