Join me in Arezzo 2020: Language, Culture & Jousting… and so much more!

Sono lieta di annunciare il programma 2020 “Matta” con i miei soci alla scuola cultura Italiana ad Arezzo! Unitivi a noi a giugno per la giostra, la lingua e buon divertimento! Continuate a leggere per sapere le novità e le cose che facciamo nel 2020. Tutti possono partecipare — tutti sono benvenuti!

I am pleased to announce the 2020 Matta & Cultura Italiana Arezzo Language Immersion program! Join us in June for Jousting, Language, and more fun! Read on for a taste of things to come and learn what our 2020 program holds for you. Everyone can participate and everyone is invited!

2020 Arezzo / Matta Cultura Italiana
Language Immersion Program
$3850

NOW ACCEPTING RESERVATIONS FOR 2020!

Saturday, June 13 – Thursday, June 25, 2020
12 Days / 12 Nights / 9 Days of Language Classes / 9 Dinners

Click Here to View Program

Click Here How to Reach Arezzo

Join Melissa and Paola Testi of Cultura Italiana language school in Arezzo in June 2020 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 Cultura Italiana Italian School in Arezzo and I are planning an exciting language and cultural program in the delightful town hill town overlooking the Tuscan plains.

Highlights of the 2020 program will include participation in the June Evening Joust – la Giostra del Saracino and the activities surrounding the festival including the neighborhood cena Propiziatoria in the Santo Spirito quartiere. Arezzo is alive with jubilation, costumes, and parades AND there will be dancing and singing in the streets! We will also spend an afternoon with a local fresco artist CREATING our own fresco painting to take home.

There will also be wine tastings, guided walking tours of the city to see artisan shops and churches, as well as Piero della Francesca’s frescos in the main altar of San Francesco. We will have a cooking lesson in the home of a local Aretina chef in her home and have excursions to Castiglione del Lago, La Fattoria la Vialla, Cortona, AND enjoy the hospitality of a local Italian family who will open entertain us for an unforgettable evening in their home.

The 2020 Program will consist of 12 Days & 12 Nights in Arezzo, 9 Class days (36 Hours Italian Instruction), Unlimited Italian Conversation Practice, 9 Group Dinners, Welcome Aperativo, Art Fresco making class, Wine tastings, Cooking class, Accommodation at the charming Antiche Mura Bed & Breakfast run by the delightful Barbara Lancini. Each guestroom is air-conditioned, has fast WIFI, and breakfast is included in the B&B’s cozy dining area. The program includes excursions to Castiglione del Lago, La Fattoria la Vialla, Cortona, and free afternoons to wander and shop.

Click Here to Make a Reservation

The Matta / Cultura Italiana Language School in Arezzo
(June 13 – June 25, 2020)
Language & Cultural Immersion includes:

36 hours of Italian Lessons at Cultura Italiana Italian School
(9:00 am – 1:10 pm, with morning break)
Unlimited Italian conversation practice with teachers & Italian friends
12 Days/ 12 nights at le Antiche Mura Bed & Breakfast. Beautifully appointed rooms that feature, air-conditioning, private bath, wifi, and internet access
9 Dinners which includes welcome dinner with aperitivo
All Breakfasts included
1 Cooking class in which we will prepare 3-course meal including pasta, meat, sauces, vegetable dish, and dessert. We will dine on what we have prepared
Historical Walking Tours of Arezzo / visiting major churches / scenic neighborhoods: Porta Santo Spirito, Porta Crucifera, Porta S’Andrea, Porta del Foro, the Chimera
Participation in Arezzo’s Evening Joust Festival: Includes Seminars to learn more about Arezzo’s culture and history, A visit to the Santo Spirito Museum to see costumes of the Santo Spirito neighborhood / Visit to Lance maker bottega / Evening Spritzs while watching the Jousters practice, Tickets & Reserved seats to see the Main event in Piazza Grande
Participation in the Neighborhood Street Party — the Cena Propiziatoria – to celebrate with the neighborhood of Santo Spirito
Seminario on Piero della Francesa and visit to San Francesco fresco cycle of the True Cross
Dinner in the home of a local Italian family
Fresco Painting Class – we will learn the technique with Laura Ghezzi an Aretina Artist & prepare a fresco to take home
Option to take an afternoon plein air water color painting class in the prato near the duomo
Wine Tasting / Dinner included at Pomaio Winery located in the scenic hills outside of Arezzo
Excursion to Castiglione del Lago
Excursion to La Fattoria La Vialla
Excursion to Cortona
Free Afternoons to relax, shop, wander about the town

Click Here to Make a Reservation

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 Cultura Italiana 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 Barbara Lancini’s Antiche Mura a B&B in Arezzo’s historic district, within 15-minute walking distance to the school. The rooms of the hotel are delightfully decorated and feature updated private baths, TV, Internet, Air Conditioning. If you wish to arrive a day early or depart a day later, Melissa can make arrangements with the B&B. Extra days spent at the B&B are considered out-of-pocket expenses and will be paid directly to the B&B.

For those participants who may have difficulties walking, or wish to be situated in a hotel located nearer to the school (a block away, in the new quarter) we also have a few rooms reserved at the Hotel Aretino.

Book Now! There are only 10 spots!
Click Here to Make a Reservation

The price for the 2020 Matta Arezzo Language Program: $3850
June 13 – 25, 2020

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 May 12, 2020. (After this date, you can still sign up for the program, but we can’t guarantee accommodations at the Antiche Mura Bed & Breakfast. We will help find alternative housing options, but there may be a small price variation.)

The balance of the trip fee will be due approximately 60 days before program start date (4/14/2020). 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

To make a reservation please fill out the form
at the bottom of the page.

Click Here to Make a Reservation

Art Experiences: Painting frescos in the manner
of Michelangelo with Laura Ghezzi…

….and we will have day Excursions to Cortona,
Castiglione del Lago, Pomaio Vineyards

“Matta” & Cultura Italiana Italian Language Program June 9-23, 2019

Maximum participants: 10 people – couples & singles welcome
Number of Days: 12 days / 12 nights
Morning lessons: 36 Hours

Activities by Day

Saturday, June 13: Participants arrive at the B&B
(Melissa is happy to coordinate shared transportation from Florence or Rome nearer to trip start date once she has everyone’s flight schedules. She will also coordinate a shared group van back to Florence and Rome at the end of the program. Group or private transport to Arezzo in a hired van will be out of the pocket expense.)
4:00 pm – Walking Tour of Arezzo – Churches and neighborhoods / Orientation with Melissa & a teacher from Cultura Italiana visiting Arezzo’s 3 main churches
7:30 pm – Welcome Group Dinner #1 (Trattoria in centro)

Sunday, June 14
2:00 am Excursion to Castiglion del Lago
7:00 – Group Dinner #2 (Trattoria in centro)

Monday, June 15
10:00 am – 12:50 pm – Language classes at Cultura Italiana with a 30-minute morning break. (only Monday classes start at 10:00 to sort new students)
4:00 – Excursion to la Fattoria la Vialla
6:00 – Group Dinner #3 a light evening meal at la Vialla with local products

Tuesday, June 16
10:00 am – 12:50 pm – Language classes at Cultura Italiana
3:00 pm – 7:30 pm Fresco painting Lesson in the manner of Michelangelo with local artist Laura Ghezzi – we will create pieces of art that you can take home!
8:00 pm – Personal Choice Dinner – but I will make reservations at Pizzeria Mi Va for anyone who would like to join me.

Wednesday, June 17
10:00 am – 12:50 pm – Language classes at Cultura Italiana
4:00 pm – Seminario about Piero della Francesca at the school
5:00 pm – Guided Visit to the Church of San Francesco to see Piero’s fresco cycle
7:00 pm – Vist to the Badia where Giorgio Vasari is buried
8:00 pm- Group Dinner #4 (Trattoria in centro)

Thursday, June 18
10:00 am – 12:50 pm – Language classes at Cultura Italiana
Free Afternoon
8:00 pm – Personal Choice Dinner – but I will make reservations at Teorema del Gusto where we can watch the Joust Trials on Teleturia projected on the walls outside the restaurant while we dine

Friday, June 19
10:00 am – 12:50 pm – Language classes at Cultura Italiana
5:00 pm – Visit to Sign. Conti’s Bottega to meet the artist and learn how he creates the Golden Lances
6:00 pm – Spritz in Piazza Grande
7:00 pm – Visit to the Santo Spirito Museo guided by Roberto Turchi to see the neighborhood’s Golden Lances and medieval costumes
9:00 pm – Midnight – Cena Propiziatoria Group Dinner #5 we will join the neighborhood of Santo Spirito for the street festival outside the Bastion—for a 4-course meal with wine—as we along with the fans of the neighborhood cheer on the jousters with chants, song, and dancing

Saturday, June 20
11:00 am Colpo Mortaio – We will meet near the duomo to witness the Herald welcome us to Arezzo to witness the Joust / Parades begin
1:30 pm – Group Dinner #6 (Trattoria near the school)
3:00 pm – Seminario at the School to learn the history of Arezzo’s Joust
5:00 pm – Blessing of the Jousters in San Jacopo under the School
7:00 pm – Blessing of the Lances at the Duomo / Beginning of the Jouster’s Parade through the city
8:00 pm – 11:00 – Joust Enter Piazza to take our seats in stands

Sunday, June 21
Free Afternoon
5:00 pm – 10 pm – Group Dinner #7 in the home of Paola Burolla with Family & Friends: Games, Dancing, Singing, in the Garden

Monday, June 22
10:00 am – 12:50 pm – Language classes at Cultura Italiana
5:00 pm – 10:00 pm – Cooking Lesson in the home of Lalla: We will enjoy an aperitivo & prepare a 3-course meal. Includes pasta making, preparing sauces & vegetables, a meat course & dessert.
8:00 pm – Group Dinner #8 – We will dine on what we have prepared

Tuesday, June 23
10:00 am – 12:50 pm – Language classes at Cultura Italiana
1:30 – Excursion to Cortona
8:00 pm – Personal Choice Dinner

Wednesday, June 24
10:00 am – 12:50 pm – Language classes at Cultura Italiana
4:00 – Wine Tasting at Pomaio Vineyard & Catina
8:00 pm – Farewell Group Dinner #9 – We enjoy a dinner paired with Pomaio wines

Thursday, June 25:
Baci & Abbracci / Morning departure from the B&B

How to Reach Arezzo

Transport to Arezzo: Arezzo is situated between Rome and Florence. Either airport is convenient and trains run frequently between the two cities on an hourly basis. Melissa is also happy to coordinate shared transportation from Florence or Rome nearer to the trip start date once she has everyone’s flight schedules. She will also coordinate a shared group van back to Florence and Rome at end of the program. Group or private transport to Arezzo in a hired van will be out of the pocket expense.

Studentessa Matta Travel Philosophy… if you agree…andiamo!

Please fill out the Deposit / Reservation form to reserve your spot on the 2019 Arezzo 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!

EnrollArezzo :

Cultura Italiana Arezzo / Matta 2020 Program Enrollment