Italian Language with Marco in Florence – SOLD OUT
Marco has been teaching Italian for all levels for 20 years. He grew up in Vicenza, in northern Italy and now lives between Milano and New York. He teaches for Scuola Italiano and part-time at Bocconi, a technical university in Milan.
In addition to his Italian teaching, Marco is a professional ballet choreographer He won the 2016 Primi Dieci USA Award, under the patronage of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as one of the ten most influential Italians in the USA.
He’s been one of New York Theatre Ballet’s resident choreographers since 2012. As an Opera choreographer he has worked extensively in the US and abroad. In 2017, Marco Pelle had his directorial debut with Florida Grand Opera, directing and choreographing Un Ballo in Maschera. In 2018 he became ballet choreographer of the tv series “Pose”.
Marco has been teaching Italian for all levels for 20 years. He grew up in Vicenza, in northern Italy and now lives between Milano and New York. He teaches for Scuola Italiano and part-time at Bocconi, a technical university in Milan.
In addition to his Italian teaching, Marco is a professional ballet choreographer He won the 2016 Primi Dieci USA Award, under the patronage of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as one of the ten most influential Italians in the USA.
He’s been one of New York Theatre Ballet’s resident choreographers since 2012. As an Opera choreographer he has worked extensively in the US and abroad. In 2017, Marco Pelle had his directorial debut with Florida Grand Opera, directing and choreographing Un Ballo in Maschera. In 2018 he became ballet choreographer of the tv series “Pose”.
Unfortunately this workshop is full. If you want to be put on the waiting list, send an email to michael@ilchiostro.com
Improve your Italian on location in the Renaissance City of Florence!
Immerse yourself in the beautiful Italian language with Marco as you wander among the piazzas, museums and trattorie of Florence. This has been a center of art and culture since the middle ages. They say the purest form of Italian is the city where Dante wrote – Firenze.
The Ponte Vecchio, Florence
With Marco you will learn to order your cappuccino or lunch from a cafe in Italian. We will interact with vendors at the market and engage with the locals a little more effectively than just using sign language. Marco will be your coach, encouraging you to use the language you have been studying, to overcome your fear of addressing waiters in Italian, or eavesdropping on the young students as they gossip among one another.
Every day Marco will hold a formal language class to help develop your conversation skills. Each day we’ll plan at least one activity to encourage you to use the skills you are learning.
Marco’s family has a country home just outside of Florence. One day we’ll go on an excursion in that area to explore the seaside town of Viareggio and Pietrasanta, just north of Pisa, stopping for an independent lunch in the area.
Gilli Cafe in the Pza. della Repubblica
Other activities will be selected from:
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an evening walking tour of “The Darker Side of Medieval Florence with our tour local guide.
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a full day excursion to the walled city of Lucca, the birthplace of Puccini
- visit to a local food market like Sant’Amborgio
- a cooking class to prepare Tuscan specialties
- rooftop Spritz overlooking the Duomo and the Arno
- excursion to the seaside of Viareggio and Pietrasanta
- other surprise and spontaneous activities presented by Marco and our Il Chiostro guide, Andrea, during the week…
This workshop will be a well-rounded immersive experience with the goal of getting all participants to converse in Italian as much as possible. Beyond the classes and excursions with Marco, there will be plenty of free time to explore Florence, shop, take photos and absorb the atmosphere of this incomparable city.
Florence from the Piazzale Michelangelo, photo by Gabrielle Pascoe
Merry-go-round in Pia. della Repubblica by Tillman Crane
Photo by Tillman Crane
Accommodations: we will spend the week at a small hotel – the Residence Hotel Michelangiolo, a small villa on the west side of the Arno – in the Oltr’Arno section of Florence, out of the fray and noise of the city center, but still walkable to the Ponte Vecchio and all the attractions. This villa on the Viale Michelangiolo was the boyhood home of the owner, now converted into a boutique hotel. As always, however, if you would prefer to find your own accommodations, no problem. Just click that option when you register.
Dinners: During the week we will have 5 dinners together. To experience a good cross-section of typical Tuscan cuisine we will sample diverse neighborhood trattorie. Two nights of the week you will be on your own to follow your nose to restaurants or concerts or whatever else might pique your curiosity in this fabulous city. There is plenty of time for independent exploration.
The famous Spritz!
Price: $3,250 p/p SOLD OUT
Supplements: $550 for single room-limited availability
$500 deposit upon registration.
Balance due by August 1st (we’ll send you an invoice).
($800 discount if you would prefer to find your own accommodations.)
Includes:
- Shared double room in Residence Michelangiolo (single room available for a supplement)
- Daily continental breakfast at a nearby local cafe (where you can practice your Italian!)
- 5 dinners with the group, (including wine)
- Daily language classes with Marco
- Excursions to Lucca and Forte dei Marmi, Marco’s country home
- Cooking class, with lunch
- Evening walking tour
- Transportation for all excursions outside the city
- All excursions fully escorted
Does Not Include:
- Airfare
- Workshop supplies
- Independent meals and sight-seeing
To Register: just click on the Sign Up Now button. A non-refundable deposit of $500 is required to secure your spot in the workshop. Payment can be made on line with a credit card, or you can follow the instructions to send in your registration and payment by mail. Once we receive your deposit we will send you a formal Registration Confirmation with further information about the program. You will receive 2-3 other correspondences by email prior to the workshop with information about Italy, a supplies list and an electronic invoice for the balance. Final Balance is due by August 1st. Any time prior to your arrival, if you have questions about anything regarding the trip or the program, you can contact us by email or phone and we’ll be happy to assist you.
Call us for more information: 800-990-3506
Residence Michelangiolo, Florence
F
or the week we will be staying at the Residence Michelangiolo along the Viale Michelangiolo in the quieter Oltr`arno section of Florence. This is a recently renovated private palazzo on a tree-lined residential street near the Arno. The owner still manages the property and makes each person feel like a guest of his family.
There are only 11 rooms – large, high ceilings typical of a palazzo of the era. Each room has a modern bathroom and several have kitchenettes.
Single rooms are available for a supplement of $450.
For breakfast we will walk to the bar on the corner to have a cappuccino with the other locals heading off to work. Click here to link to Residence Michelangiolo website…
You should arrive at the hotel independently during the day on Saturday. Our first activity will be a welcome gathering in at about 6:30pm. From there we will proceed to a restaurant in the center for dinner together. The first session of your workshop will be on Sunday morning. Departure will be by noon on the following Saturday.
We recommend that you fly into Florence or alternatively, Rome (Milan is a bit too far away). One thing to consider is that there are more flights from the US to Rome, many of them direct. Florence does not have an intercontinental airport, so there are no direct flights from the US. You will have to change planes at a larger city. If you fly into Rome you can take a train to Florence. From either the Florence airport or train station you can take a taxi directly to the hotel. Further directions will follow.
Important! In making your return flight arrangements, if you are flying home on Saturday from Rome, try not to book a flight too early. From our location it will take about 3 ½ hours to get to the Rome airport.
Check our travel to Italy section for specific suggestions on booking airfare, trains or buses.
Personal travel insurance is strongly recommended for this trip and whenever you travel. It protects you against costly penalties in the event that you need to cancel your trip at the last minute. Two reputable companies are: Travelex (800) 504-7883 or www.travelex-insurance.com or Travel Guard International (877) 901-7599 orwww.travelguard.com/travelsmith.
Florence Ponte Vecchio, by Lester Lefkowitz
Art in Florence: because of all of the wealthy patrons trying to outdo each other showing their devotion to God, we benefit today by having access to the largest treasure of art in any single location. It is unlikely that Michelangelo and Donatello realized that they would be subsidizing the economy of the entire city 500 years later.
Most of the popular art belongs to the Renaissance period, but there are some other worthwhile things to see such as the more contemporary Marino Marini Museum. And today there are still plenty of artists and artisans living and working in Florence. If you wander around the Oltr’arno near Santo Spirito you will see tiny studios and workshops with silversmiths, wood carvers, leather workers, marble cutters and mosaic artists. In this neighborhood you can imagine what the old Florence must have been like.
