TUSCANY – VILLA MICHAELA • Sample Schedule

Sunday / la domenica – Shedding Light on Leonardo

Sfumato – (root word "fumare," means to "go up in smoke, evaporate") The ability to embrace the unknown – the key to discover one 's creative abilities.

A mystery surrounds Leonardo da Vinci. Was he a scientist who studied art, or an artist who studied science? What were the principles he lived by?

We immerse ourselves into the Italian spirit, by learning from our mentor, Leonardo da Vinci. We will meet Joan Reifsnyder on the terrace of the Hotel Silla in Florence. A Leonardo aficionado, Joan will take us back 500 years to his stomping grounds. We will learn about Leonardo's concept of sfumato and how this technique holds the secret of unleasing one's creativity.

We board a small Mercedes van and travel to our home for the week near the sea. We stretch our legs and walk the grounds, then enjoy a luscious meal with superb local wines.

Barbara Hardesty, creator of Da Vinci Capers, will go over the week's itinerary.

A time to get acquainted with new friends, then off for a sound slumber.

(Remember, if there is an activity that you would rather observe or skip, just let Barbara know - there's no problem!)

Magical, stimulating, liberating, great conversations, learned more about who I am and how fascinating the world can be.

S. Hotham, Boulder, CO

On to Monday –>