TUSCANY – VILLA MICHAELA • Sample Schedule

Monday / il lunedì – La Bella Lingua (The Beautiful Language)

Dimostrazione — The commitment to test knowledge through experience, and a willingness to learn from mistakes.

Leonardo would proudly refer to himself as uomo senza lettere (“man without letters”) and discepolo della esperienza (“disciple of experience”).

The best way to learn a language is to jump in with both feet and speak it!

With the help of Stefano Allegrini, Director of Centro Koinè language school in Lucca, we divide into two small groups and learn practical expressions (You will receive a language book and CD prior to departure to help tune your ear!)

In our groups, we continue the language experience by practicing on native Italians to purchase items in the market. Great fun and laughter is had by all watching the quizzical faces! There is time on your own to buy a panino, explore the town and to bike or hike the famous walls.

Our Lucca tour guide
Gabriele

In the afternoon, we walk the history of Lucca with our tour guide Gabriele, and hear the tales of strength, riches, and furberia (foxiness). We will see Lucca's most revered Volto Santo, believed to have been carved by Nicodemus at the time of the Crucifixion.

Lucca is an important gem for both commerce and textiles. Built in Roman times and the capital of Tuscany until the 11th century, this pedestrian, walled city is a microcosm of Italy – the spirit and friendliness (molto simpatico) of the locals, the art and architecture and the purity of the Italian language.

Lucca has a long history of craftsmen – masters of stonework and of wood and iron, the silk and wool workers, the goldsmiths and paper and leather workers. As we walk through the streets, we will see many of the trades still existing after being handed down through the generations.

On to Tuesday –>